England vs Barbarians

[Puja]

So, in a proper format, that's:

Genge
Harrison
Buchanan
Singleton
Collier
Ford-Robinson
Schonert
Ewels
Isiekwe
Spencer
Robshaw
Ellis
Wilson
Underhill
Curry
Curry
Beaumont

Care
Wigglesworth
Ford
Lozowski
May
Yarde
Earle
Mills
James
Marchant
Brown
Haley


Wait, that means no Solomona?! Dreams can come true!

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Bloody hell. We are scraping the bottom of the barrel for this one. Mike Brown for goodness sake.

[fivepointer]

Alas no Heinz either.....

Pity the Saracens SH called up is Wiggy and not Spencer but there's no denying he's played very well this season.

7 back rowers is a bit over the top. Robshaw and Beaumont appear certs so its 2 others out of the rest.

[Puja]

Interesting selections ahead. You'd say on sheer immediate quality and AP form that Spencer over Isiekwe and Yarde over Earle would be obvious selections, but neither Spencer nor Yarde are going to Argentina, so Isiekwe and Earle have precedence. Plus I fail to see the point of Ryan Mills - he will never, ever be full England quality and I just don't see what the benefit of selecting him is. Also, with 7 back rows, Wilson looks to be a bit superfluous. And I wouldn't put it past Eddie to have told the Curry bros that there is one position available between the two of them, just to see how they react in training.

I personally would like to see:

Genge
Buchanan
Collier
Ewels
Isiekwe
Robshaw
BCurry
Beaumont

Care
Ford (c)
Yarde
Lozowski
Marchant
May
Brown

Harrison, Singleton, Schonert, TCurry, Underhill, Wigglesworth, James, Haley

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Broadly agree on that. Although I'd probably start with Spencer over Isiekwe and I'd prefer Ford-Robinson over Harrison on the bench.

I think Wilson might get the nod on the bench as someone who can cover 6, 7 and 8.

Like you, I think there may well b two back-rowers on the bench with Beaumont stepping in to the row later in the game.

Releived at Heinz being sent home. That really smacked of desperation ... not sure what's happening with Solomona though?

[Puja]

Broadly agree on that. Although I'd probably start with Spencer over Isiekwe and I'd prefer Ford-Robinson over Harrison on the bench.

I think Wilson might get the nod on the bench as someone who can cover 6, 7 and 8.

Like you, I think there may well b two back-rowers on the bench with Beaumont stepping in to the row later in the game.

Releived at Heinz being sent home. That really smacked of desperation ... not sure what's happening with Solomona though?

Maybe Solomona's gone to find where his heart is, given that it's not with England?

Ford-Robinson's a tight-head, not a loose-head. So Harrison's got to be on the bench cause he's the only backup to Genge.

Puja

[Adam_P]

Ford-Robinson plays both sides as far as I'm aware, admittedly much more often at tighthead

[Scrumhead]

Ford-Robinson plays both sides as far as I'm aware, admittedly much more often at tighthead

This - although TBH I thought it was the other way around.

I assumed Saints had signed him to replace Ethan Waller considering the already have Hill and Brookes competing fo the 3 shirt.

[Adam_P]

Ford-Robinson plays both sides as far as I'm aware, admittedly much more often at tighthead

This - although TBH I thought it was the other way around.

I assumed Saints had signed him to replace Ethan Waller considering the already have Hill and Brookes competing fo the 3 shirt.

We've signed van Wyk at loosehead

[Puja]

Ford-Robinson plays both sides as far as I'm aware, admittedly much more often at tighthead

This - although TBH I thought it was the other way around.

I assumed Saints had signed him to replace Ethan Waller considering the already have Hill and Brookes competing fo the 3 shirt.

I wasn't aware he could play 1 at all, so little has he done it for Bristol! Anyway, I don't think I'd have him at 1 for England, even in a non-cap game. Harrison's a solid Prem player, who's played in this fixture before and isn't a bad selection, even if not a particularly progressive one. It's vying for our 5thish best loosehead role (Marler, Mako, Genge, Mullan, with VRR and Catt there and about as well), so it's hardly vital.

Where *is* Nathan Catt, does anyone know? I'd've thought he'd be a much better option and he's not got a game on this weekend. Did he scare Eddie off with his couple of weeks in camp?

Puja

[jimKRFC]

JFR has also played hooker in the championship.

[fivepointer]

Doubt JFR will feature in the matchday 23. He's easily the 3rd best TH and the 2 LH spots are covered. Good in the loose but his scrummaging would seriously worry me.

Catt must be injured. He didnt play for Bath in their last couple of games so can only assume he's unavailable.

[Lizard]

Baabaas squad so far:
Backs: Bundee Aki (Connacht), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Bordeaux Begles & Australia), Yann David (Toulouse and France), Will Genia (Stade Francais & Australia), Maxime Medard (Toulouse & France), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster & South Africa), Charles Piutau (Ulster & New Zealand).

Forwards: Patricio Albacete (Toulouse & Argentina), Steffon Armitage (Pau & England), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse & France), Corey Flynn (Glasgow Warriors & New Zealand), Facundo Isa (Lyon & Argentina), Census Johnston (Toulouse & Samoa), Joe Tekori (Toulouse & Samoa), Jeremy Thrush (Gloucester & New Zealand).

[Puja]

Baabaas squad so far:
Backs: Bundee Aki (Connacht), Adam Ashley-Cooper (Bordeaux Begles & Australia), Yann David (Toulouse and France), Will Genia (Stade Francais & Australia), Maxime Medard (Toulouse & France), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster & South Africa), Charles Piutau (Ulster & New Zealand).

Forwards: Patricio Albacete (Toulouse & Argentina), Steffon Armitage (Pau & England), Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse & France), Corey Flynn (Glasgow Warriors & New Zealand), Facundo Isa (Lyon & Argentina), Census Johnston (Toulouse & Samoa), Joe Tekori (Toulouse & Samoa), Jeremy Thrush (Gloucester & New Zealand).

Not a bad selection of players, I suppose. I suspect that this will be one of those years where we get a tonking from the Baabaas.

Puja

[p/d]

Genia not even making Stade 23!!

[Timbo]

Charles Piutau is out injured. Can't see a tonking from the Baabaas, they'll probably be on the piss until Thursday.

Edit: and I would presume Bundee Aki's suspension rules him out of this?

[ckeyn]

Team announced:

Genge
Singleton
Collier
Ewels
Isiekwe
Robshaw
Underhill
Beaumont

Care
Ford
May
Lozowski
James
Earle
Brown


McGuigan, Harrison, Ford-Robinson, Ellis, B Curry, Wilson, Wigglesworth, Haley, Spencer, T Curry

[loudnconfident]

er... too many replacements (sorry, "Finishers") and one too many Currys? From englandrugby.com its:

15. Mike Brown (Harlequins, 60 caps)
14. Nathan Earle (Saracens, uncapped)
13. Sam James (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
12. Alex Lozowski (Saracens, uncapped)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 25 caps)
10. George Ford (Bath Rugby, 35 caps)
9. Danny Care (Harlequins, 71 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)
2. Jack Singleton (Worcester Warriors, uncapped)
3. Will Collier (Harlequins, uncapped)
4. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 3 caps)
5. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, uncapped)
6. Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, 55 caps)   
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
8. Josh Beaumont (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
 
Finishers: 
16. George McGuigan (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
17. Ross Harrison (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
18. Jamal Ford-Robinson (Bristol Rugby, uncapped)
19. Tom Ellis (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
20.  Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
21.  Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons, uncapped)
22. Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens, 27 caps)
23. Mike Haley (Sale Sharks, uncapped)

[twitchy]

Very interesting barbarians selection, we could be in for a long day if they get their act together.

[Mikey Brown]

I fucking love that backrow and midfield, which feels slightly weird to say about an England team.

Who is captain?

[Mikey Brown]

I thought Ellis was mainly a flanker too? Alongside two more flankers on the bench?

[ckeyn]

Could the Babas field this XV?

Mikheil Nariashvili
Schalk Brits
WP Nel
Joe Tekori
Patricio Albacete
Thierry Dusatoir
Steffon Armitage
Facundo Isa


Kahn Fotuali'i
Ian Madigan
Timoci Nagusa
Yann David
Ashley-Cooper
Waisea Nayacalavu
Alex Goode

??

[Mellsblue]

I thought Ellis was mainly a flanker too? Alongside two more flankers on the bench?

He is but he came through age group primarily as a lock (I think) and can play there. Jones also sees Beaumont as an option at lock.

[Adam_P]

I fucking love that backrow and midfield, which feels slightly weird to say about an England team.

Who is captain?

Robbo and Ford are captains

[fivepointer]

Mixture of excitement - I am genuinely interested in how players like Earle, Underhill and Isiekwe handle this - but also concern that there is so little experience up front or on the bench.
Immense pressure on a front 5 with 4 caps between them, a hooker who I don't think has started a prem game and a back up TH who has never been first choice at his club in the Prem. Its a very tall order.
Wish them well and hope that they can put in a decent performance.