RugbyRebels

Mikey Brown wrote:

Banquo wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:Going back to somebody’s earlier point about the personnel changes around this time before the previous World Cup- though I think most of the changes came in the summer/autumn of 2018 rather than the 6 nations - are we just in a similar phase of Eddie faffing?

It looked pretty dire for a while, but largely came through by World Cup time, though we were maybe (understandably) too focussed on the New Zealand.

I wonder how seriously he is really taking this ‘trial semi and final’ in the next two weeks. Does it make sense to be talking that way at the same time as talking about being a side in transition? Will this make or break the futures of some players or strategies?

It’s a shame if Dombrandt is out as he was one who was really looking to show if he’s a serious option at this level right now, but equally it would be good to know if Simmonds can really cut it.

I can see more big changes in the rest of the year either way.

Do you mean in style or personnel? Earlier in the thread you seemed to be saying that the squad looked pretty settled goiing forward.

Both, potentially. I don't think this squad looks massively settled, but the vision of the rough RWC squad is there or thereabouts. I'd expect some more experienced guys either returning from injury/exclusion to make it look a little more familiar in the next year. I'm not sure how convinced he really is of the style we've adopted, but it's probably too early to tell. I imagine we'll see similar-ish in the summer, but hopefully a progression.

Can't recall what our Autumn fixtures look like, but it wouldn't surprise me if Jones wanted to be able to revert to previous players or tactics at that point after having a look at some alternatives in the last 6 months or so. I think that may have been his plan to some degree with George, Ford, Daly but injuries forced his hand. Maybe he's completely serious about this 'new England thing' but my sense was guys like Blamire, Dombrandt, Randall, Smith are being given a chance but not yet the true owners of their shirts. Steward for example though has looked the part right away, so it's good he's looking at other options.

Mikey Brown wrote:Exactly.

Stom wrote:I think we're settled on 20-25 of our WC squad. The question is, are the other 8-13 players going to be in the 23 or back ups?

Actually, we might have even more of the squad sorted, tbh. We might get a prop breaking through, a lock, but only as a backup, I imagine, JWillis, maybe even TWillis, Quirke or Mitchell, a centre, and that's about it, I think.

Marler, Genge, Mako/ANother
George, LCD, Blamire/ANother
Sinckler, Stuart/Heyes/ANother
Itoje, ANother
Hill, Launch
Lawes, Curry, Underhill, Dombrandt, Simmonds/Billy/Barbeary/TWillis, JWillis/Kenningham/ANother
Youngs, Randall, Quirke/Mitchell/ANother
Smith, Ford, Farrell
Tuilagi/ANother, Slade, Marchant/ANother
Daly, Malins, Watson, Nowell, Steward

Dan. Dan. Dan. wrote:Does feel like we could really do with Jack Willis and Cokanisiga finally staying injury free and fulfilling their massive potential + Barbeary properly breaking through. Maybe Odogwu can step up?

Banquo wrote:

Stom wrote:I think we're settled on 20-25 of our WC squad. The question is, are the other 8-13 players going to be in the 23 or back ups?

Actually, we might have even more of the squad sorted, tbh. We might get a prop breaking through, a lock, but only as a backup, I imagine, JWillis, maybe even TWillis, Quirke or Mitchell, a centre, and that's about it, I think.

Marler, Genge, Mako/ANother
George, LCD, Blamire/ANother
Sinckler, Stuart/Heyes/ANother
Itoje, ANother
Hill, Launch
Lawes, Curry, Underhill, Dombrandt, Simmonds/Billy/Barbeary/TWillis, JWillis/Kenningham/ANother
Youngs, Randall, Quirke/Mitchell/ANother
Smith, Ford, Farrell
Tuilagi/ANother, Slade, Marchant/ANother
Daly, Malins, Watson, Nowell, Steward

Doesn't feel great to be stuck with that lot tbh. Just lacking a bit I'd say, with a distinct lack o'carrying pzazz up front and ordinary looking backs. As noted though, not much else out there.

Puja wrote:

Dan. Dan. Dan. wrote:Does feel like we could really do with Jack Willis and Cokanisiga finally staying injury free and fulfilling their massive potential + Barbeary properly breaking through. Maybe Odogwu can step up?

I think Odogwu might be the new Marcel Garvey - looks good and is the darling of the highlights reel and the casual fan, but has too many weaknesses overall to be a serious international option.

Puja

Stom wrote:Ooh, that’s good. I guess Barbeary is there in case dombrandt doesn’t make it, though.

Stom wrote:Ooh, that’s good. I guess Barbeary is there in case dombrandt doesn’t make it, though.

fivepointer wrote:

Banquo wrote:

Stom wrote:I think we're settled on 20-25 of our WC squad. The question is, are the other 8-13 players going to be in the 23 or back ups?

Actually, we might have even more of the squad sorted, tbh. We might get a prop breaking through, a lock, but only as a backup, I imagine, JWillis, maybe even TWillis, Quirke or Mitchell, a centre, and that's about it, I think.

Marler, Genge, Mako/ANother
George, LCD, Blamire/ANother
Sinckler, Stuart/Heyes/ANother
Itoje, ANother
Hill, Launch
Lawes, Curry, Underhill, Dombrandt, Simmonds/Billy/Barbeary/TWillis, JWillis/Kenningham/ANother
Youngs, Randall, Quirke/Mitchell/ANother
Smith, Ford, Farrell
Tuilagi/ANother, Slade, Marchant/ANother
Daly, Malins, Watson, Nowell, Steward

Doesn't feel great to be stuck with that lot tbh. Just lacking a bit I'd say, with a distinct lack o'carrying pzazz up front and ordinary looking backs. As noted though, not much else out there.

Lots of good players - plus several others who fall into that category who wont get picked - yet lacking just a bit at the very top level.
Its where we are. Thats why the job now is to get the very best out of what we have and hope some of the newer players come through strongly.

Raggs wrote:We could also be looking at a 6/2 split against Ireland, perhaps not the worst team to do it against.

Banquo wrote:

Raggs wrote:We could also be looking at a 6/2 split against Ireland, perhaps not the worst team to do it against.

almost always a bad idea from a backs pov

Raggs wrote:We could also be looking at a 6/2 split against Ireland, perhaps not the worst team to do it against.

FKAS wrote:No Dombrandt and no Curry would leave backrow options of?

6. Lawes
7. Simmonds
8. Barbeary

20. Chessum

Well we wouldn't lack physicality would we.

Obviously one or both of Dombrandt and Curry will be fine to play.

Portcullis Irish wrote:So Yoda has kept 4 locks + Chessum?

Makes me think a 6/2 bench incoming with Ewels Chessum & Barbeary/Simmonds Randall & Daly Given the paucity of a cutting edge a fresh pack to stifle Ireland may be the best available option to win the game but frankly........its meh
Does Yoda have faith in Slade/Malins to cover 10 for 70+ mins if Smith gets steamrolled by Aki first up??

What an indictment of Yoda's player development skills since 2019 it all is.

If we lose these last 2 games will the RFU have the gonads to ditch tinkerman ?

Portcullis Irish wrote: If we lose these last 2 games will the RFU have the gonads to ditch tinkerman ?