RugbyRebels

Scrumhead wrote:Ford, Farrell, Tuilagi is the best combination of the players we have available. I don’t completely hate the idea of Farrell, Slade, Tuilagi, but since Slade barely ever plays at 12 and has failed to shine at 13 where he plays regularly I’m not sure about the wisdom of that, regardless of what Byron ‘Michigan’ McGuigan says.

Play any combo you like. Ireland will be happy as long as Youngs stays at 9.

Youngs is irrelevant if the forwards poop the sheets in the same manner as the last I don't know how many games in Dublin. See your point, but 10-12-13 are irrelevant as well in that event so ehhh.

Danno wrote:Youngs is irrelevant if the forwards poop the sheets in the same manner as the last I don't know how many games in Dublin. See your point, but 10-12-13 are irrelevant as well in that event so ehhh.

On paper, our squad of forwards match theirs man-for-man (with so few injury issues). The rest is up to Jones. Mind you, with your point in mind, I'd have Launchbury as captain.

I think there flankers are still slightly better than ours, but, it looks like injuries (either now or in the past) have landed us on at least a comparable bunch, rather than the heights of Wood and Haskell

How many decent SHs has Wales got? I thought Gareth Davies looked useful. Now Tomos Williams has pushed him to the bench. Why haven't we got similar resources?

Oakboy wrote:How many decent SHs has Wales got? I thought Gareth Davies looked useful. Now Tomos Williams has pushed him to the bench. Why haven't we got similar resources?

Because the welsh are chippier and that suits scrum-halves?

Renniks wrote:

Oakboy wrote:How many decent SHs has Wales got? I thought Gareth Davies looked useful. Now Tomos Williams has pushed him to the bench. Why haven't we got similar resources?

Because the welsh are chippier and that suits scrum-halves?

That should be funny but it's actually depressing. Good try, though.

How's Henshaw's kicking and highball defence? Him at 15 sounds like a potential weak link

He was a quality FB. Not played there much recently, though, right?

Renniks wrote:How's Henshaw's kicking and highball defence? Him at 15 sounds like a potential weak link

Henshaw has a big boot, is great in the air, a strong runner, good hands, decent enough speed and a powerful tackler, though he may be rusty on positioning. I'm sure England will be keen to test him at every opportunity. I doubt he will be the weak link. Schmidt does not take many gambles and Henshaw will have been put through his paces in training. Kearney was the weak link, especially in making his tackles and in failing to use the ball constructively. This could be an inspired move, and it allows a centre combination of Aki/Ringrose. Good chance that ex Sale man Addison could make the bench as cover for centre/wing/FB. He's been very impressive for Ulster and is apparently about the quickest man on the Ireland squad. On recent form, Conway is just as deserving of a bench slot.

The Times believe Jones will pick Daly at fullback despite:

Lunacy. I fear it will be a huge mistake if he does pick Daly at 15.

If Brown was out of form or Daly had shown any signs of looking like a test 15 there might be a decent argument, but Brown’s been in very good form and Daly isn’t even playing well in his more familiar roles.

I’m behind enemy lines in Dublin until tomorrow and the overall mood here (unsurprisingly) is pretty confident. I’d imagine they’ll be even more so if Daly’s named at 15.

Scrumhead wrote:Lunacy. I fear it will be a huge mistake if he does pick Daly at 15.

If Brown was out of form or Daly had shown any signs of looking like a test 15 there might be a decent argument, but Brown’s been in very good form and Daly isn’t even playing well in his more familiar roles.

I’m behind enemy lines in Dublin until tomorrow and the overall mood here (unsurprisingly) is pretty confident. I’d imagine they’ll be even more so if Daly’s named at 15.

I just wonder what Jones sees that convinces him that Daly is an international FB. It is the main position where the first fundamental requirement is defence with attacking a secondary function. Daly's selection in the 15 shirt has always struck me as an attacking ploy to partially cover inadequacy elsewhere (mainly at 9, 10, 12 of course).

Against Ireland I'd simply pick the best available defensive FB, Brown.

Is the team announced this morning?

11am

twitchy wrote:Is the team announced this morning?

Yes.

DT suggesting Vunipola, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Lawes, Wilson, Curry, BV, Youngs, Farrell, May, Tuilagi, Slade, Nowell, Daly.

I sincerely hope not...

Stom wrote:I sincerely hope not...

Me too . . . but probably for different reasons!

Oakboy wrote:

twitchy wrote:Is the team announced this morning?

Yes.

DT suggesting Vunipola, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Lawes, Wilson, Curry, BV, Youngs, Farrell, May, Tuilagi, Slade, Nowell, Daly.

No thanks.

As much as I rate Lawes, we need Kruis or Launchbury for grunt in the row, Tuilagi out of position at 12 is a bad idea and we’ve seen enough of Daly at 15 to know that it is not an acceptable proposition against anyone half decent, let alone Ireland.

It’s infuriating to think that we select a balanced back row for the first time in ages and then make bizarre compromises elsewhere.

I don't even rate Nowell, but is there anybody who wouldn't swap him and Daly around if they're both going to be selected?

If you're going to have one of Tuilagi/Slade out of position, surely set it up so you have the distributor at 12 given Ford will (presumably come on) with Farrell shifting to 12.

Oh god. Thinking about it maybe Te'o will be backup 12/13 and Ford will really only be there in case Farrell gets injured.

On a lighter note, this made me laugh.

Haha - witty and true

Hughes at 7. What the fuck?

Surely not

England squad vs Ireland

Elliot Daly; Chris Ashton, Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi, Jonny May; Owen Farrell, Ben Youngs; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes; Mark Wilson, Nathan Hughes, Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge, Dan Cole, George Kruis, Joe Launchbury, Dan Robson, George Ford, Jack Nowell.