England squad for start of 6N’s

[Oakboy]

Is that a wind-up? Not April 1st is it?

[Digby]

I'd be starting Launchbury, Curry and Ford and I'd probably venture as extreme as having one lock only and then one backrow on the bench

Still, Eddie retains a sense of humour if that's really the team

[Oakboy]

According to the DT, it's due to be announced at 11.45 am????

[Mikey Brown]

Too quick, Stom.

[Gloskarlos]

oh good god

[Stom]

Too quick, Stom.

You're a bastard, Mike Brown.

[Mikey Brown]

It should cushion the blow when the real team comes out.

[Mikey Brown]

I mean... hopefully.

[Stom]

Won't you feel a tit if that's actually the team!

[Stom]

Well, it's still pretty crap...

England starting XV (485 caps)
15 Elliot Daly (Wasps, 25 caps), 14 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 40 caps), 13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 17 caps), 12 Manu Tuiagi (Leicester Tigers, 27 caps), 11 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 29 caps), 10 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 65 caps), 9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 80 caps); 1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 51 caps), 2 Jamie George (Saracens, 32 caps), 3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 17 caps), 4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 26 caps), 5 George Kruis (Saracens, 27 caps), 6 Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons, 8 caps), 7 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 5 caps), 8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 36 caps).

Finishers (206 caps)
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 7 caps), 17 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps), 18 Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs, 15 caps), 19 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 68 caps), 20 Nathan Hughes (Wasps, 18 caps), 21 Dan Robson (Wasps, uncapped), 22 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 51 caps), 23 Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks, 42 caps).

[Stom]

I just don't understand it at all. Eddie, fuck off.

[twitchy]

So launch is injured?

[Oakboy]

How Launchbury can not be in the 23 defeats me.

[Stom]

Look, we've finally got our best front row and a functioning back row. But then we don't have our best lock, we don't have our best 10, we have a 13 at 12, and we have a wing at FB with no real FB cover...

It's insanity.

[Mikey Brown]

No Launchbury. Wow.

Interested to see how the centres line up given our one and only move (with Farrell) is the dummy runner from out to in and a pass behind.

That midfield defence has the potential to be hilariously bad.

[Oakboy]

I'm no Lions fan but even I know that Kruis got found out against the very top opposition. He must have surged ahead of any form I have ever seen if he is to be genuinely competitive with that Ireland second row.

[Stom]

I'm no Lions fan but even I know that Kruis got found out against the very top opposition. He must have surged ahead of any form I have ever seen if he is to be genuinely competitive with that Ireland second row.

He's our best setpiece forward...

We've picked our best scrummaging row. We're going to kick, scrum, and be boring as fuck.

[Renniks]

Hrmmm, this could be a lot lot worse.

Launchbury is confusing, but then if that means we can have the backrow without Lawtoje at 6

Daly isn't what any of us would do. Let's hope it doesn't fuck us over

9 and 12 are our weak positions anyway

[Oakboy]

According to the DT:

'Launchbury's neck issue for Wasps against Leinster may well have been a factor.'

[Scrumhead]

I just don't understand it at all. Eddie, fuck off.

Me neither! He really is pissing me off with his completely illogical approach to selection.

Murray and Sexton will be salivating at the prospect off Daly at 15.

[Danno]

Totally, utterly baffled.

The Grauniad have Launch on the bench instead of Hughes. I almost prefer that idea

[Stom]

I just don't understand it at all. Eddie, fuck off.

Me neither! He really is pissing me off with his completely illogical approach to selection.

Murray and Sexton will be salivating at the prospect off Daly at 15.

Not just that, but having Farrell shooting out of the line and then having Tuilagi out of position alongside him...

Aki is going to cause havoc in the 12 channel.

[Oakboy]

We need Banquo to explain it to us.

[Puja]

My only hope is that Daly has been setting the place on fire in training and has beaten out Brown on his showings there, rather than just being rhere because Eddie's got an idea in his head and doesn't want to be wrong. He is a good player and it's possible that he's turned it around with a fortnight in Portugal and a new environment.

First high ball will tell us whether it's even worthwhile watching the rest of the game. No pressure Ells.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

You’re right. If that area of his game clicks he could still be a fantastic fullback. If it’s not just Jones being stubborn I’ll be very happy.