England v Wales - Team Announcement

[SDHoneymonster]

Here it is!

Genge
Cowan-Dickie
Sinckler
Ewels
Itoje
Lawes (c)
Curry
Dombrandt

Randall (!!)
Smith
Nowell
Tuilagi
Slade
Malins
Steward

BENCH: George, Marler, Stuart, Isiekwe, Simmonds, Youngs, Ford, Daly.

[Danno]

Bloody hell!

Eddie didn't pick this side

[Mellsblue]

I won’t mention the obvious but further down the team sheet…… is that the slowest back three England have ever fielded?

[Stom]

Well it’s interesting.

Not sure I would have kept Malins. Or Ewels, of course. And the lack of flanker cover on the bench is interesting…

But apart from the pace issue, that backs division looks good. And smith is used to playing with Murley and Lynagh. These 2 are possibly the closest to them.

[SDHoneymonster]

And here is the Wales team:

Jones
Elias
Francis
Rowlands
Beard
Moriarty
Basham
Faletau

T. Williams
Biggar (c)
Adams
Tompkins
Watkin
Cuthbert
L. Williams

BENCH: Lake, Thomas, Brown, S. Davies, Morgan, Hardy, Anscombe, J. Davies.

Difficult to read - Watkin at 13 with Foxy on the bench suggests they'll be looking to play similarly to last week, but then Anscombe on the bench is a bit of a wildcard. England's bench and starting front five much stronger IMO, but even accounting for the fact Faletau's only just come back it's a tasty back row.

[SDHoneymonster]

Also, simultaneous team announcements is great and should be done more often, a bit like only finding out the teams at the toss in cricket.

[Scrumhead]

Well it’s interesting.

Not sure I would have kept Malins. Or Ewels, of course. And the lack of flanker cover on the bench is interesting…

But apart from the pace issue, that backs division looks good. And smith is used to playing with Murley and Lynagh. These 2 are possibly the closest to them.

It’s better than I was expecting. Randall is a nice surprise. I’d imagine Simmonds is seen as covering across the back row.

I would have picked Isiekwe over Ewels and started Marler but overall pretty happy.

[SDHoneymonster]

Well it’s interesting.

Not sure I would have kept Malins. Or Ewels, of course. And the lack of flanker cover on the bench is interesting…

But apart from the pace issue, that backs division looks good. And smith is used to playing with Murley and Lynagh. These 2 are possibly the closest to them.

It’s better than I was expecting. Randall is a nice surprise. I’d imagine Simmonds is seen as covering across the back row.

I would have picked Isiekwe over Ewels and started Marler but overall pretty happy.

Isiekwe and Itoje could also cover 6 if needed.

[Oakboy]

I won’t mention the obvious but further down the team sheet…… is that the slowest back three England have ever fielded?

I'd have thought that would have got Simmonds into the 8 shirt.

[SDHoneymonster]

Saints providing the captains for both sides too. One club providing opposing international captains can't happen too often.

[Oakboy]

I would have picked Isiekwe over Ewels and started Marler but overall pretty happy.

Agreed. I hope we see the team really up for it from the start. Lawes and Tuilagi will help that, obviously.

Apart from Farrell, May and Hill, is Jones missing any other potential starters at this point? I suppose the Wasps back-row guys may eventually get to that category.

[Puja]

Good side. I mean, gods help us if Curry takes an early knock, but overall that's a very decent side. I am startled at Randall's inclusion; I didn't think he made a good enough showing against the Italians (mind, neither did Youngs), but Eddie's obviously decided it's time to invest in a new 9.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Pleased that LCD starts. Randall is retained and has a great chance now to over take over from Youngs, while Dombrandt seems to have the No 8 shirt. He too has a chance to stake a claim for keeping it.
I'm not wild about Ewels but its a selection i'm not unduly bothered by.
Lawes as captain gets a thumbs up from me.
The back 3 isnt the quickest but i like the balance.
Selection is just fine, now go and play.

[SDHoneymonster]

I would have picked Isiekwe over Ewels and started Marler but overall pretty happy.

Agreed. I hope we see the team really up for it from the start. Lawes and Tuilagi will help that, obviously.

Apart from Farrell, May and Hill, is Jones missing any other potential starters at this point? I suppose the Wasps back-row guys may eventually get to that category.

I think Watson would be nailed on if fit.

[Puja]

I would have picked Isiekwe over Ewels and started Marler but overall pretty happy.

Agreed. I hope we see the team really up for it from the start. Lawes and Tuilagi will help that, obviously.

Apart from Farrell, May and Hill, is Jones missing any other potential starters at this point? I suppose the Wasps back-row guys may eventually get to that category.

Watson as well. Explains why our wings look weaker - in an ideal world, we'd have May, Watson, and Cokanasiga available.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Good side. I mean, gods help us if Curry takes an early knock, but overall that's a very decent side. I am startled at Randall's inclusion; I didn't think he made a good enough showing against the Italians (mind, neither did Youngs), but Eddie's obviously decided it's time to invest in a new 9.

Puja

Why? Simmonds is fast, squat and under 6’2”. He’s the perfect openside.

[Puja]

Good side. I mean, gods help us if Curry takes an early knock, but overall that's a very decent side. I am startled at Randall's inclusion; I didn't think he made a good enough showing against the Italians (mind, neither did Youngs), but Eddie's obviously decided it's time to invest in a new 9.

Puja

Why? Simmonds is fast, squat and under 6’2”. He’s the perfect openside.

People have been banned for less.

Puja

[SDHoneymonster]

Interesting over on WoL they seem to think the benches are at worst evenly matched and in some cases the Welsh bench is stronger. Am I being overly jingoistic, blind or stupid when I say I think they're smoking considerable amounts of crack?

I mean there are five B&I Lions on the England bench. Five. That's quite a few.

[TheDasher]

I won’t mention the obvious but further down the team sheet…… is that the slowest back three England have ever fielded?

I think Malins looks pretty rapid... certainly quick over the first 20-30 metres.

I'd imagine Steward at full chat is quite quick too.

But I take your point.

Thinking of the days of Mark Cueto and Mike Brown - but can't remember two slow wingers and a slow full back together. It must have happened though...

[Adam_P]

Saints providing the captains for both sides too. One club providing opposing international captains can't happen too often.

Especially when neither captain their club - has that ever happened?

[Puja]

Saints providing the captains for both sides too. One club providing opposing international captains can't happen too often.

BBC says it's the first time it's ever happened for England vs Wales.

Puja

[SDHoneymonster]

I won’t mention the obvious but further down the team sheet…… is that the slowest back three England have ever fielded?

I think Malins looks pretty rapid... certainly quick over the first 20-30 metres.

I'd imagine Steward at full chat is quite quick too.

But I take your point.

Thinking of the days of Mark Cueto and Mike Brown - but can't remember two slow wingers and a slow full back together. It must have happened though...

Malins has decent acceleration but I wouldn't say he's quick - there's already been a couple of occasions where he's been brought down in sight of the tryline where another winger might have got there. Rapid finishing isn't really why he's in the side though - he's another playmaker, one with a roaming remit who's there to help spark counter-attacks in particular. Steward isn't slow - again I wouldn't say pace is a strong point of his and he doesn't look enormously fast, but the fact his legs alone are about as tall as Harry Randall means he eats up the ground pretty comfortably without having to try that hard.

[Oakboy]

Daly for Tuilagi if he breaks. What if Nowell breaks as well? Ford at IC?

[MrK]

Interesting over on WoL they seem to think the benches are at worst evenly matched and in some cases the Welsh bench is stronger. Am I being overly jingoistic, blind or stupid when I say I think they're smoking considerable amounts of crack?

I mean there are five B&I Lions on the England bench. Five. That's quite a few.

If you’re reading that from one of the journalists - don’t bother, clueless

If you’re reading that from the comments - don’t bother, these are people that rugby starts in Feb and ends in Mar

[Banquo]

Well it’s interesting.



But apart from the pace issue, that backs division looks good. .

Small flaw .

Really hope that Tuilagi and Slade mix and match in attack- that would cause the defence pause for thought.