Name your predicted squad for Argentina

[padprop]

Fofana? Atkinson?

Who?

Fofana can't even get into the French squad half the time.

[Mellsblue]

Fofana? Atkinson?

Who?

Fofana can't even get into the French squad half the time.

Mark Atkinson, obviously. Running joke - I picked him as breakthrough player last year and he can't even get past 12t at Gloucester.

Fairly certain Fofana is first choice under Noves other than when injured, as he was for the 6N. Not always being first choice under previous regimes may go in his favour.

[bitts]

Teo and JD over JJ? Gatball here we come!

Launchberry would be desperately unlucky. He's smashed pretty much everyone he's been in front of recently. Not entirely sure AWJ or any of the Irish locks can claim that sort of recent International form.

These articles seem to be saying 14 English. So I assume:

Cole
Sinclair
Mako
Billy
Farrell
Lawes
Itoje
Youngs
Teo
Watson
Hartley
George
Daly
Marler

From an England POV I'm happy with that. Wonder how big the Welsh contingent will be

Wonder how big the Welsh r

[padprop]

Fofana? Atkinson?

Who?

Fofana can't even get into the French squad half the time.

Mark Atkinson, obviously. Running joke - I picked him as breakthrough player last year and he can't even get past 12t at Gloucester.

Fairly certain Fofana is first choice under Noves other than when injured, as he was for the 6N. Not always being first choice under previous regimes may go in his favour.

Haha I was hoping you wouldn't pick up on that as soon as I posted it

[Timbo]

Teo and JD over JJ? Gatball here we come!

Launchberry would be desperately unlucky. He's smashed pretty much everyone he's been in front of recently. Not entirely sure AWJ or any of the Irish locks can claim that sort of recent International form.

These articles seem to be saying 14 English. So I assume:

Cole
Sinclair
Mako
Billy
Farrell
Lawes
Itoje
Youngs
Teo
Watson
Hartley
George
Daly
Marler

From an England POV I'm happy with that. Wonder how big the Welsh contingent will be

Wonder how big the Welsh r

From what I'm reading I think you've probably nailed it, except Hartley out and Kruis in.

[Lizard]

It is a strange anomaly in world rugby but there seems to be an absence of talent at 12 for years. Apart from SBW there seems to be no 12 in the world that ticks all the boxes.

Say "Hello" to Mr Laumape. You'll be seeing him, or at least the "12" on the back of his shirt, for the Hurricanes (and possibly the All Blacks) against the Lions. His long-passing game is not yet a noticeable strength but even Nonu took a while to move past bash, dash and off-load.

[Spiffy]

Fofana? Atkinson?

Who?

Fofana can't even get into the French squad half the time.

He is in the squad when he's fit. Probably the best 12 in Europe.

[Spiffy]

Teo and JD over JJ? Gatball here we come!

Launchberry would be desperately unlucky. He's smashed pretty much everyone he's been in front of recently. Not entirely sure AWJ or any of the Irish locks can claim that sort of recent International form.

These articles seem to be saying 14 English. So I assume:

Cole
Sinclair
Mako
Billy
Farrell
Lawes
Itoje
Youngs
Teo
Watson
Hartley
George
Daly
Marler

From an England POV I'm happy with that. Wonder how big the Welsh contingent will be

Wonder how big the Welsh r

I could understand the selection of Teo, as he is big, powerful, is a direct runner who also has some footwork, has passing skills and can play 12 and 13. But I don't think Davies deserves selection on this season's form. JJ at the top of his form in a great attacking 13 and he is a sound defender too. Daly, even if taken as a wing, is an option at 13 too, with tremendous paace and a big left boot. I'd even have Ringrose ahead of Davies.

Re Launchbury - he would be my No.1 choice for lock.

[Spiffy]

It is a strange anomaly in world rugby but there seems to be an absence of talent at 12 for years. Apart from SBW there seems to be no 12 in the world that ticks all the boxes.

Lions wingers that would acquit themselves well against NZ:
North
Watson
Williams
Roko (Poor form recently but cancelled Savea out in his only cap)
Nowell
Daly
Zebo

13's that would acquite themselves well:
Jones
Daly
Joseph
Davies
Tuilagi if he was fit
Ringrose
(Whatver happened to Ashley Beck?)

12's that would acquit themselves well:
Henshaw
Farrell (At a push)
An unproven T'eo

Just wonder where the likes of Nonu, Fourie, Giteau, Jauzion and JVD have gone on the international scene.

Would not have North, Roko or Nowell in the squad. North is great going forward but is a poor defender. Nowell is OK but lacks gas and there are better wings. Roko has limited international experience. Would prefer to see Seymour and Earls in there. Earls is quite small (but not as small as Shane Williams) but is still a clinical finisher, has improved his defence immensly in the past couple of seasons and tackles like a demon now.

[twitchy]

Very happy if joseph and launch can come to argentina. Let's keep english involvement in the charity shield to a minimum.

[Peat]

I'm gonna try and keep my indignation dry until its official but its difficult to know whether to be more WTF at not taking Launchbury, probably currently the best lock available, or taking Jiffy jnr, who's the rugby equivalent of a stale cabbage fart by now. I can understand Gatland not taking Joseph but not if the answer is Davies.

Would be great for England to make Launch one of the squad leaders for Argentina though.

[Digby]

I think whoever is picked at lock will be an excellent player, and still some excellent locks will not be picked. I do wonder how much Launch not being the best lineout operator will count against him, especially if the back row mayn't have a serious lineout option, as it's a hell of a lineout unit that NZ have. If it's not the lineout that counts against Launch then it is odd, though he does have more than the odd issue with catching restarts, namely that he doesn't seem able to judge the flight of the ball, stands in the wrong place and then doesn't catch them (though I don't really understand why others can't do that role too), and losing restarts after you've just scored isn't going to make a lot of coaches happy

[Scrumhead]

Very happy if joseph and launch can come to argentina. Let's keep english involvement in the charity shield to a minimum.

I want the Lions to do well and I want our players to get the recognition they deserve, but on the other hand, I detest Gatland and England will always come first for me.

If he's dumb enough to omit the best lock in the NH and the best 13 available to him, then he's even more of an idiot than I thought.

A midfield of Ford, Slade and Joseph would be very nice indeed and Launchbury would be a popular choice of captain (I wouldn't take Hartley regardless of Lions selection).

[jngf]

No Launchers is mad. I accept that AWJ will tour, and Johnny Gray is a great player, but Launch was the standout lock in the 6 Nations and is a European player of the year nominee. None of the Irish locks come close to him

Agreed Launchberry is a better player than Kruis and for all his potential Itoje at this point in time imo.

[Stom]

So...

Genge
Mullan

Hartley
LCD
Taylor

Brookes
Hill
Collier?

Launchbury
Attwood
Ewels
?

Robshaw
Haskell
Underhill
Hughes
Jones

Care
Robson
Spencer

Ford
Burns

Slade
Devoto
Marchant
?

Roko
May
Yarde

Woodward
Haley

[Puja]

So, we'll officially be missing:

Marler
Mako
George
Cole
Sinckler
Kruis
Lawes
Itoje
BillyV
Youngs
Fazlet
Te'o
Joseph
Daly
Nowell
Watson

Does that change anyone's opinions?

Puja

[bitts]

So...

Genge
Mullan

Hartley
LCD
Taylor

Brookes
Hill
Collier?

Launchbury
Attwood
Ewels
?

Robshaw
Haskell
Underhill
Hughes
Jones

Care
Robson
Spencer

Ford
Burns

Slade
Devoto
Marchant
?

Roko
May
Yarde

Woodward
Haley

I'd rest launchberry, Care and Haskell and 'rest' Hartley.

I'd add in James from Sale, Wade, swap Loz for Woodward.

I'm not sure I rate Spencer, so I'd be tempted to give Maunder a look. Although we probably need a third scrum half so I'm struggling to think who else I'd take.

Bigger questions are:
What can we actually learn from this, given so many are away with Lions?
What do we hope to see?
Will it have any effect on Jones' plans going forward?

And finally. Is Kruis a Borthwick favourite? If so will I never see the Itoje - Launch second row I'm convinced will be epic?

[El Tigre]

Is Ribbans EQP? If so I'd be willing to take him on the form he's shown.

[twitchy]

So...

Genge
Mullan

Hartley
LCD
Taylor

Brookes
Hill
Collier?

Launchbury
Attwood
Ewels
?

Robshaw
Haskell
Underhill
Hughes
Jones

Care
Robson
Spencer

Ford
Burns

Slade
Devoto
Marchant
?

Roko
May
Yarde

Woodward
Haley

I'd rest launchberry, Care and Haskell and 'rest' Hartley.

I'd add in James from Sale, Wade, swap Loz for Woodward.

I'm not sure I rate Spencer, so I'd be tempted to give Maunder a look. Although we probably need a third scrum half so I'm struggling to think who else I'd take.

Bigger questions are:
What can we actually learn from this, given so many are away with Lions?
What do we hope to see?
Will it have any effect on Jones' plans going forward?

And finally. Is Kruis a Borthwick favourite? If so will I never see the Itoje - Launch second row I'm convinced will be epic?

Jngf has poisoned your mind.

[Puja]

Is Ribbans EQP? If so I'd be willing to take him on the form he's shown.

He is although I can't see any references to if it's a parent or grandparent. I'd be with you on his form, definitely.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

I'd rest launchberry, Care and Haskell and 'rest' Hartley.

I'd add in James from Sale, Wade, swap Loz for Woodward.

I'm not sure I rate Spencer, so I'd be tempted to give Maunder a look. Although we probably need a third scrum half so I'm struggling to think who else I'd take.

Bigger questions are:
What can we actually learn from this, given so many are away with Lions?
What do we hope to see?
Will it have any effect on Jones' plans going forward?

And finally. Is Kruis a Borthwick favourite? If so will I never see the Itoje - Launch second row I'm convinced will be epic?

I think there is plenty of value to this tour. It gives us the opportunity to test the fringe players who have a realistic chance of establishing a place in the EPS.

If Eddie also takes the chance to 'rest' the likes of Hartley and Brown, we can take a serious look at the alternatives that we might not otherwise have had.

I hope to see experimentation in the back row, scrum half and fullback as well as a good look at Slade at 12. I'd also like to see Launchbury as captain.

If the experiments go well enough, I think some changes could definitely influence Eddie's plans moving forward.

[JellyHead]

It's going to be an insight into Eddies philosophy. He wanted to build a winning habit. He did. He wanted to bring in some younger players. He did. Now what will be interesting is whether he goes back to Goode, Barritt etc as experienced campaigners who, lets be fair, as 3rd fourth choices aren't bad, and they will be up to the job against Argentina. Or does he go for broke and replace the Lions call ups with promising youngsters even if it means trying them in different positions.

[Tom Moore]

On the assumption that the jamboree takes the following:
Mako, Marler, Cole, Itoje, Launch, Billy
Farrell, Joseph, Daly, Watson:

Genge, Rapava-Ruskin, Catt
George, Taylor, LCD,
Sinckler, Hill, Brookes
Kruis, Beaumont, Ewels, Barrow
Curry, Curry, Fearns, Underhill
Mercer, Morgan

Spencer, Robson, Maunder
Lozkowski, Burns
Teo, Slade, Marchant, James
Roko, Solomona, Wade
Woodward, Marshall, Haley

• Everyone who contributed in the 6N gets a rest except Te'o and Sinckler, who need more test rugby.
  3 9's and 3 15's, those being the biggest areas to work on in the backs.
  4 uncapped flankers probably a risk, but I hope never to see Wood or Terrible Timmy in an England squad again. I'd be happy to swap Williams for one of the Currys dependent on the U-20 coaches views.
  Could be persuaded of the same thing on Mercer too, would have Beaumont cover 8.
  Kruis to skipper.

So, on the basis that I didn't quite get the above right:
Thomas for Sinckler
Thacker for George
Symons for Kruis
Addison for Te'o

[Raggs]

We're missing 16 already. I'd not rest anyone else, there's plenty of scope for new blood with those missing. Argentina will be a tough tour, and sending a bunch of kids to get smashed won't help anyone.

Maybe be a bit looser on the starters than usual (Brown in the 23 shirt, Hask/Robshaw on the bench) to give some youngsters a starting berth, but don't leave anyone at home (at least not for me).

[Renniks]

I'd love to see what Jones could do with a XV of:
Genge, Taylor, Hill
Ewels, Launchbury
Underhill, Curry, Mercer
Robson, Lozowski,
May, Slade, Marchant, Wade,
Haley

But equally,
I'd be happy to see a XV with
Robshaw, Haskell, Hughes, and Ford in

Players I'd rather not see tour
Hartley, Wood, Care, and Brown