New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread

[Puja]

The Times reckon Burt could be planning on playing Arundell at 13 when he goes to Racing: https://archive.ph/HrsWa

Puja

[Banquo]

The Times reckon Burt could be planning on playing Arundell at 13 when he goes to Racing: https://archive.ph/HrsWa

Puja

centre selection never a strong point for Burt tbf

[Margin_Walker]

The Times reckon Burt could be planning on playing Arundell at 13 when he goes to Racing: https://archive.ph/HrsWa

Puja

Now that would be interesting. Played there a bit for Harrow iirc. There's a lot of potential upside with his pace and power in the centres, but 13 is a big step up when it comes to defensive positioning.

[Banquo]

The Times reckon Burt could be planning on playing Arundell at 13 when he goes to Racing: https://archive.ph/HrsWa

Puja

Now that would be interesting. Played there a bit for Harrow iirc. There's a lot of potential upside with his pace and power in the centres, but 13 is a big step up when it comes to defensive positioning.

he has quick feet, which will help in defence at 13; to me though I'd think a less structured role would play to his strengths.

[Mellsblue]

Anyone remember Christian Cullen…

[Puja]

Anyone remember Christian Cullen…

Mmm. You do wonder whether it'd be exactly the same problem - his pace and footwork and ability to beat people in the open field may be wasted playing in the centres.

For my money, he's a 15 and should be nowhere else going forwards - such incredible ability in broken field needs to be given the opportunity to run back kicks.

Puja

[Banquo]

Anyone remember Christian Cullen…

Mmm. You do wonder whether it'd be exactly the same problem - his pace and footwork and ability to beat people in the open field may be wasted playing in the centres.

For my money, he's a 15 and should be nowhere else going forwards - such incredible ability in broken field needs to be given the opportunity to run back kicks.

Puja

at least cullen was already a great before being messed abaht

[Margin_Walker]

Cristian Cullen pfft.

I still remember the season Brian Smith decided that Sailosi Tagicakibau should actually be playing at 12 for LI.

Now that was a car crash

[Mikey Brown]

Can anyone who bothered to read that say whether that's actually any substance to it? Borthwick could be planning to play Marler at 13 for England. You can't really prove it one way or the other.

[Puja]

Can anyone who bothered to read that say whether that's actually any substance to it? Borthwick could be planning to play Marler at 13 for England. You can't really prove it one way or the other.

"Arundell was sold on a move to France by Racing’s new coach, Stuart Lancaster, the former England head coach, who may use him at centre outside the Fiji superstar Josua Tuisova."

It is a completely unsourced, throwaway line, in an article about something else, so there's probably not anything actually behind it. Just found it interesting more than regarding it as actual news. Wouldn't be surprised if he was tried there. Would be surprised if it was the long-term plan.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

I didn't even realise they'd signed Tuisova. Not sure I see the appeal of him at 13 beyond the obvious fast + strong.

Shame Russell's gone but if the forwards can do half a job and Tuisova/Fickou gel together Arundell could find himself having a pretty good time over there.

[Which Tyler]

Shame Russell's gone

I disagree

[Mikey Brown]

Shame Russell's gone

I disagree

Well in that sense yeah. Can’t wait to see him playing with Redpath every week. That’ll be a nice combo with old clog hands at 13.

Magic up a forward pack and you guys are in business.

[Which Tyler]

Du Toit and Barbeary will help in the pack.
We just lack any locks better than Ewels

Maybe a couple of months of the South African "diet" will have helped him

[FKAS]

Can anyone who bothered to read that say whether that's actually any substance to it? Borthwick could be planning to play Marler at 13 for England. You can't really prove it one way or the other.

"Arundell was sold on a move to France by Racing’s new coach, Stuart Lancaster, the former England head coach, who may use him at centre outside the Fiji superstar Josua Tuisova."

It is a completely unsourced, throwaway line, in an article about something else, so there's probably not anything actually behind it. Just found it interesting more than regarding it as actual news. Wouldn't be surprised if he was tried there. Would be surprised if it was the long-term plan.

Puja

I wonder how Fickou will take it being left out of the centres for two converted wingers.

11. Habosi
12. Tuisova
13. Fickou
14. Wade
15. Arundell

That looks a lot of fun. Not sure about the half back options though.

[FKAS]

Du Toit and Barbeary will help in the pack.
We just lack any locks better than Ewels

Maybe a couple of months of the South African "diet" will have helped him

How's Ewan Richards getting on? He's got the potential to be a standout.

[Which Tyler]

We didn't see much of him last year - had thought he was just out of favour with the coaches, but apparently he had a long niggling injury that just struggled to heal - one of those that's always about 2 weeks away from being ready, and never (to my memory) mentioned in the injury updates.

Played the first 3 PRC matches this (pre)season, captained the first 2, dropped out against the big boys.

Which is a lot of words to say "dunno at the moment"

[Epaminondas Pules]

The Times reckon Burt could be planning on playing Arundell at 13 when he goes to Racing: https://archive.ph/HrsWa

Puja

Now that would be interesting. Played there a bit for Harrow iirc. There's a lot of potential upside with his pace and power in the centres, but 13 is a big step up when it comes to defensive positioning.

He certainly did. Played a fair bit from 13 through 15, their main approach being give him the ball and he'll do something special. And they were largely right.

[Margin_Walker]

The Times reckon Burt could be planning on playing Arundell at 13 when he goes to Racing: https://archive.ph/HrsWa

Puja

Now that would be interesting. Played there a bit for Harrow iirc. There's a lot of potential upside with his pace and power in the centres, but 13 is a big step up when it comes to defensive positioning.

He certainly did. Played a fair bit from 13 through 15, their main approach being give him the ball and he'll do something special. And they were largely right.

Makes perfect sense at schoolboy level (even at a decent level like that).

Our school team was very ordinary, but we had a kid that was involved in the Wasps U18 setup on the wing. We played him at 12 to get the ball asap.

Ultimately, it'll be interesting to see if there's anything in it, but I suspect he'd be wasted in the centre and it would probably restrict his game

[Epaminondas Pules]

Can anyone who bothered to read that say whether that's actually any substance to it? Borthwick could be planning to play Marler at 13 for England. You can't really prove it one way or the other.

"Arundell was sold on a move to France by Racing’s new coach, Stuart Lancaster, the former England head coach, who may use him at centre outside the Fiji superstar Josua Tuisova."

It is a completely unsourced, throwaway line, in an article about something else, so there's probably not anything actually behind it. Just found it interesting more than regarding it as actual news. Wouldn't be surprised if he was tried there. Would be surprised if it was the long-term plan.

Puja

I wonder how Fickou will take it being left out of the centres for two converted wingers.

11. Habosi
12. Tuisova
13. Fickou
14. Wade
15. Arundell

That looks a lot of fun. Not sure about the half back options though.

Where they are weakest overall.

Le Garrec should start and then two new joiners in Hall and Le Bail, then at fly half they have Gibert, who is decent and Treddar another new joiner.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Now that would be interesting. Played there a bit for Harrow iirc. There's a lot of potential upside with his pace and power in the centres, but 13 is a big step up when it comes to defensive positioning.

He certainly did. Played a fair bit from 13 through 15, their main approach being give him the ball and he'll do something special. And they were largely right.

Makes perfect sense at schoolboy level (even at a decent level like that).

Our school team was very ordinary, but we had a kid that was involved in the Wasps U18 setup on the wing. We played him at 12 to get the ball asap.

Ultimately, it'll be interesting to see if there's anything in it, but I suspect he'd be wasted in the centre and it would probably restrict his game

He might get the very odd game there, but I doubt there is much substance in it. Their centres are stacked and fullback options less so. Spring and a young(ish) lad with 1 game to his name.

[FKAS]

"Arundell was sold on a move to France by Racing’s new coach, Stuart Lancaster, the former England head coach, who may use him at centre outside the Fiji superstar Josua Tuisova."

It is a completely unsourced, throwaway line, in an article about something else, so there's probably not anything actually behind it. Just found it interesting more than regarding it as actual news. Wouldn't be surprised if he was tried there. Would be surprised if it was the long-term plan.

Puja

I wonder how Fickou will take it being left out of the centres for two converted wingers.

11. Habosi
12. Tuisova
13. Fickou
14. Wade
15. Arundell

That looks a lot of fun. Not sure about the half back options though.

Where they are weakest overall.

Le Garrec should start and then two new joiners in Hall and Le Bail, then at fly half they have Gibert, who is decent and Treddar another new joiner.

Yeah I've been expecting Racing to announce some half back reinforcements but just hasn't come. Maybe there's still time post world cup.

[Epaminondas Pules]

I wonder how Fickou will take it being left out of the centres for two converted wingers.

11. Habosi
12. Tuisova
13. Fickou
14. Wade
15. Arundell

That looks a lot of fun. Not sure about the half back options though.

Where they are weakest overall.

Le Garrec should start and then two new joiners in Hall and Le Bail, then at fly half they have Gibert, who is decent and Treddar another new joiner.

Yeah I've been expecting Racing to announce some half back reinforcements but just hasn't come. Maybe there's still time post world cup.

Same. It’s the one seemingly obvious gap of ‘galactico’ talent

[Puja]

Watching Wales's defence against Argentina made me regret that getting Sinfield in led to us missing out on Mike Forshaw. I did expect that he was going to be good, given what he did with making Sale's defence so obdurate, but he really does appear to be the second coming of Shaun Edwards so far.

Typical England, tbh. The choice of two famous League names, and we go for the "inspirational leadership" one, rather than the competent one.

Puja

[Banquo]

Watching Wales's defence against Argentina made me regret that getting Sinfield in led to us missing out on Mike Forshaw. I did expect that he was going to be good, given what he did with making Sale's defence so obdurate, but he really does appear to be the second coming of Shaun Edwards so far.

Typical England, tbh. The choice of two famous League names, and we go for the "inspirational leadership" one, rather than the competent one.

Puja

ditto Mike Catt's influence in Ireland. And big Faz, obvs.