England vs New Zealand

[p/d]

Farrell will be happy to have Ashton back. As for Mercer, perhaps having two electric blue scrum caps on the bench was just too much for Jonsey boy

[Mellsblue]

Jesus fuck.

This.

[Mikey Brown]

Mercer covering wing seems the obvious solution to that problem.

[TheDasher]

I really dont understand the Mercer omission. Seems very foolish to go in against NZ without a back rower on the bench. I would have thought you wanted more pace in that area in the final quarter (if not before) than likely less if/when Itoje moves back to 6.

Moon for Hepburn is fair enough. I can accept Ashton for Nowell, though i dont think it necessarily improves the side.

Manu cannot be fit enough, otherwise he would surely have featured.

Don’t worry, we might only be 5 minutes in to the game when Underhill gets injured.

Irritating... I wasn't saying it's good that Itoje could go to 6, I said it would be "hateful". But when you suggested he'd be tired I simply said the eventuality may happen earlier than 60 minutes. I didn't pick the team and I think the selection is ridiculous, I wouldn't have Lawes or Itoje at 6 so don't labour on this point ffs.

[ckeyn]

Tuilagi been training on his own most of the week so maybe explains his omission.

No Mercer is strange given his impact vs SA. See no carrying impact outside of George and Hepburn.

Two locks on the bench. Madness.

[p/d]

Underhill is an odd looking chap. That's all I have.

[Oakboy]

I suppose one consolation would be that if it was Shields who got injured even Lawes at 6 would be an improvement. I'd have started Mercer, never mind benched him.

Did anybody see much of Ashton at FB in France? NZ will certainly try us out with the high bomb. Our back three strikes me as mega-vulnerable.

[Stom]

So what we're basically confirming is that Jones has selected his 33 for the WC and no-one can get into that 33. There will be no chances for the likes of Mercer. If we have an opportunity to pick an experienced player, we will pick them.

Now we know we're not going to try to play fast rugby: we cannot pick that backrow and expect to play at pace. Instead, we're going to plod around for half a game before realising it's getting away from us, panicking and having a 10 minute period where May, Ashton and Daly combine, before the forwards start blowing out of their arses and we empty the bench...for the game changing carrying of Ewels and Lawes. Two players renowned for their...er....defense...

great

[Beasties]

Christ on a bike.

[Mellsblue]

Christ on a bike.

And this.

[Oakboy]

What is so aggravating is that the selection is not that many names off the best that can be done with the injury situation.

However, those 3 or 4 choices just seem crazy.

[Mikey Brown]

I really dont understand the Mercer omission. Seems very foolish to go in against NZ without a back rower on the bench. I would have thought you wanted more pace in that area in the final quarter (if not before) than likely less if/when Itoje moves back to 6.

Moon for Hepburn is fair enough. I can accept Ashton for Nowell, though i dont think it necessarily improves the side.

Manu cannot be fit enough, otherwise he would surely have featured.

Don’t worry, we might only be 5 minutes in to the game when Underhill gets injured.

Irritating... I wasn't saying it's good that Itoje could go to 6, I said it would be "hateful". But when you suggested he'd be tired I simply said the eventuality may happen earlier than 60 minutes. I didn't pick the team and I think the selection is ridiculous, I wouldn't have Lawes or Itoje at 6 so don't labour on this point ffs.

Apologies if this seemed like a personal attack on you. Though I do find it hilarious that your interpretation of this selection is the best possible one available and it’s still terrible. That’s not a dig at you.

I really like Underhill but even with adequate cover I don’t feel confident about his durability.

I could talk about Ben Youngs instead but I’m sure nobody wants that again.

[Beasties]

Every day just gets more and more weird with Eddie....

[Beasties]

Looking on the bright side, Ioane vs Ashton should be highly entertaining.

[p/d]

so much pressure on Wilson. Really hope he goes well as he has a touch of the Robshaw work ethic about him. May not be the most skillful but seems the type to look better the tougher the opposition are. 80 mins of full body on the line player!

then there is Brad....

[Stom]

Well, our ruck discipline did improve against SA, so perhaps the aim is to simply keep the ball. Who knows, if we can go through 20+ phases and 10 minutes of the game just 2 out, hit the ruck and fiddle around, NZ will be nice and fresh to dismember us in the final quarter

[Stom]

so much pressure on Wilson. Really hope he goes well as he has a touch of the Robshaw work ethic about him. May not be the most skillful but seems the type to look better the tougher the opposition are. 80 mins of full body on the line player!

then there is Brad....

We're keeping up a proud tradition of hanging one backrow out to dry.

[Scrumhead]

If Tuilagi is fit again then Eddie is a prick, we want/need him on the bench.

Two locks on the bench, illogical back row, no Mercer.

What the fuck is this man doing!! I can't bear it.

I’m starting to feel that way too. I literally have nothing to add.

[Oakboy]

so much pressure on Wilson. Really hope he goes well as he has a touch of the Robshaw work ethic about him. May not be the most skillful but seems the type to look better the tougher the opposition are. 80 mins of full body on the line player!

then there is Brad....

We're keeping up a proud tradition of hanging one backrow out to dry.

He brings a whole new meaning to 'unseen work'.

[Stom]

so much pressure on Wilson. Really hope he goes well as he has a touch of the Robshaw work ethic about him. May not be the most skillful but seems the type to look better the tougher the opposition are. 80 mins of full body on the line player!

then there is Brad....

We're keeping up a proud tradition of hanging one backrow out to dry.

He brings a whole new meaning to 'unseen work'.

Unfortunately, when his seen work is as, ahem, good as it is, it's probably better if he sticks to the unseen...

[Renniks]

Mercer is definitely the frustrating, unexplainable omission here.

The love in for additional locks continues…

Set-piece defence needs to be improved
Kicking games needs to be much better
Daly needs to adjust to the system and take the high balls
Youngs needs to make use of his new freedom at 9 to put pressure on Smith and Barrett
Te'o and Shields both need to be 100% better than they were for most of last weeks game
We need to hope no-one gets injured!

If we can do all that, in 1 week, we might not get absolutely killed…

Edited to add:
All these changes are about improving how we contain / defend better, in a game where last week we only conceded 11 points (regardless of opposition's unforced errors)
I'm not sure how we begin to score more…

[Stom]

I'm not sure how we begin to score more…

This is where I'm most concerned.

We've picked a big, slow pack. And then we've picked 3 players in the back 3 who do their best work supporting on shoulders. Which means someone in the centres needs to break the gainline. When our forwards aren't going to get to stretched rucks in time...

I don't understand it, I really don't. I can't see a situation with this team where we perform well.

[fivepointer]

I'm sure Eddie has been looking at this http://the1014.com/20-ways-to-improve-y ... ll-blacks/

Very good video up on youtube - How to Beat the All Blacks | The 1014 Rugby

Easy.

[I R Geech]

I'm not sure how we begin to score more…

This is where I'm most concerned.

We've picked a big, slow pack. And then we've picked 3 players in the back 3 who do their best work supporting on shoulders. Which means someone in the centres needs to break the gainline. When our forwards aren't going to get to stretched rucks in time...

I don't understand it, I really don't. I can't see a situation with this team where we perform well.

Sorry, but England are more fucked than Fucked Jack McFuck, winner of last year’s Mr Fucked Competition. The only thing I can think of that will be worse than being on the pitch is being in the stands, having paid to be there.

[p/d]

Could be worse...... just imagine if that scrawny so-called comedian Jack Whitehall got to service Kate Beckinsale