Post World Cup back row

[Scrumhead]

Injury permitting, Underhill and Curry have pretty much cemented their places in the World Cup squad, but beyond that whoever succeeds Eddie is going to have a real selection headache.

Blindside:

If Robshaw makes the World Cup squad, it will undoubtedly be his swan song. Shields and Wilson may be retained from a continuity perspective, but with a really strong crop coming through behind them, I can see that being fairly temporary.

Whether Underhill stays at 7 is debatable I’d say. He’s always looked more like a 6.5 and I think his future may well be at 6. As much as I like him, I think his competitors are potentially even better.

Ted Hill looks like he could be something very special at 6 and even though it’s massively early days I can see him quickly becoming first choice quite quickly. He looks like he has a bit of everything needed to be a top class blindside flanker.

Jack Willis is another who could be considered on either flank. On the one hand, he has the carrying and physicality you need to be a good six, but his work as a jackal last season was genuinely the best I have seen in a very long time in terms of timing and body position. If he can come back in anything like the form he was in prior to the injury, he’s a must pick somewhere in the back row IMO.

Openside:

Tom Curry’s AIs we’re cut short and admittedly, he didn’t have a particularly good 45mins against SA. However, I think he showed more than enough on the SA tour to suggest he is the future at 7.

His brother has been unfortunate to have been overlooked so far, but surely that won’t stay the same way in the longer term?

Lewis Ludlam is finally getting some game time with Saints and looking fairly good and Lewis Ludlow has played consistently very well for Gloucester. Arguably he’s another 6.5, but his work as a linking flanker is underrated IMO and I think he will mature in to a very well-rounded player.

Will Evans is the forgotten man who may yet come good. Like Ludlam, he was excellent for the U20s and tickled Eddie’s fancy early on, only to drop off the radar (mainly through injury). He’s still only 21 and Murphy seems a lot more open to promoting youth, so it’s not out of the question to think Evans can come back in to the frame. He has the ability to take his chance if he gets it.

Number 8:

It’s hard to tell what Billy’s future looks like post World Cup. He’d only be 31 by the time the next World Cup rolls round, but I feel like it’s a real 50/50 with him. Prior to his first broken arm, he was showing signs of developing his game to another level and I genuinely believe he has the ability to become an all-time great. On the other hand, with his injury proneness already a major issue and his previous interests in NFL, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him drop out of the picture quite quickly.

While the team’s first half performance against Japan has probably scuppered Zach Mercer’s chances of making the World Cup squad, he is definitely the coming man at Number 8. Every time he has needed to step up a level, he’s quickly looked at home (his debut against SA being a case in point). He has the ability to become a special player and in the best case scenario, it could be a great battle for the 8 shirt between him and Billy.

Injury is likely to have put paid to Sam Simmonds World Cup prospects, but even had he been fit, I don’t think Eddie knows what to do with him. IMO Simmonds is a real weapon when used correctly and Eddie’s successor (especially if it’s Baxter) will hopefully be able to unlock that. With someone like Hill providing the lineout option and potentially a good carrying option like Jack Willis at 7, we could have much better opportunities to utilise his skill set.

Tom Willis is a bit of a dark horse. He’s yet to show it at senior level, but he’s widely regarded as better than his brother. If that is the case, he could be another excellent option coming through.

Jack Clifford is still only 25 and if he can recover from his injury woes, he still has the ability to be a serious option. Others like James Chisholm and Callum Chick are good players to have in the wider mix, but I think we have a lot of talent ahead of them.

Plenty of reasons to be optimistic anyway ...

[Tigersman]

It being a 31 man squad I reckon Ludlam, Evans, 1 curry just becuase I don't think you can afford to have players who are cover but only specialise in just one position.

For me I reckon it will be.
6. Sheilds,
7. Curry, Underhill
8. Vunipola, Wilson Hughes
Unfortunately.

Should be
6. Wilson, J.Willis
7. Curry, Underhill
8. Vunipola

Assuming Willis gets back to his pre-injury level of form.

[Which Tyler]

I know I'm biased, but I'd add Tom Ellis into the mix for flanker as well. He's been involved with England, and has looked really good since returning from injury.
I could easily see a future Bath backrow of Underhill, Ellis, Mercer.
Bayliss also worthy of mention, but I don't think he'll get ahead of those 3 for Bath, let alone England

[Mikey Brown]

Ellis looks to have that mean side to him.

[Mellsblue]

I know I'm biased, but I'd add Tom Ellis into the mix for flanker as well. He's been involved with England, and has looked really good since returning from injury.
I could easily see amfuture Bath backflow of Underhill, Ellis, Mercer.
Bayliss also worthy of mention, but I don't think he'll get ahead of those 3 for Bath, let alone England

I’m not biased and I’d add Tom Ellis.

[Scrumhead]

I forgot Ben Earl too