Or Lynagh to start against little fella in scrum cap
The little fella in the scrum cap is looking the best all-round wing in the 6N. In addition to his speed and running skills, he's a surprisingly powerful bloke for his size and usually gets through some impressive work at the breakdown.
Sounds like Jack Nowell.
Believe it or not - that did cross my mind as I wrote that post. Then the issue of speed reared its ugly head.
Or Lynagh to start against little fella in scrum cap
The little fella in the scrum cap is looking the best all-round wing in the 6N. In addition to his speed and running skills, he's a surprisingly powerful bloke for his size and usually gets through some impressive work at the breakdown.
Would be fascinating to find out exactly how quick or slow some of these players are. I remember for a long time the perceived wisdom on this forum was that Chris Ashton was not especially quick (like, threads where his lack of pace was discussed by several posters as being a simple fact), which I always thought a bizarre opinion. Subsequently I’ve heard players who’ve played with Ashton- Nonu, Byron Mcguigan, Danny Care etc describe him as the fastest player they’ve ever played with.
Anyway, fwiw, I don’t think Nowell is as slow as some of you guys clearly do, particularly over 5-10 yards.
Timbo wrote:Would be fascinating to find out exactly how quick or slow some of these players are. I remember for a long time the perceived wisdom on this forum was that Chris Ashton was not especially quick (like, threads where his lack of pace was discussed by several posters as being a simple fact), which I always thought a bizarre opinion. Subsequently I’ve heard players who’ve played with Ashton- Nonu, Byron Mcguigan, Danny Care etc describe him as the fastest player they’ve ever played with.
Anyway, fwiw, I don’t think Nowell is as slow as some of you guys clearly do, particularly over 5-10 yards.
I remember a game from a few years ago (I think England v. the Barbarians ?) where Ashton was run down from behind and tackled by George Ford twice. Either Chris is not as fast as thought or George is a closet flier.
Timbo wrote:Would be fascinating to find out exactly how quick or slow some of these players are. I remember for a long time the perceived wisdom on this forum was that Chris Ashton was not especially quick (like, threads where his lack of pace was discussed by several posters as being a simple fact), which I always thought a bizarre opinion. Subsequently I’ve heard players who’ve played with Ashton- Nonu, Byron Mcguigan, Danny Care etc describe him as the fastest player they’ve ever played with.
Anyway, fwiw, I don’t think Nowell is as slow as some of you guys clearly do, particularly over 5-10 yards.
I remember a game from a few years ago (I think England v. the Barbarians ?) where Ashton was run down from behind and tackled by George Ford twice. Either Chris is not as fast as thought or George is a closet flier.
Or with it being Baba’s rugby Ashton was half cut from the all dayer he’d just been on? Any number of reasons a player might be caught by a slower player- carrying a knock, fatigued, tv angles can be deceptive etc.
I can’t think of a reason why current and ex team mates would volunteer testimony about his pace if it wasn’t true, or why they’d all be mistaken?
Puja wrote:
Oh gods, that is *exactly* what he's planning to do, isn't it? Steward on the wing so they can target the French back three with cross-field kicks.
Puja
Its an Airplane moment. That's just what they'll be expecting us to do.
Looks like I picked the wrong week to quit sniffing glue.
Timbo wrote:Would be fascinating to find out exactly how quick or slow some of these players are. I remember for a long time the perceived wisdom on this forum was that Chris Ashton was not especially quick (like, threads where his lack of pace was discussed by several posters as being a simple fact), which I always thought a bizarre opinion. Subsequently I’ve heard players who’ve played with Ashton- Nonu, Byron Mcguigan, Danny Care etc describe him as the fastest player they’ve ever played with.
Anyway, fwiw, I don’t think Nowell is as slow as some of you guys clearly do, particularly over 5-10 yards.
Not sure anyone said that about Ashton - if so they can't have seen the try v oz from our line at twickers; and on Nowell, again, I reckon most would say he's nippy from a standing start, but his top end pace isnt that top end at this level.
How Dolly gets in front of McGuigan and/or Walker says everything about the rancid selections of the awkward ocker. Yoda cutting him extra slack due to his 'Ozzie heritage!?
So with no Malins Yoda throws Lynagh his debut or does EfD come back? Fark me Yoda really does stink the house out with his bewildering selections of non try scoring backs
Jones seems to just take against some players. Maybe McGuigan will get a look in eventually like Simmonds, Hill and Wilson. Or, is he another Armand? Will Ribbans's face ever fit?
Oakboy wrote:Jones seems to just take against some players. Maybe McGuigan will get a look in eventually like Simmonds, Hill and Wilson. Or, is he another Armand? Will Ribbans's face ever fit?
This is with a large caveat of not having watched Falcons for a couple of seasons, but McGuigan seemed a decent nuts and bolts hooker, but nothing screaming Pick Me! At now at the age of 28, I don't see the point of him being a 3rd choice hooker. 3rd choice in my mind should either be someone old and internationally experienced to steady the ship in the event of injury (Marler, whilst Genge and Mako were being chosen), or young and upcoming to try and find the next big thing.
There’s a World Cup in 18 months. A good, solid hooker who will function at the set piece come France should be the aim. Jones may think Blamire will be that in 18 months but picking a player just because they may be the next big thing in 2/3 years is no good if they’re called upon in France and aren’t up to it.
Not that I’m suggesting McGuigan should be third choice. From the little I’ve seen, I think Blamire is good enough for that role and could be LCD’s natural successor, but I’ve rather get tested minutes into McGuigan than Dolly.
On a slight tangent, Jones’s succession planning is utter shoite.
Is Blamire injured? He’s been in camp all 6 nations, gets 1 minute against Ireland and then overtaken by the mighty Nic Dolly, who’s done about 3 training sessions with the team. Another head scratcher.
Oakboy wrote:Jones seems to just take against some players. Maybe McGuigan will get a look in eventually like Simmonds, Hill and Wilson. Or, is he another Armand? Will Ribbans's face ever fit?
This is with a large caveat of not having watched Falcons for a couple of seasons, but McGuigan seemed a decent nuts and bolts hooker, but nothing screaming Pick Me! At now at the age of 28, I don't see the point of him being a 3rd choice hooker. 3rd choice in my mind should either be someone old and internationally experienced to steady the ship in the event of injury (Marler, whilst Genge and Mako were being chosen), or young and upcoming to try and find the next big thing.
I'd have McGuigan in the top 5 hookers in the Prem on current form. He's been very good for Falcons, does lots of carrying effectively for not the biggest guy and then does those nuts and bolts things well. Unsure why he is consistently overlooked really.
I had presumed that Blamire was included more as he is on the bigger hooker side which Eddie has tended to prefer with LCD and George. Blamire looked a natural successor where as Dolly doesn't really fit, Blamire is a few inches taller and a stone and a half heavier. All of Blamire, George and LCD are in the 17 stone range but Dolly is 15 and a half. All I can think is that Dolly is quite handy around the breakdown so could offer that impact off the bench if the English defence is tiring or struggling without Curry.
Oakboy wrote:Jones seems to just take against some players. Maybe McGuigan will get a look in eventually like Simmonds, Hill and Wilson. Or, is he another Armand? Will Ribbans's face ever fit?
This is with a large caveat of not having watched Falcons for a couple of seasons, but McGuigan seemed a decent nuts and bolts hooker, but nothing screaming Pick Me! At now at the age of 28, I don't see the point of him being a 3rd choice hooker. 3rd choice in my mind should either be someone old and internationally experienced to steady the ship in the event of injury (Marler, whilst Genge and Mako were being chosen), or young and upcoming to try and find the next big thing.
I'd have McGuigan in the top 5 hookers in the Prem on current form. He's been very good for Falcons, does lots of carrying effectively for not the biggest guy and then does those nuts and bolts things well. Unsure why he is consistently overlooked really.
I had presumed that Blamire was included more as he is on the bigger hooker side which Eddie has tended to prefer with LCD and George. Blamire looked a natural successor where as Dolly doesn't really fit, Blamire is a few inches taller and a stone and a half heavier. All of Blamire, George and LCD are in the 17 stone range but Dolly is 15 and a half. All I can think is that Dolly is quite handy around the breakdown so could offer that impact off the bench if the English defence is tiring or struggling without Curry.
On current form, OK, but again, do we need a non-internationally experienced, 28 year old hooker as 3rd choice? Or are we better off investing camp time and caps onto someone younger who will hopefully develop into a good international?
Raggs wrote:
This is with a large caveat of not having watched Falcons for a couple of seasons, but McGuigan seemed a decent nuts and bolts hooker, but nothing screaming Pick Me! At now at the age of 28, I don't see the point of him being a 3rd choice hooker. 3rd choice in my mind should either be someone old and internationally experienced to steady the ship in the event of injury (Marler, whilst Genge and Mako were being chosen), or young and upcoming to try and find the next big thing.
I'd have McGuigan in the top 5 hookers in the Prem on current form. He's been very good for Falcons, does lots of carrying effectively for not the biggest guy and then does those nuts and bolts things well. Unsure why he is consistently overlooked really.
I had presumed that Blamire was included more as he is on the bigger hooker side which Eddie has tended to prefer with LCD and George. Blamire looked a natural successor where as Dolly doesn't really fit, Blamire is a few inches taller and a stone and a half heavier. All of Blamire, George and LCD are in the 17 stone range but Dolly is 15 and a half. All I can think is that Dolly is quite handy around the breakdown so could offer that impact off the bench if the English defence is tiring or struggling without Curry.
On current form, OK, but again, do we need a non-internationally experienced, 28 year old hooker as 3rd choice? Or are we better off investing camp time and caps onto someone younger who will hopefully develop into a good international?
Depends on whether you want to end up with Ben Spencer /Nic Dolly on the bench in a World Cup final and be too scared to use him.
