RugbyRebels

Scrumhead wrote:How do you define a ‘strike running winger’? I’d argue there are a few options in the squad that would fit that description.

A runner that will come off his wing and run a line similar to another centre in the midfield to give the flyhalf more passing options or allow one of the other centres to drift wide but keep the defence held and not drifting or flying up. Eddie's deployed Joseph on the wing previously to offer this and some other more powerful wingers have been trialled.

I suspect that Steward might be used from fullback as the additional strike runner allowing Farrell from 12 to offer the line to the outside. Marchant or Manu at 13 would mean to good options for Smith in the midfield and the out to the outside if it's on.

FKAS wrote:

Scrumhead wrote:How do you define a ‘strike running winger’? I’d argue there are a few options in the squad that would fit that description.

A runner that will come off his wing and run a line similar to another centre in the midfield to give the flyhalf more passing options or allow one of the other centres to drift wide but keep the defence held and not drifting or flying up. Eddie's deployed Joseph on the wing previously to offer this and some other more powerful wingers have been trialled.

I suspect that Steward might be used from fullback as the additional strike runner allowing Farrell from 12 to offer the line to the outside. Marchant or Manu at 13 would mean to good options for Smith in the midfield and the out to the outside if it's on.

Good point on Steward. Previously when we've seen the FFS midfield (Ford Farrell Slade) deployed and look utterly lateral, it's been with Daly at full-back, who is muddying the waters even further by trying to be a fourth playmaker. It might be different with a strike runner like Steward at the back.

Puja

Again are we just moving on from Malins at 15? All that time was spent complaining about Daly, Malins took the shirt and had one game there and now we're done with that?

Shiny bauble thinking is often something of a problem, but one game is short term even for shiny new bauble thinking.

Digby wrote:Again are we just moving on from Malins at 15? All that time was spent complaining about Daly, Malins took the shirt and had one game there and now we're done with that?

Shiny bauble thinking is often something of a problem, but one game is short term even for shiny new bauble thinking.

Might Malins not be the answer on the wing? I just like Steward as a proper fullback.

Oakboy wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:Ha. Yeah I knew as soon as I wrote that it was a mistake. Not a very clear or specific term.

EJ clearly has clearly wanted a Yarde/Cokanasiga (or even Nowell) esque option who can add a bit of power through the middle. None of them really (consistently) worked out, but that’s all I meant.

If he was thinking that way would Lynagh not have been his choice ahead of Radwan?

Sure yeah, but I’m not saying Radwan shouldn’t be in. EJ might not care about that at all at this point, and obviously ‘settling’ for May and Watson didn’t turn out too badly. It just felt like that was an option to bolster the backline a bit, similar to crowbarring Teo in when he clearly wasn’t demanding selection.

Oakboy wrote:

Digby wrote:Again are we just moving on from Malins at 15? All that time was spent complaining about Daly, Malins took the shirt and had one game there and now we're done with that?

Shiny bauble thinking is often something of a problem, but one game is short term even for shiny new bauble thinking.

Might Malins not be the answer on the wing? I just like Steward as a proper fullback.

I was assuming Malins on the wing, given that's where he's playing and starring for Saracens at the moment. If Watson was still present, then I'd be tempted by May/Watson/Malins as a back three, but with the situation as it is, I'd rather have May/Malins/Steward than have Radwan who I'm still not 100% convinced by.

Puja

Mikey Brown wrote:

Oakboy wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:Ha. Yeah I knew as soon as I wrote that it was a mistake. Not a very clear or specific term.

EJ clearly has clearly wanted a Yarde/Cokanasiga (or even Nowell) esque option who can add a bit of power through the middle. None of them really (consistently) worked out, but that’s all I meant.

If he was thinking that way would Lynagh not have been his choice ahead of Radwan?

Sure yeah, but I’m not saying Radwan shouldn’t be in. EJ might not care about that at all at this point, and obviously ‘settling’ for May and Watson didn’t turn out too badly. It just felt like that was an option to bolster the backline a bit, similar to crowbarring Teo in when he clearly wasn’t demanding selection.

Is Lynagh a powerful winger? I've not seen a huge amount of him, but what I have seen hasn't suggested he's a Yarde or Cokanasiga style presence.

Puja

He doesn’t appear to have incredible pace or power, but has a habit of getting through people he shouldn’t. Pretty much the opposite of Yarde in that sense. It wasn’t my suggestion but he is good at coming infield and straightening the line.

Mikey Brown wrote:He doesn’t appear to have incredible pace or power, but has a habit of getting through people he shouldn’t. Pretty much the opposite of Yarde in that sense. It wasn’t my suggestion but he is good at coming infield and straightening the line.

Oh, so kinda like a new Nowell. That sounds promising.

Puja

Digby wrote:Again are we just moving on from Malins at 15? All that time was spent complaining about Daly, Malins took the shirt and had one game there and now we're done with that?

Shiny bauble thinking is often something of a problem, but one game is short term even for shiny new bauble thinking.

Shiny new bauble or young player emerges just as England change structures etc whilst the incumbent has, as you say, one cap there? Shiny new bauble thinking is a problem but I don’t see it being an issue here.

Puja wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:He doesn’t appear to have incredible pace or power, but has a habit of getting through people he shouldn’t. Pretty much the opposite of Yarde in that sense. It wasn’t my suggestion but he is good at coming infield and straightening the line.

Oh, so kinda like a new Nowell. That sounds promising.

Puja

It’s not a bad call, actually. Except that Lynagh is a finishing animal and Jack… isn’t.

Stom wrote:

Puja wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:He doesn’t appear to have incredible pace or power, but has a habit of getting through people he shouldn’t. Pretty much the opposite of Yarde in that sense. It wasn’t my suggestion but he is good at coming infield and straightening the line.

Oh, so kinda like a new Nowell. That sounds promising.

Puja

It’s not a bad call, actually. Except that Lynagh is a finishing animal and Jack… isn’t.

Bit harsh on Nowell's finishing abilities, although Lynagh does appear to have a turn of pace that Nowell doesn't.

Puja

Ha Ha. You think the ball is going to get to wingers.

Stom wrote:

Puja wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:He doesn’t appear to have incredible pace or power, but has a habit of getting through people he shouldn’t. Pretty much the opposite of Yarde in that sense. It wasn’t my suggestion but he is good at coming infield and straightening the line.

Oh, so kinda like a new Nowell. That sounds promising.

Puja

It’s not a bad call, actually. Except that Lynagh is a finishing animal and Jack… isn’t.

Jack can play openside though

Mellsblue wrote:

Digby wrote:Again are we just moving on from Malins at 15? All that time was spent complaining about Daly, Malins took the shirt and had one game there and now we're done with that?

Shiny bauble thinking is often something of a problem, but one game is short term even for shiny new bauble thinking.

Shiny new bauble or young player emerges just as England change structures etc whilst the incumbent has, as you say, one cap there? Shiny new bauble thinking is a problem but I don’t see it being an issue here.

Exactly. Steward looks like the future at 15 and Malins has the versatility to be a great asset on the wing as well.

badback wrote:A lot of the new names in the squad I don’t recognize. Do we have a plan B if Tuilagi (inevitably) breaks down?

Isn't Atkinson the Manu Plan B, so that we have an actual centre that can get over the gain line?

Tom Moore wrote:

badback wrote:A lot of the new names in the squad I don’t recognize. Do we have a plan B if Tuilagi (inevitably) breaks down?

Isn't Atkinson the Manu Plan B, so that we have an actual centre that can get over the gain line?

Or even Plan C if Jones carries on picking Farrell at 12?

Scrumhead wrote:

Mellsblue wrote:

Digby wrote:Again are we just moving on from Malins at 15? All that time was spent complaining about Daly, Malins took the shirt and had one game there and now we're done with that?

Shiny bauble thinking is often something of a problem, but one game is short term even for shiny new bauble thinking.

Shiny new bauble or young player emerges just as England change structures etc whilst the incumbent has, as you say, one cap there? Shiny new bauble thinking is a problem but I don’t see it being an issue here.

Exactly. Steward looks like the future at 15 and Malins has the versatility to be a great asset on the wing as well.

I'm not sold on Steward or Malins so don't really mind either way, I am though amused there was so much insistence on Malin's inclusion which has vanished into the ether

Oakboy wrote:

Tom Moore wrote:

badback wrote:A lot of the new names in the squad I don’t recognize. Do we have a plan B if Tuilagi (inevitably) breaks down?

Isn't Atkinson the Manu Plan B, so that we have an actual centre that can get over the gain line?

Or even Plan C if Jones carries on picking Farrell at 12?

Hoping that the selection of 2 units and 2 playmaker means we'll get one of each, and that given we're playing Tonga first up everyone will get at least a game.

I'm going to be so disappointed at 11am Thursday.

Has the push for Malins disappeared? I thought basically everyone wanted him in at wing/fullback alongside May? Seems like a shootout between Steward and Radwan to me, and think I’d err towards Steward to start as well.

I'm still hot for Malins. He's one of those players (Lozowski/Goode) that I curse Sarries for not letting play 10 though. Feel he could have been ridiculously good there if given an extended chance...

Yup - I think there's still a lot of support for Malins isn't there?
Maybe less vocally so now that he's actually in the team, so not calling for change any more, but still very much present.

Also - agreed with Dan³ that I wish he had more game time at 10 - even if still specialising at FB

We've had a few fb/wing/occasional FH types. Slade ended up at centre. Lozowski normally does too. Might Malins?

Doesn't immediately shout centre for me. But then neither did Lozowski and I didn't imagine him on the wing so...

Tom Moore wrote:

badback wrote:A lot of the new names in the squad I don’t recognize. Do we have a plan B if Tuilagi (inevitably) breaks down?

Isn't Atkinson the Manu Plan B, so that we have an actual centre that can get over the gain line?

I don’t know anything about Atkinson. What’s he like?