RugbyRebels

I'm going to assume that, if the Lions who played a lot are skipping the Portugal training camp, it'll probably make sense for them to miss this first game too. With that in mind, I'd like to see:

Genge
Hartley
Williams
Launch
Lawes
Robshaw
Underhill
Hughes

Youngs
Ford
May
Lozowski
Slade
Solomona
Brown

Mullan, Dunn, Cole, Kruis, Simmonds, Care, Francis, Joseph

I'm annoyed at having to select Solomona, but he's last wing standing if Watson and Daly are given the week off. I can see Slade at 13 for this game because Eddie clearly thinks he can be effective outside two 10s, so now's as good a time to test that theory as any. I could, in theory, rest another two Lions in Kruis and Lawes by selecting Ewels and Isiekwe, but I don't want to take Argentina too lightly and those two weren't heavily involved in the Lions tests.

Puja

Mullan is potentially crocked. Mako or maybe Ruskin?

Raggs wrote:Mullan is potentially crocked. Mako or maybe Ruskin?

I didn't think he was that badly off? If he is out, then it'll have to be Mako. He at least got a reasonable rest from Sarries at the start of the season.

Puja

Puja wrote:

Raggs wrote:Mullan is potentially crocked. Mako or maybe Ruskin?

I didn't think he was that badly off? If he is out, then it'll have to be Mako. He at least got a reasonable rest from Sarries at the start of the season.

Puja

Looked pretty bad, didn't go to portugal (same with Daly's injury) scans today I think.

And Underhill?

Puja wrote:I'm going to assume that, if the Lions who played a lot are skipping the Portugal training camp, it'll probably make sense for them to miss this first game too. With that in mind, I'd like to see:

Genge
Hartley
Williams
Launch
Lawes
Robshaw
Underhill
Hughes

Youngs
Ford
May
Lozowski
Slade
Solomona
Brown

Mullan, Dunn, Cole, Kruis, Simmonds, Care, Francis, Joseph

I'm annoyed at having to select Solomona, but he's last wing standing if Watson and Daly are given the week off. I can see Slade at 13 for this game because Eddie clearly thinks he can be effective outside two 10s, so now's as good a time to test that theory as any. I could, in theory, rest another two Lions in Kruis and Lawes by selecting Ewels and Isiekwe, but I don't want to take Argentina too lightly and those two weren't heavily involved in the Lions tests.

Puja

I'd want to mix and match the Lions a little, tbh. But we're struggling at wing. We need another body there. If Daly is kept out of the team, them we need to call someone up. Roko? There's not really anyone else...

Mikey Brown wrote:And Underhill?

Stinger apparently.

What i expect to happen:-

Argentina - mostly best 23 with a few regular starters coming off the bench
Australia - strongest available starting 15
Samoa - some of the Lions stood down, a few new faces brought in

Fully expect most, if not all, of the Lions to be involved in the first 2 games. Some will get a rest for Samoa, depending on the injury position.

Raggs wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:And Underhill?

Stinger apparently.

Given the way he tackles and given how stingers get worse it could prove an issue

Digby wrote:

Raggs wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:And Underhill?

Stinger apparently.

Given the way he tackles and given how stingers get worse it could prove an issue

He certainly seems to have had a few shoulder issues already, not a good sign.

Stom wrote: I'd want to mix and match the Lions a little, tbh. But we're struggling at wing. We need another body there. If Daly is kept out of the team, them we need to call someone up. Roko? There's not really anyone else...

The issue with Roko is that he hasn't exactly solved the issues that Eddie told him to work on - he's still a devastating finisher who makes 1-2 incredible interventions per game, but then goes missing for the rest of it. He's a weapon, but I'm not sure this England team can afford to carry him for the 70 minutes that he's not involved.

Mind, you're right that there's not much beyond that. Wade's got the same issues as Roko, Yarde I'm starting to see as flattering to deceive. No wonder Eddie's keen on Drunky Denny. Could we have Joseph on the wing again?

Puja

I reckon he'll try and rest lions players unless the back up is no way near the required standard.

With that in mind Id like to see.
Genge
Hartley
Williams
Launch
Lawes
Simmonds
Hughes

Youngs
Ford
May
Slade (would love to see him at 12)
JJ
Solomona
Brown

Annoying having to keep Denny and Brown in there, but Daly injured and Watson needs some form of rest.

Of all the pretenders in the back row, Simmonds is the one I think has the all round game right now to fit into the side and offer us something different.

As I said above, I would love to see Slade at 12. Think he could be what's missing for us there. Would also see Loz play 12 or 15 for Sarries as we need more players in those positions. Neither likely mind.

Puja wrote:

Stom wrote: I'd want to mix and match the Lions a little, tbh. But we're struggling at wing. We need another body there. If Daly is kept out of the team, them we need to call someone up. Roko? There's not really anyone else...

The issue with Roko is that he hasn't exactly solved the issues that Eddie told him to work on - he's still a devastating finisher who makes 1-2 incredible interventions per game, but then goes missing for the rest of it. He's a weapon, but I'm not sure this England team can afford to carry him for the 70 minutes that he's not involved.

Mind, you're right that there's not much beyond that. Wade's got the same issues as Roko, Yarde I'm starting to see as flattering to deceive. No wonder Eddie's keen on Drunky Denny. Could we have Joseph on the wing again?

Puja

Charlier Walker perhaps? Other than that...Lewington? Cokasinga is back playing. Earle?

Charlie Walker is a weird one. I’d never considered him as an international option but it’s hard to say he isn’t playing better or on par with most of the rivals at the moment.

I don’t think I can be impartial about Solomona but there are a whole bunch of (pretty average) wingers I’d take ahead of him.

It’s a bit like Ashton. The only time I can actually remember him beating a man 1-on-1 is when that Argie winger reciprocated his non-tackling effort. He certainly is a good finisher in a tight spot, but I (probably unfairly) feel like anyone could have scored most of his tries for Sale.

Mikey Brown wrote:Charlie Walker is a weird one. I’d never considered him as an international option but it’s hard to say he isn’t playing better or on par with most of the rivals at the moment.

I don’t think I can be impartial about Solomona but there are a whole bunch of (pretty average) wingers I’d take ahead of him.

It’s a bit like Ashton. The only time I can actually remember him beating a man 1-on-1 is when that Argie winger reciprocated his non-tackling effort. He certainly is a good finisher in a tight spot, but I (probably unfairly) feel like anyone could have scored most of his tries for Sale.

Really?

I may not like him either, and I also feel his defensive liabilities mean he's not an international wing, but he can finish like hell. And he can create. I wouldn't compare him to Ashton at all, very different.

Not in style, just that I can't recall off the top of my head seeing him beat many players with any kind of skilful evasion. I accept this may be totally and utterly wrong. I don't think I've seen many full games with him playing, usually just highlights, but seems like a lot of walk-ins.

Maybe I'm just a massive racist.

Stom wrote:

Puja wrote:

Stom wrote: I'd want to mix and match the Lions a little, tbh. But we're struggling at wing. We need another body there. If Daly is kept out of the team, them we need to call someone up. Roko? There's not really anyone else...

The issue with Roko is that he hasn't exactly solved the issues that Eddie told him to work on - he's still a devastating finisher who makes 1-2 incredible interventions per game, but then goes missing for the rest of it. He's a weapon, but I'm not sure this England team can afford to carry him for the 70 minutes that he's not involved.

Mind, you're right that there's not much beyond that. Wade's got the same issues as Roko, Yarde I'm starting to see as flattering to deceive. No wonder Eddie's keen on Drunky Denny. Could we have Joseph on the wing again?

Puja

Charlier Walker perhaps? Other than that...Lewington? Cokasinga is back playing. Earle?

I can’t help but feel you’re underselling Roko a fair bit tbh. Not perfect, but still a really high class player. Every nation outside of the AB’s would love a 5th choice wing as good as him.

- I see he’s just been called up for Daly. Disappointing for Elliot, but Roko in an unstructured game against the Argies...

Just had a look at this and maybe that's all I've been judging Solomona on. There's a great pick-up and a great tight finish in the corner but that's all I've really seen from him, which is certainly nothing on his competitors, but I've probably missed a whole lot of other stuff. I just resented the salivating over that try where he does an awful chip straight towards Wade, but Wade politely just falls over.

Roko-May-Watson could be a pretty tasty back 3.

Timbo wrote:

Stom wrote:

Puja wrote:
The issue with Roko is that he hasn't exactly solved the issues that Eddie told him to work on - he's still a devastating finisher who makes 1-2 incredible interventions per game, but then goes missing for the rest of it. He's a weapon, but I'm not sure this England team can afford to carry him for the 70 minutes that he's not involved.

Mind, you're right that there's not much beyond that. Wade's got the same issues as Roko, Yarde I'm starting to see as flattering to deceive. No wonder Eddie's keen on Drunky Denny. Could we have Joseph on the wing again?

Puja

Charlier Walker perhaps? Other than that...Lewington? Cokasinga is back playing. Earle?

I can’t help but feel you’re underselling Roko a fair bit tbh. Not perfect, but still a really high class player. Every nation outside of the AB’s would love a 5th choice wing as good as him.

- I see he’s just been called up for Daly. Disappointing for Elliot, but Roko in an unstructured game against the Argies...

I'd have Roko above any of the ones Stom mentioned, but he does have limitations. He is the obvious next choice to be called up though - let's have him straight into the XV vs Argentina and leave Denny on the sidelines.

Puja

I'd suggest that Roko or Solomona are way down the scale in class from Daly. Really disappointed. Hopefully, we'll see May, Watson and Brown for the first two tests.

Is Nowell out for the whole series?

Puja

Puja wrote:Is Nowell out for the whole series?

Puja

I read possibly not. Te’o may be involved also. Eddie did say players would be in and out of the squad on a game by game basis.

Roko deserves his call up.

Nathan Earle scored 2 very tasty tries at the w/e. Keep that up and he might force his way into the reckoning.

Oakboy wrote:I'd suggest that Roko or Solomona are way down the scale in class from Daly. Really disappointed. Hopefully, we'll see May, Watson and Brown for the first two tests.

chalk and cheese, certainly Roko and Daly, pose entirely different questions. Depends what you want/need.