Name your predicted squad for Argentina

[twitchy]

How can Isiekwe get picked with such limited rugby experience in a squad with so few locks?

I watched him play last week and while he didn't stand out he didn't look out of place. The england coaching set up must know all about him even if borthers will be away with the lions.

[Oakboy]

Quite interesting that Eddie says he doesn't want to debate the Lions selection but then adds the barbed comment about getting 3 or 4 of the guys up to a higher standard than the Lions selections.

[Mellsblue]

Quite interesting that Eddie says he doesn't want to debate the Lions selection but then adds the barbed comment about getting 3 or 4 of the guys up to a higher standard than the Lions selections.

Standard Eddie!!

[Scrumhead]

How can Isiekwe get picked with such limited rugby experience in a squad with so few locks?

I agree with it. We have Lawes, Launch, Kruis and Itoje already at a high level and nailed on for the foreseeable. Will Attwood or Symons really ever break into that? I'd say better to take a punt on a rising superstar and pour your resources into him rather than giving England caps to players who are unlikely ever to trouble the selectors again.

Puja

It's very soon ... but TBH, I have less of an issue with Isiekwe being selected, I'm just nervous about us taking only 3 locks, especially when two of them are very callow.

With the exception of Attwood, we don't have any other capped locks in realistic contention, but I think Symons or Barrow could/should have been selected as well as Isiekwe.

As we've seen recently, playing in the second row has it's occupational hazards and I think we should have taken the opportunity to blood at least one more with an outside chance of making it to Japan.

[Timbo]

You would feel looking at the wings that Jones is keen to develop a 'big' wing. Maybe he looks at Wade/Roko/Yarde and thinks they're in the same mould of what he already has.

Elsewhere, I really like Taylor but LCD is a special talent imo. Glad to see him in there.

[Peej]

How can Isiekwe get picked with such limited rugby experience in a squad with so few locks?

I agree with it. We have Lawes, Launch, Kruis and Itoje already at a high level and nailed on for the foreseeable. Will Attwood or Symons really ever break into that? I'd say better to take a punt on a rising superstar and pour your resources into him rather than giving England caps to players who are unlikely ever to trouble the selectors again.

Puja

It's very soon ... but TBH, I have less of an issue with Isiekwe being selected, I'm just nervous about us taking only 3 locks, especially when two of them are very callow.

With the exception of Attwood, we don't have any other capped locks in realistic contention, but I think Symons or Barrow could/should have been selected as well as Isiekwe.

As we've seen recently, playing in the second row has it's occupational hazards and I think we should have taken the opportunity to blood at least one more with an outside chance of making it to Japan.

I think this is a pretty sensible point. What I'd ask about Isiekwe is how likely he is to play at Sarries in the next two years given Kruis, Itoje, Skelton and Rhodes are all in front of him.

[Guwuffle]

Coaching wise, the press release includes the following about it, no one new brought in:

Jones has made a number of enforced changes to the coaching set-up to compensate for Steve Borthwick’s absence on the British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. Jones will take responsibility of the forwards, supported by scrum coach Neal Hatley.

Defence coach Paul Gustard adds the line-out and kick-off to his coaching remit and Glen Ella, who previously toured with England in Australia in 2016, will link-up with the squad in Argentina to assist Jones with the attack. The former Wallaby will be supported by skills coach Rory Teague.

[Scrumhead]

Props

Collier
Genge
Hill
Williams
Mullan

No huge surprises here but the selection of Collier and Williams suggests Eddie wants to develop a strong set-piece focused tight head as a contrast to the more mobile options like Sinckler and Hill.

Hookers

LCD
Hartley

Taylor can feel hard done by, but there isn't much between him and LCD and in a very inexperienced squad, Hartley's leadership role is key.

Locks

Ewels
Isiekwe
Launchbury

Strange. Taking only 3 locks leaves us exposed IMO and personally I feel like it's too soon for Isiekwe. I'd have taken four locks with Symons and Barrow ahead of him.

Back Row

Curry
Curry
Haskell
Hughes
Robshaw
Underhill
Wood

Only one 8 is an odd choice ... It's exciting to see the Currys and Underhill selected, but it's hard to see how 6 flankers will get meaningful game time on a two game tour. Hopefully we see one of the youngsters starting at 7 with the safety blanket of Robshaw at 6.

Halves

Care
Ford
Francis
Lozowski
Maunder

Interesting to see Maunder selected, buta big slap in the face for Robson. Francis is an interesting choice. Could be good, could be crap? Hard to tell at this point.

Centres

James
Mallinder
Marchant
Slade

I'm amazed by Mallinder getting in. It could either make him or crush him depending on the first impression he makes on Eddie. Pleased for James.

Back Three

Cockanasiga
Earle
May
Solomona

Interesting ... Solomona isn't a surprise but I'd far sooner have seen Wade. Earle has shown flashes of potential but is a wildcard. Cokanasiga could be amazing in a couple of years' time, but right now he's very raw and Championship rugby is no preparation for test rugby. His positioning looked very poor against Wales for the U20s so I'm concerned about chucking him in now ...

Vice-Captain

Mike Brown

: (

I've put my assessment on each element of the squad next to Digby's handy breakdown.

It's a risky squad on a number of levels. Eddie has clearly selected it with an eye on the future, but I'd imagine the Argies will be looking at this squad believing they can get 2 wins.

[Scrumhead]

http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/ ... ed-players

[twitchy]

http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/ ... ed-players

Good summary.

[bitts]

Has Jones just said: If you're not an established international at 25 you can do one?

I kind of get it, but it is harsh to players who haven't been picked largely due to dumb coaches in the past.

If he can get a couple of world class flankers out of the Currys and Underhill we will be laughing.

The back three is weird; Earle and Joc C haven't done nearly enough to be considered ahead of Yarde, May, and Roko. So I assume he's hoping to mould their raw talents into something special. Which is fair enough.

I hope we see Lozowski at fullback, as I think he's got a real future there.

I wonder if Eddie really thinks he is the wizard of Oz and is planning to give Mallinder courage?

[fivepointer]

Props

Collier
Genge
Hill
Williams
Mullan

No huge surprises here but the selection of Collier and Williams suggests Eddie wants to develop a strong set-piece focused tight head as a contrast to the more mobile options like Sinckler and Hill.

Hookers

LCD
Hartley

Taylor can feel hard done by, but there isn't much between him and LCD and in a very inexperienced squad, Hartley's leadership role is key.

Locks

Ewels
Isiekwe
Launchbury

Strange. Taking only 3 locks leaves us exposed IMO and personally I feel like it's too soon for Isiekwe. I'd have taken four locks with Symons and Barrow ahead of him.

Back Row

Curry
Curry
Haskell
Hughes
Robshaw
Underhill
Wood

Only one 8 is an odd choice ... It's exciting to see the Currys and Underhill selected, but it's hard to see how 6 flankers will get meaningful game time on a two game tour. Hopefully we see one of the youngsters starting at 7 with the safety blanket of Robshaw at 6.

Halves

Care
Ford
Francis
Lozowski
Maunder

Interesting to see Maunder selected, buta big slap in the face for Robson. Francis is an interesting choice. Could be good, could be crap? Hard to tell at this point.

Centres

James
Mallinder
Marchant
Slade

I'm amazed by Mallinder getting in. It could either make him or crush him depending on the first impression he makes on Eddie. Pleased for James.

Back Three

Cockanasiga
Earle
May
Solomona

Interesting ... Solomona isn't a surprise but I'd far sooner have seen Wade. Earle has shown flashes of potential but is a wildcard. Cokanasiga could be amazing in a couple of years' time, but right now he's very raw and Championship rugby is no preparation for test rugby. His positioning looked very poor against Wales for the U20s so I'm concerned about chucking him in now ...

Vice-Captain

Mike Brown

: (

I've put my assessment on each element of the squad next to Digby's handy breakdown.

It's a risky squad on a number of levels. Eddie has clearly selected it with an eye on the future, but I'd imagine the Argies will be looking at this squad believing they can get 2 wins.

It is. I'm a bit surprised about some of the calls. Some positions look light to me and Eddie hasn't left much wriggle room if there is an injury. Big expectation on at least 2 of the 19 year olds as Maunder and Isiekwe will definitely be named in the matchday 23. Isiekwe is some talent but a 19 year old lock in a test match after playing a handful of games for his club? Thats some ask. Might have been fairer to look at someone like Barrow, who at least has plenty of premiership game time behind him. One untested winger will also have to play and if Brown cops an injury I'm not sure what we will do.

Its definitely a major snub to those who have been with the squad like Harrison, Williams, Beaumont, Taylor, Yarde , Roko and Haley.

But jeez it is going to be genuinely interesting to see how the new and old shape up. It's going to be quite fascinating -
and I hope in a good way.

[Peej]

Joe Cokanasiga (winger, London Irish): "He's big mate. And he's fast. That's the only thing I see."

Suppose that sums up why Wade hasn't been picked, and won't be

[Mikey Brown]

Its definitely a major snub to those who have been with the squad like Harrison, Williams, Beaumont, Taylor, Yarde , Roko and Haley

Yep. Hard not to agree with that. Beaumont in particular seems to have a real blend of skill and power, would have liked to have seen him. Useful lock cover if it goes tits up too.

Do feel for Haley a bit. I'm fecking knackered and he mentions Mallinder as a 15 in that article above. What a last line of defence.

Lots of promise among the wings but I hope one of them can actually offer as much power or incision through the middle as Yarde or Roko do, because for their all faults they are very good at that and this backline looks like it could sorely do with it.

What do we reckon at 13? Marchant definitely has a future but would James maybe provide a bit more at the gainline, with presumably a Ford/Slade pairing inside?

[Peat]

Well... at least it isn't dull.

Taking Josh Beaumont instead of Wood would have solved three obvious problems with that squad

1) Only one 8
2) Only three locks
3) It contains Tom Wood

[Peat]

Also... what happened to it being difficult to get England caps? You're sitting Itoje at the start of the 2016 6N because its not quite the right moment but hurling them at lads who've barely played Premiership rugby?

[TheNomad]

Bemused re: Taylor, Haley and Robson...and a few others. Strange

Otherwise exciting

[Puja]

Bemused re: Taylor, Haley and Robson...and a few others. Strange

Otherwise exciting

Haley doesn't bother me so much - he's been very very average for Sale this season. I think he might've just been in a good run of form last year and not be as good as hoped.

Same with Robson and Spencer - they've not been turning in dominating performances and have not looked like internationals in waiting. I don't blame Eddie for skipping to the next generation.

Taylor, on the other hand, is massively unlucky.

Puja

[Banquo]

Bemused re: Taylor, Haley and Robson...and a few others. Strange

Otherwise exciting

Haley doesn't bother me so much - he's been very very average for Sale this season. I think he might've just been in a good run of form last year and not be as good as hoped.

Same with Robson and Spencer - they've not been turning in dominating performances and have not looked like internationals in waiting. I don't blame Eddie for skipping to the next generation.

Taylor, on the other hand, is massively unlucky.

Puja

Didn't Haley have a bad injury and not been the same since?

Robson has tailed off a bit; Spencer hasn't really had that much opportunity, but failed to shine when given it recently.

[Mellsblue]

3) It contains Tom Wood

Hehe. Funny but true.

[Raggs]

Thing is, Dan Robson has only just turned 25, could easily be in contention for 2023, let alone should really be challenging for 2019. There's building a long legacy, and leaving players out needlessly I feel.

[Mellsblue]

http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/ ... ed-players

Good summary.

Sam James might be a bit underwhelmed by his review.

[Oakboy]

Thing is, Dan Robson has only just turned 25, could easily be in contention for 2023, let alone should really be challenging for 2019. There's building a long legacy, and leaving players out needlessly I feel.

Maybe, it's Robson's perceived lack of progress this season? He HAS had game time whereas Spencer might claim he has not. I can't explain it otherwise. Let's face it, on his good days, this season, Youngs has not looked worse than Robson. That is some indictment, I know. I still believe that England cannot improve as a XV until we find a substantially better SH. I hoped that Simpson or Robson would step up but they haven't.

[TheNomad]

http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/ ... ed-players

Good summary.

Sam James might be a bit underwhelmed by his review.

Not really a lot specific to take away for Marchant either

Also agree about Beaumont, he'd have surely added something alongside being very versatile.

Looking at the positives, there are some incredibly exciting line ups you can draw up from up. They'd be raw as hell and probably mullered by a good side, but I'm glad they'll be getting some exposure

[Tom Moore]

http://www.espn.co.uk/rugby/story/_/id/ ... ed-players

Good summary.

The "Mallinder potentially a wing" comment was a little odd.