England squad announcement

[Peej]

Harry Randall has withdrawn from the squad with a hip flexor injury.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

Robson is injured, mind

[SDHoneymonster]

Still feel Eddie will hold Lynagh back to make his debut against Australia for maximum trolling purposes, and correctly so.

[Peej]

Or hold him back completely in camp until Australia go home, and then not have another game and chance to cap him themselves for 7 months, as well as keeping Italy at bay, which would be very Eddie.

[FKAS]

Still feel Eddie will hold Lynagh back to make his debut against Australia for maximum trolling purposes, and correctly so.

Doubling it up with Dolly as well.

[Mikey Brown]

To be honest there's not a lot to be said here beyond the discussion already in this thread. Really clutching at straws with some of those highlights. We know Farrell can fizz a great pass off his right hand when given several seconds to wind it up, but it'd a nice little summary of what the midfield options offer.

Feels a lot like we'll be continuing to move Farrell from 10 to 12 (or vice versa) at 55 minutes every game, regardless of anything that is happening on the pitch.

[Oakboy]

To be honest there's not a lot to be said here beyond the discussion already in this thread. Really clutching at straws with some of those highlights. We know Farrell can fizz a great pass off his right hand when given several seconds to wind it up, but it'd a nice little summary of what the midfield options offer.

Feels a lot like we'll be continuing to move Farrell from 10 to 12 (or vice versa) at 55 minutes every game, regardless of anything that is happening on the pitch.

Agreed. The big question is whether Smith can get the team performance above that achieved by Ford with Farrell at 12. Otherwise, why pick Smith? It all seems too narrow an approach. I don't want Farrell at all but if he has to be in the mix I still think I'd rather just have him at 10 and start from there.

[Digby]

Agreed. The big question is whether Smith can get the team performance above that achieved by Ford with Farrell at 12. Otherwise, why pick Smith? It all seems too narrow an approach. I don't want Farrell at all but if he has to be in the mix I still think I'd rather just have him at 10 and start from there.

In the first instance I don't think that is the big question. The first question remains how are they going to play. if they continue as they did in the 6N then whether Ford or Smith they should be able to make use of that speed of ball and Farrell offers much more with that speed of ball because it aids the 10 getting into position off the ball when there are 2 10s

Your big question becomes the question however if they revert to the much slower play with more of a reliance on kicking from 9 and waiting for the right 1st phase ball to attack off

[p/d]

Shame about Randall.
Shame Lynagh hasn’t ended up with Italy or Aus

[Which Tyler]

Shame about Randall.
Shame Lynagh hasn’t ended up with Italyor Aus

FTFY

Aus really aren't lacking in good wingers - nor are England

[p/d]

Shame about Randall.
Shame Lynagh hasn’t ended up with Italyor Aus

FTFY

Aus really aren't lacking in good wingers - nor are England

Indeed. Was going to say Italy only, but got to assume a player has aspirations to eat at the top table

[Which Tyler]

but got to assume a player has aspirations to eat at the top table

Then why list Aus?

[Digby]

'cause they just beat SA?