RugbyRebels

About as good as it could have got with the injuries. Questions over the flanks, 20 and 23. I'd like to see those spots taken by Underhill, Lawes and Nowell, tbh.

I can only assume Jones is keeping Mallinder fresh for the upcoming big games

Stom wrote:About as good as it could have got with the injuries. Questions over the flanks, 20 and 23. I'd like to see those spots taken by Underhill, Lawes and Nowell, tbh.

With the assumption 22 is Teo covering 10/12?

Does anyone genuinely believe we might see Nowell in the centre at any point this tournament?

Mikey Brown wrote:

Stom wrote:About as good as it could have got with the injuries. Questions over the flanks, 20 and 23. I'd like to see those spots taken by Underhill, Lawes and Nowell, tbh.

With the assumption 22 is Teo covering 10/12?

Does anyone genuinely believe we might see Nowell in the centre at any point this tournament?

Centre, scrum half, joining the maul ......anywhere but protecting his flank

Mikey Brown wrote:

Stom wrote:About as good as it could have got with the injuries. Questions over the flanks, 20 and 23. I'd like to see those spots taken by Underhill, Lawes and Nowell, tbh.

With the assumption 22 is Teo covering 10/12?

Does anyone genuinely believe we might see Nowell in the centre at any point this tournament?

More like Te'o covering 12/13 with Farrell covering 10 and one of Earle/Nowell covering the wings whilst Watson covers FB. Possibly of see Nowell get 20 minutes at OC to show that Slade's not the only player with every attribute you want for a certain position... except the ability to play there.

Ah. “Looking for work” you mean. Yes.

And yes. Obviously by Teo covering 10 I mean Farrell shifting there.

What I meant was with him already there, I can’t see EJ bothering with this idea of Nowell at 13 from the bench.

Mikey Brown wrote:And yes. Obviously by Teo covering 10 I mean Farrell shifting there.

Is that more, or less obvious than Itoje at lock? Or Nowell at OC? Or Daly on the wing (first time)? Or Graham in an England shirt?

Which Tyler wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:And yes. Obviously by Teo covering 10 I mean Farrell shifting there.

Is that more, or less obvious than Itoje at lock? Or Nowell at OC? Or Daly on the wing (first time)? Or Graham in an England shirt?

Just imagine the dangerous runs Farrell could make off a 9. Youngs 10. Teo passing combo.

Mikey Brown wrote:Ah. “Looking for work” you mean. Yes.

Otherwise at u13's known as chasing the ball. Eddie likes that...

Mikey Brown wrote:

Which Tyler wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:And yes. Obviously by Teo covering 10 I mean Farrell shifting there.

Is that more, or less obvious than Itoje at lock? Or Nowell at OC? Or Daly on the wing (first time)? Or Graham in an England shirt?

Just imagine the dangerous runs Farrell could make off a 9. Youngs 10. Teo passing combo.

Couldn't Farrell shift to 13 and T'eo in at 12? Perhaps I remember incorrectly but didn't Farrell play a fair bit outside Barritt

DT suggesting Care will start.

Care is the form SH and should start. He's been excellent for Quins.
I wonder if there are doubts about Brown , hence Earle has been retained. If Brown plays then Earle will step down i'd have thought. Then its a matter of what lock goes on the bench and which lock is left behind. Unless Eddie omits Graham and goes with 2 locks on the bench with a view to playing one on the flank.
Te'o starting or on the bench is still a poser.

p/d wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:Ah. “Looking for work” you mean. Yes.

Otherwise at u13's known as chasing the ball. Eddie likes that...

Eddie does...And, y’know, every other top coach in the modern game.

fivepointer wrote:Care is the form SH and should start. He's been excellent for Quins.
I wonder if there are doubts about Brown , hence Earle has been retained. If Brown plays then Earle will step down i'd have thought. Then its a matter of what lock goes on the bench and which lock is left behind. Unless Eddie omits Graham and goes with 2 locks on the bench with a view to playing one on the flank.
Te'o starting or on the bench is still a poser.

I have absolutely no doubt that we're going to play all four locks in the XXIII and Graham will miss out.

Puja

From a physicality viewpoint, is Eddie going to be happy picking a back row of Robshaw, Underhill and Simmonds with one of Launchbury, Itoje and Lawes left on the bench? (or even two of them as he has retained Kruis).

The team should be announced soon right?

Tomorrow is what's been reported

Lawes at 6. Te'o at 13. JJ on bench with Nowell and Kruis

Graham and Earle out of the 23.

England team to face Italy:

Brown; Watson, Te'o, Farrell, May; Ford, Youngs; Vunipola, Hartley, Cole, Launchbury, Itoje, Lawes, Robshaw, Simmonds

Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Harry Williams, 19 George Kruis, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Danny Care, 22 Jonathan Joseph, 23 Jack Nowell.

FFS

Banquo wrote:FFS

innit

Backline is ok, tight five ok (other than Hartley) but hate the back-row.

TheDasher wrote:Backline is ok, tight five ok (other than Hartley) but hate the back-row.

how is the backline ok?

Four fuckin locks in the squad. Handling skills in the starting XV limited. Its a territory team, but why should I be surprised......but it's really not a direction I'm totally happy with.

Has Joseph been playing so badly that his form is worse than a guy who hasn't played for months and was average at best before that??