Team for Italy

[Stom]

Perhaps they're worried about Slade and Marchant is the next in line...

I'm sure there are reasons for all the choices based on performance data. Though if Marler has been covering THP in training, I would have thought he'd need a little gametime there...

[Gloskarlos]

JJ has non specific muscle soreness according to the beeb

[Which Tyler]

OK, that's pretty insane...

England starting XV v Italy

15 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 35 caps)
14 Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
13 Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 2 caps)
12 Piers Francis (Northampton Saints, 7 caps)
11 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 46 caps)
10 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 72 caps) C
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 88 caps)

1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 61 caps)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 39 caps)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 88 caps)
4 Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 60 caps)
5 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 74 caps)
6 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 12 caps)
7 Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons/Sale Sharks, 14 caps)
8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 44 caps)

Finishers

16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 14 caps)
17 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 11 caps )
18 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 24 caps)
19 Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
20 Matt Kvesic (Exeter Chiefs, 3 caps)
21 Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 3 caps)
22 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 58 caps)
23 Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 7 caps)

Do you think he's trolling us with the flankers?

Watson at FB? That's a bit risky isn't it? If there's one position behind 9 where experience is essential, it's FB. Would much rather a Nowell or Daly, who've at least played there a dozen times or so.

[Mellsblue]

Can we safely say we are now going with playmaking 12/no Tuilagi at 12 or is just because of no Slade?

[p/d]

Not starting Itoje at 8. Eddie missed a trick there

[Scrumhead]

Not sure about Curry at 6 and Wilson at 7? Probably just numbering but switching it doesn’t seem to make much sense.

Interesting to see Kvesic on the bench too.

[Which Tyler]

Not sure about Curry at 6 and Wilson at 7? Probably just numbering but switching it doesn’t seem to make much sense.

Interesting to see Kvesic on the bench too.

I suspect it's a matter priorities.
Billynis an 8 only. If he needs game time, he starts at 8.
Curry is second choice 6. In which case, he needs some game time at 6, where he's asked to play slightly differently.
Wilson needs to okay somewhere, but it doesn't matter where, after the above, only the 7 shirt is available.

[fivepointer]

3 players involved who arent in the WC 31.
I guess Marchant, Ewels and Kvesic (hurrah) are on standby but its surprising that they are named.
Also surprised Billy starts but I think he's a player who is better playing rather than resting. Thought Singleton might feature,. He will go to the WC having about 10 minutes international rugby behind him.
McConnochie starting is a good thing, as is Lawes at lock and Watson at FB.
Wouldnt get too hung up on the flankers numbering. That is the trio we've all pretty much penned in as our best unit, so its a good thing they are given time together.
Slade's ongoing fitness issues must be a concern.

[Mikey Brown]

I'm assuming JNGF-bot blew a fuse and is now out of action upon seeing Curry at 6 and Wilson at 7. I'm amazed he hasn't commented.

I suppose I can buy the idea that he needs to practice the role he'd play if paired with Underhill but it just looks dumb when you have two players who clearly don't play those positions wearing the shirts. Though we seem to do that with our wingers all the time now too.

I'm curious what happens when we (hopefully) decide we need to keep Curry/Vunipola wrapped up. Equally George.

Excited to see McConnochie, Marchant, Watson at 15 and the Launch/Lawes reunited. They aren't our best lock combo but they dovetail so well.

Definitely doesn't look good for Slade.

[TheDasher]

Not sure about Curry at 6 and Wilson at 7? Probably just numbering but switching it doesn’t seem to make much sense.

Interesting to see Kvesic on the bench too.

I suspect it's a matter priorities.
Billynis an 8 only. If he needs game time, he starts at 8.
Curry is second choice 6. In which case, he needs some game time at 6, where he's asked to play slightly differently.
Wilson needs to okay somewhere, but it doesn't matter where, after the above, only the 7 shirt is available.

I have a hunch Curry is now 1st choice 6, with Underhill first choice 7. So as someone has said, Wilson is at 7 to get game time and our 1st choice 6 is getting a run out there again to get the practice.

Watson at 15 is a great move as we need some cover in case Daly screws it up royally during the tournament, and frankly we want another option.

Again I think we needed a proper back up 8 to be honest, but we've all had that debate.

[jngf]

I'm assuming JNGF-bot blew a fuse and is now out of action upon seeing Curry at 6 and Wilson at 7. I'm amazed he hasn't commented.

I suppose I can buy the idea that he needs to practice the role he'd play if paired with Underhill but it just looks dumb when you have two players who clearly don't play those positions wearing the shirts. Though we seem to do that with our wingers all the time now too.

I'm curious what happens when we (hopefully) decide we need to keep Curry/Vunipola wrapped up. Equally George.

Excited to see McConnochie, Marchant, Watson at 15 and the Launch/Lawes reunited. They aren't our best lock combo but they dovetail so well.

Definitely doesn't look good for Slade.

All I will say is Wilson’s even less of a 7 than Robshaw

[richy678]

Like most I'm happy to see Kvesic get half a sniff, however it will be as cover all the back row replacement if and when we get injuries.

Slade and JJ are big worries now - both worth a place in the squad if fit....but they havent been fit enough in the warm up tests and Manu is firing on all cylinders finally, Francis has done a decent job, Faz will play quite a bit at 12 and Daly really should be playing 13 and wing.

Feeling for Wilson - he played an absolutely storming season coming in at 6 - now the dream ticket wunderkinders of Underhill and Curry have managed to throw their hats in the ring (successfully and correctly) look the way forward, weve got to understand who is second choice 8 to understand all this.

[Mikey Brown]

We do! We know who it is! It's Wilson! Whether he is starting at 6 (where I would still pick him) or on the bench it's Wilson!

[Mellsblue]

Like most I'm happy to see Kvesic get half a sniff, however it will be as cover all the back row replacement if and when we get injuries.

Slade and JJ are big worries now - both worth a place in the squad if fit....but they havent been fit enough in the warm up tests and Manu is firing on all cylinders finally, Francis has done a decent job, Faz will play quite a bit at 12 and Daly really should be playing 13 and wing.

Feeling for Wilson - he played an absolutely storming season coming in at 6 - now the dream ticket wunderkinders of Underhill and Curry have managed to throw their hats in the ring (successfully and correctly) look the way forward, weve got to understand who is second choice 8 to understand all this.

Underhill will be injured by the second week. Wilson will get plenty of well earned game time.

[Oakboy]

It could be interesting if Kvesic comes on at 8. Has Jones got sufficient flexibility in his thinking though?

[TheDasher]

We do! We know who it is! It's Wilson! Whether he is starting at 6 (where I would still pick him) or on the bench it's Wilson!

Sorry, I meant a proper one.

[Puja]

We do! We know who it is! It's Wilson! Whether he is starting at 6 (where I would still pick him) or on the bench it's Wilson!

Sorry, I meant a proper one.

Oh, okay. In that case, it's Itoje.

Puja

[Danno]

If only he played there for his club.

Am I doing this right?

[TheDasher]

We do! We know who it is! It's Wilson! Whether he is starting at 6 (where I would still pick him) or on the bench it's Wilson!

Sorry, I meant a proper one.

Oh, okay. In that case, it's Itoje.

Puja

Haha, hell no.

Another big carrying threat.

[Mikey Brown]

I don’t understand what you’re proposing here. This seems as useful at this point as saying Cipriani should be in the squad.

[Puja]

If only he played there for his club.

Am I doing this right?

Puja

[Mellsblue]

I don’t understand what you’re proposing here. This seems as useful at this point as saying Cipriani should be in the squad.

As backup no8?

[TheDasher]

I don’t understand what you’re proposing here. This seems as useful at this point as saying Cipriani should be in the squad.

I'm not proposing anything. I said I wish we had a proper back up 8, someone said Itoje and I said no a threatening ball-carrier type 8.

It was a couple of posts of idle chit-chat on a forum... I'm not proposing anything and I'm certainly not advocating we discuss this again!

[Mikey Brown]

I don’t understand what you’re proposing here. This seems as useful at this point as saying Cipriani should be in the squad.

As backup no8?

I mean Scotland have named Darcy Graham as a forward so who knows. Even steady Eddie likes a curveball every so often.

[jngf]

I don’t understand what you’re proposing here. This seems as useful at this point as saying Cipriani should be in the squad.

As backup no8?

I mean Scotland have named Darcy Graham as a forward so who knows. Even steady Eddie likes a curveball every so often.

At 5’9” and 12st he’ll be their 6 then