England squad announcement

[Puja]

A lot of the new names in the squad I don’t recognize. Do we have a plan B if Tuilagi (inevitably) breaks down?

Isn't Atkinson the Manu Plan B, so that we have an actual centre that can get over the gain line?

I don’t know anything about Atkinson. What’s he like?

Strong, decent carrier of hard lines, pretty good hands, good at distributing under pressure. Less powerful than Manu, but more creative. If he was 25, we'd all be intrigued to see how he developed. Now that he's 30, he's a weird person to give a debut to.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

He’s a big old unit but nowhere near as explosive as Manu. More like a budget Jauzion?

[Scrumhead]

I would have been quite happy if we’d had a look at him when he and Cipriani were a really good combination at Gloucester. Seems weird to look at him now unless we’re thinking he’s the closest we have to Esterhuizen and are planning to partner him with Smith?

[badback]

That makes sense.
Made me go and look at his highlights on YouTube. Reminded me a little little bit of Greenwood type centre.
(Also then went back again and watched Manu highlights. He’s a freak.)

[Beasties]

Jauzion/Greenwood is right but just not in the same ballpark. Not many are, and we've picked a lot of ICs that were frankly crap. Atkinson's at least moderate but again, why now?

[badback]

It does seem strange.

[Stom]

Next we'll pick the Booj.

[Oakboy]

Just as well go back to 36.

[fivepointer]

Atkinsons a bloody good player. Easily one of the best centres in the Prem over the last 4/5 seasons. There was a strong case to pick him a few seasons back but Jones wasnt interested. Didnt even get him the squad to have a look at when we were crying out for options at 12.
Now he picks him when he isnt playing any better and wont get much better given his age.
What was the point in picking Kelly and Ojomoh in the summer if not to make a longer term investment in them?
12 has been a problem position since Greenwood retired. We're still no nearer finding a long term, high quality replacement.

[Stom]

Just as well go back to 36.

At 10, right?

36 - Booj - Atkinson

[Oakboy]

Atkinsons a bloody good player. Easily one of the best centres in the Prem over the last 4/5 seasons. There was a strong case to pick him a few seasons back but Jones wasnt interested. Didnt even get him the squad to have a look at when we were crying out for options at 12.
Now he picks him when he isnt playing any better and wont get much better given his age.
What was the point in picking Kelly and Ojomoh in the summer if not to make a longer term investment in them?
12 has been a problem position since Greenwood retired. We're still no nearer finding a long term, high quality replacement.

5p, I fully agree but Jones has always been a flawed head coach. His biggest mind-block remains his complete faith in Farrell. In some ways I don't mind that if he is convinced that Farrell is the best FH for the team taking everything into account - captaincy etc. IMO, shoe-horning Farrell into the 12 shirt remains the glaring long-term error because it has meant that Jones has not concentrated on the hunt for the right long-term IC.

[Mellsblue]

Just as well go back to 36.

At 10, right?

36 - Booj - Atkinson

Stop it, you tease.

[Oakboy]

Just as well go back to 36.

At 10, right?

36 - Booj - Atkinson

Stop it, you tease.

And I was thinking you'd suggest Alex Goode on the bench?

[Tom Moore]

Just as well go back to 36.

At 10, right?

36 - Booj - Atkinson

Pretty certain we've all seen worse England midfields than that.

[Digby]

In a serious game? And I'm including Farrell, Burgess and Barritt in that

[Tom Moore]

In a serious game? And I'm including Farrell, Burgess and Barritt in that

That would have been my example. Or Noon and Erinle.

[Tom Moore]

In a serious game? And I'm including Farrell, Burgess and Barritt in that

That would have been my example. Or Noon and Erinle.

Actually, Noon, Farrell the elder and Catt vs South Africa in 2007 WC pool stages when Ashton said 2 days earlier they'd "mix and match" at 10.

[morepork]

Farrell will win his 100th cap next game he plays.

[fivepointer]

Harry Randall has withdrawn from the squad with a hip flexor injury.

Harlequins’ Louis Lynagh and Northampton Saints’ Alex Mitchell have been added to the squad, who have met up today at Pennyhill Park after spending the week training in Jersey.

[Puja]

Harry Randall has withdrawn from the squad with a hip flexor injury.

Harlequins’ Louis Lynagh and Northampton Saints’ Alex Mitchell have been added to the squad, who have met up today at Pennyhill Park after spending the week training in Jersey.

Shame for Randall, but I'm not sure I'm 100% convinced by him. Great runner, but service and kicking isn't as consistent as we'd like.

Big show of support for Quirke to not call up Robson. Granted Eddie is perfectly capable of leaving him on the bench for 240 minutes, but I'm hopeful he'll get a bit of time and we can see whether he steps up to international as effortlessly as he's done to the Prem.

Pleased to see Lynagh back as well - wouldn't mind tying him down to us.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Mitchell has been in great form so 100% deserves the call up. Better than Randall too IMO.

[Peej]

In a serious game? And I'm including Farrell, Burgess and Barritt in that

That would have been my example. Or Noon and Erinle.

With Geraghty at 10.

To be fair, Erinle was another centre that was never given a chance at the right time of his career

[16th man]

In a serious game? And I'm including Farrell, Burgess and Barritt in that

That would have been my example. Or Noon and Erinle.

With Geraghty at 10.

To be fair, Erinle was another centre that was never given a chance at the right time of his career

To be fair I seem to recall Geraghty had a couple of games off the bench when he was able to run it and looked like he may be decent. It was when Robinson forced him into the dour pattern that it all looked bad.

[Which Tyler]

To be fair I seem to recall Geraghty had a couple of games off the bench when he was able to run it and looked like he may be decent. It was when Robinson forced him into the dour pattern that it all looked bad.

Im getting Preja Vu with Smith

[twitchy]