England squad for start of 6N’s

[twitchy]

Pretty much no complaints. Let's hope they get through this weekend unscathed.

[richy678]

As with most - that squad looks about right to me.

Englands midfield is always the problem. But they have to sort it out now.
I would put Manu at 12 and Daly at 13 - and not pass it to Manu if we want the ball wide.
Faz at 12 - but if he starts shoulder charging people - get him off.

Brown had to come back to sure up fullback. I think he is the type of player to respond properly.

Are we expecting too much to see a proper 6 in Wilson, a proper 8 in Billy and proper 7 in Curry being picked?

lets hope Launch is properly ready and can use his bulk and skill where it matters.

Well - no point f**king around now, were playing the 2nd best team in the world, in a world cup year - get it all out there.

I don't think there's any real point in having Manu at 12. You want unintelligent, unchallenging bosh in close, you're better off with Te'o. The advantage of Manu is letting him attack the wider channels, targetting gaps between players and making the wide players feel like they need to start stepping in, at which point he becomes the dummy play.

You can use him as a crash ball 12, but it'd be a waste.

Wiggler as nailed on third choice 9?

No name check for Joseph as not named in question or not 100% returning when fit?

Not sure how he's certain Devoto's ready for Test rugby given that he's never worked with him nor had him in camp before. But positive nonetheless.

Puja

Absolutely hear what your saying. (Faz at 10 BTW - typo)

Realise all the accepted wisdom about Manu, a lot of it stems from a previous England regime where it seemed the only plan was " give it to Manu".

* Teo hasn't performed as strong/crash/north south running 12.
* Eddie seems to be looking for that type of player.
* The ball does not have to go through Manu's hands mechanically each time we have possession.
* He is not the sharpest knife in the draw (bless him), but he is experienced now.
* He will bust through a tackle at least a couple of times in a game.
* I am going to admit that I maybe stretching my point if I suggested Daly and Manu reverse a bit - not least as we do not want Daly playing as an inside back.

[Scrumhead]

I know it’s not likely to be popular, but I’d far rather Ford at 10 with Farrell at 12 and Manu at 13.

[Raggs]

Mako, lcd, sink, launch, itoje, hughes, wilson, billy, youngs, faz, fiji joe, teo, manu, may, brown

Hulk smash!!!!

[Renniks]

I know it’s not likely to be popular, but I’d far rather Ford at 10 with Farrell at 12 and Manu at 13.

Whilst not hugely popular, because we feel we should have something else… I think at least in the AIs, there seemed to be a lot of agreement with this, especially if the alternative was Farrell Teo Manu

And, Farrell Teo Slade wasn't absolutely singing

[richy678]

I know it’s not likely to be popular, but I’d far rather Ford at 10 with Farrell at 12 and Manu at 13.

You see - I can see the absolute sense of that - I just feel Ford goes into his shell when he's playing with his minder.

We've seen him play absolute beautiful - working the ball around the pitch, finding half gaps in the opposition red zone - pinging passes. He just doesn't do it with Faz next to him.

I am concerned Faz will have his card marked by all the refs following the Autumn and may be in the bin this year.

Time is up now as well. World Cup Year 6n. We don't really have time to get anymore kids in. Joseph coming back and ready to go will stand us in good stead - but sometimes they just don't come back.

[richy678]

Mako, lcd, sink, launch, itoje, hughes, wilson, billy, youngs, faz, fiji joe, teo, manu, may, brown

Hulk smash!!!!

Because, like, May physically intimidates every f**ker he has ever played against.

[Raggs]

Mako, lcd, sink, launch, itoje, hughes, wilson, billy, youngs, faz, fiji joe, teo, manu, may, brown

Hulk smash!!!!

Because, like, May physically intimidates every f**ker he has ever played against.

He's fairly sizeable, even if it's not obvious. And I'm not putting Manu on the wing etc.

Genge, George, Williams, Lawes, curry, Robson, Ford, Daly to come on and put pace on the ball.

[richy678]

Mako, lcd, sink, launch, itoje, hughes, wilson, billy, youngs, faz, fiji joe, teo, manu, may, brown

Hulk smash!!!!

Because, like, May physically intimidates every f**ker he has ever played against.

He's fairly sizeable, even if it's not obvious. And I'm not putting Manu on the wing etc.

Genge, George, Williams, Lawes, curry, Robson, Ford, Daly to come on and put pace on the ball.

Culturally, I want to see Sinkler and Genge (However Mako is the proper choice at the moment) start. This is a bit tongue in cheek....but then again....
It isn't .

Big aggressive angry young men. Get their mates at your club and everybody wins.

[Raggs]

Because, like, May physically intimidates every f**ker he has ever played against.

He's fairly sizeable, even if it's not obvious. And I'm not putting Manu on the wing etc.

Genge, George, Williams, Lawes, curry, Robson, Ford, Daly to come on and put pace on the ball.

Culturally, I want to see Sinkler and Genge (However Mako is the proper choice at the moment) start. This is a bit tongue in cheek....but then again....
It isn't .

Big aggressive angry young men. Get their mates at your club and everybody wins.

That lineup should be considered in my mind, it's obvious what the strategy would be, but it's very much an exeter chiefs approach, you know what's coming, try and stop it. Then after 60 minutes of stopping it, you have to face a completely different and faster threat.

[Renniks]

Genge, LCD, Sinckler, Lawes, Itoje, Clifford, Curry, Billy

With Mako, George, Williams, Launchbury, Wilson coming on at 60 to see the game out, or 40 to rescue it if a different tact is needed

(Again, only half joking)

[Scrumhead]

I know it’s not likely to be popular, but I’d far rather Ford at 10 with Farrell at 12 and Manu at 13.

You see - I can see the absolute sense of that - I just feel Ford goes into his shell when he's playing with his minder.

We've seen him play absolute beautiful - working the ball around the pitch, finding half gaps in the opposition red zone - pinging passes. He just doesn't do it with Faz next to him.

I am concerned Faz will have his card marked by all the refs following the Autumn and may be in the bin this year.

Time is up now as well. World Cup Year 6n. We don't really have time to get anymore kids in. Joseph coming back and ready to go will stand us in good stead - but sometimes they just don't come back.

I’m not sure I entirely agree with that. He’s had plenty of games where he’s been the architect of most of our best attacking play with Farrell alongside him. For example, on the SA tour, anything good we did in attack came from Ford. We just fell apart elsewhere on the pitch.

[Stom]

I know it’s not likely to be popular, but I’d far rather Ford at 10 with Farrell at 12 and Manu at 13.

Considering we're stuck with Farrell, it's our only option.

[Oakboy]

I know it’s not likely to be popular, but I’d far rather Ford at 10 with Farrell at 12 and Manu at 13.

Considering we're stuck with Farrell, it's our only option.

Except that Jones gave every indication, with his AI selection, of not believing in the Fs at 10/12 any more. I don't know which way he'll go and as I'd still play Cipriani/Slade/Tuilagi from choice how could I second guess him? Maybe, regrettably, Farrell/T'eo/Tuilagi is Jones's preference. The odds on Ford/Devoto/Slade can't be good !

[Puja]

I know it’s not likely to be popular, but I’d far rather Ford at 10 with Farrell at 12 and Manu at 13.

I would take the hell out of that. The Ford/Farrell axis has been responsible for some very exciting play for England and having Manu outside to provide a credible threat/offer the crash while Farrell drifts behind on the pull-back would be utterly ideal for me.

Puja

[Danno]

I know it’s not likely to be popular, but I’d far rather Ford at 10 with Farrell at 12 and Manu at 13.

I would take the hell out of that. The Ford/Farrell axis has been responsible for some very exciting play for England and having Manu outside to provide a credible threat/offer the crash while Farrell drifts behind on the pull-back would be utterly ideal for me.

Puja

I've always had the notion that Jones wanted this setup right from the get-go, despite the early statements about Nonu learning to pass and kick when asked about Manu in press conferences. Ireland might be a horrible time to try it out but fitness permitting I can see it getting some minutes against Italy to see how it goes.

Bit late mind.

[twitchy]

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rug ... 33371.html

[Renniks]

Well, based on that, I think Sam Simmonds could make a great bolter at centre…

[Puja]

I know it’s not likely to be popular, but I’d far rather Ford at 10 with Farrell at 12 and Manu at 13.

I would take the hell out of that. The Ford/Farrell axis has been responsible for some very exciting play for England and having Manu outside to provide a credible threat/offer the crash while Farrell drifts behind on the pull-back would be utterly ideal for me.

Puja

I've always had the notion that Jones wanted this setup right from the get-go, despite the early statements about Nonu learning to pass and kick when asked about Manu in press conferences. Ireland might be a horrible time to try it out but fitness permitting I can see it getting some minutes against Italy to see how it goes.

Bit late mind.

Why would it be horrible to try it against Ireland? Ford/Farrell is our most experienced midfield combination and while Manu would be relatively new to it, he's not new to international rugby.

https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rug ... 33371.html

Confirming once again that Eddie is as mad as a box of frogs. Mind, I always said Nowell would make a good flanker. Although if we were to convert someone, Manu would've made a hell of an openside.

Well, based on that, I think Sam Simmonds could make a great bolter at centre…

Don't be ridiculous. What kind of idiotic team would try and crowbar a back row in at centre shortly before a world cup?

Puja

[Renniks]

Or is this all a ploy to get Brad Barritt back in the side but at blindside?

[Spiffy]

Or is this all a ploy to get Brad Barritt back in the side but at blindside?

Never mind blindside - Barritt is probably still a better 12 than Teo if you are looking for a tough, straight running bosher, who is also a hard man in defence. But neither of them is going to light up the England team.

[Stom]

What about Barritt at 6, Nowell at 7, Manu at 8, Simmonds at 12, BCurry at 13 and TCurry at 14?

[Mellsblue]

If you’d said Mako at 10 I’d be inclined to agree with you.

[Danno]

I would take the hell out of that. The Ford/Farrell axis has been responsible for some very exciting play for England and having Manu outside to provide a credible threat/offer the crash while Farrell drifts behind on the pull-back would be utterly ideal for me.

Puja

I've always had the notion that Jones wanted this setup right from the get-go, despite the early statements about Nonu learning to pass and kick when asked about Manu in press conferences. Ireland might be a horrible time to try it out but fitness permitting I can see it getting some minutes against Italy to see how it goes.

Bit late mind.

Why would it be horrible to try it against Ireland? Ford/Farrell is our most experienced midfield combination and while Manu would be relatively new to it, he's not new to international rugby.

Puja

Not a clue, I'd been drinking instead of thinking.

[Digby]

We've not gone for such a change in shape since Clive ruminated on a back four