England v Wales - Team Announcement

[FKAS]

Manu broken again

Fucksake.

[Scrumhead]

So predictable …

[p/d]

So predictable …

Sadly, yes.

If not before then now Jones needs to see his availability as a bonus and not a requirement

[Insouciant]

I thought he might make it to the game before he got injured. Hope he recovers asap.

[Banquo]

better now than 4.46 on Sat. Big change for starting game plan tho.

[p/d]

better now than 4.46 on Sat. Big change for starting game plan tho.

Could have scored a try by 4.46

[Galfon]

Saints providing the captains for both sides too. One club providing opposing international captains can't happen too often.

BBC says it's the first time it's ever happened for England vs Wales.

Puja

Sure Ibanez & Vickery were Wasps players when skippering against each other in a WC semi (07)..

[badback]

better now than 4.46 on Sat. Big change for starting game plan tho.

Could have scored a try by 4.46

It brings up the question of who else is there who can play a Manu- like (lite?) role. Odguwo seemed ok to me. Atkinson. Surely there must be someone who can do the bash it up role playing in the premiership. I know Manu is much more than that.

[Danno]

Odogwu is playing 14 atm and I don't know of him playing 12 professionally. His form is very up n' down as well. Atkinson is a squad player at best.

Dan Kelly seems like the future after this WC cycle if he keeps developing the way he has. Other than that, same question, different decade: who plays 12?

[Oakboy]

The whole point is that we should not be basing our game on Tuilagi. Yes, use him off the bench to change a game for the last 20 but he is not up to more and his constant in/out presence has got to be disruptive the way he is being handled. If any of the coaching crew are surprised they are incompetent.

[Banquo]

better now than 4.46 on Sat. Big change for starting game plan tho.

Could have scored a try by 4.46

true he does have previous of scoring early doors....and also of limping off after

[badback]

Odogwu is playing 14 atm and I don't know of him playing 12 professionally. His form is very up n' down as well. Atkinson is a squad player at best.

Dan Kelly seems like the future after this WC cycle if he keeps developing the way he has. Other than that, same question, different decade: who plays 12?

Thanks. Don’t know much about Kelly. Worth trying now?

[p/d]

Odogwu is playing 14 atm and I don't know of him playing 12 professionally. His form is very up n' down as well. Atkinson is a squad player at best.

Dan Kelly seems like the future after this WC cycle if he keeps developing the way he has. Other than that, same question, different decade: who plays 12?

Would love to see Kelly brought in now. Atkinson just looks to be a squad member making little impact with no test future, ultimately blocking squad development. Needs to offer more than just cutting his teeth in the championship

[Scrumhead]

Agreed. Kelly looks like he’s improving all the time. He’s got the size to bosh but his distribution and defence are much improved his season and his attitude appears to be top notch.

Ojomoh is also coming along nicely.

[p/d]

Are we expecting Marchant to be straight swap or Daly to 13 and Marchant to bench

[Puja]

Odogwu is playing 14 atm and I don't know of him playing 12 professionally. His form is very up n' down as well. Atkinson is a squad player at best.

Dan Kelly seems like the future after this WC cycle if he keeps developing the way he has. Other than that, same question, different decade: who plays 12?

Thanks. Don’t know much about Kelly. Worth trying now?

He's a decent hard runner, but has a good step and some nice hands on him. He's been improving week-on-week this season - feels like he's taken his England experience in the summer, seen what he needed to do to get back there, and has just kicked on.

Hard to tell whether he's ready now, as his rate of improvement is quite sharp and it's hard to tell what's a run of form and what's a new consistent level of performance. Back when the 6N squad was announced, I wasn't a fan of Atkinson's selection, but wasn't distraught that Kelly wasn't there. If it was selected this week, he'd be in the squad.

I'd say he's solidly 4th choice - behind Manu, Farrell, and Slade. If we lose Slade as well, then he's the next cab off the rank IMO, but probably not quite at the level where he's competing with any of those three yet.

Puja

[Danno]

Ojomoh is certainly waving his arm about. Wouldn't mind seeing Kelly, Slade, Marchant and him jostling for shirts in the future, with Northmore and (later) Grayson giving them a reason to look over their collective shoulders

[Danno]

Holy ****. A half positive idea about the midfield. It's been a while.

[Puja]

Holy ****. A half positive idea about the midfield. It's been a while.

The thing is, we've been here before, several times, with a selection of "almost", "maybe", "not quite but could be soon", and "has a lot of potential" players in the midfield. Very few finished articles out the other end though.

Puja

[Spiffy]

Ojomoh is certainly waving his arm about. Wouldn't mind seeing Kelly, Slade, Marchant and him jostling for shirts in the future, with Northmore and (later) Grayson giving them a reason to look over their collective shoulders

I'd add Lozowski and Luke James to that list. Two very sound, if not outstanding, centres who might just kick on if given a chance to develop at a higher level. Hassell-Collins also looked quite interesting in his limited appearances for LI at 13. Big and fast, with a nose for the line. (Jones should be thinking of giving him a run on the wing anyway. Are Nowell and Malins really better all-round wings?)

[badback]

Odogwu is playing 14 atm and I don't know of him playing 12 professionally. His form is very up n' down as well. Atkinson is a squad player at best.

Dan Kelly seems like the future after this WC cycle if he keeps developing the way he has. Other than that, same question, different decade: who plays 12?

Thanks. Don’t know much about Kelly. Worth trying now?

He's a decent hard runner, but has a good step and some nice hands on him. He's been improving week-on-week this season - feels like he's taken his England experience in the summer, seen what he needed to do to get back there, and has just kicked on.

Hard to tell whether he's ready now, as his rate of improvement is quite sharp and it's hard to tell what's a run of form and what's a new consistent level of performance. Back when the 6N squad was announced, I wasn't a fan of Atkinson's selection, but wasn't distraught that Kelly wasn't there. If it was selected this week, he'd be in the squad.

I'd say he's solidly 4th choice - behind Manu, Farrell, and Slade. If we lose Slade as well, then he's the next cab off the rank IMO, but probably not quite at the level where he's competing with any of those three yet.

Puja

Thanks. Interesting - doesn’t sound like the next messiah but worth investing in.

[fivepointer]

Kelly is an out and out 12. We wouldnt be putting in someone who doesnt know and understand the positional requirements. He's young, improving rapidly, has a nicely rounded game and is fit.
Ojomoh looks to have greater flair and maybe is a bit quicker. I'd like to see them both involved asap as its seems Jones isnt keen on giving Atkinson a try.
Manu's latest injury, which was sadly predictable, has surely brought some much needed urgency to find a viable option at 12. Hoping he will be fit and planning around that is a fools errand.

[Banquo]

Ojomoh is certainly waving his arm about. Wouldn't mind seeing Kelly, Slade, Marchant and him jostling for shirts in the future, with Northmore and (later) Grayson giving them a reason to look over their collective shoulders

Fraser Dingwall is also in Eddie's thoughts, has been playing well, and is equally happy at 12 and 13. Not flash, but full skill set, but makes good decisions and defends very well.

[SDHoneymonster]

Hear me out: convert Barbeary into a blockbusting 12.

[Mellsblue]

Hear me out: convert Barbeary into a blockbusting 12.

With S Simmonds at 13.