RugbyRebels

Northampton Chronicle and Echo are reporting that Jim Mallinder is to take charge of the England vs Barbarians match in the summer. Maybe a kind of job interview?

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/spor ... -1-8807840

Shiny wrote:Northampton Chronicle and Echo are reporting that Jim Mallinder is to take charge of the England vs Barbarians match in the summer. Maybe a kind of job interview?

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/spor ... -1-8807840

What a weird turn. From last season, where the Barbarians game was treated as a warm-up full test, with the full available side selected (and media gnashing of teeth in adding it to our losing streak), now we appear to be going full development with the Pathway Manager in charge and presumably a bunch of neophytes turning out.

Puja

Indeed. Very strange.

In the absence of Saxons fixtures, I quite like the idea of the Barbarians game being a carrot for players on the fringes of the full squad, but why we’d ask Mallinder to get involved baffles me.

Puja wrote:

Shiny wrote:Northampton Chronicle and Echo are reporting that Jim Mallinder is to take charge of the England vs Barbarians match in the summer. Maybe a kind of job interview?

https://www.northamptonchron.co.uk/spor ... -1-8807840

What a weird turn. From last season, where the Barbarians game was treated as a warm-up full test, with the full available side selected (and media gnashing of teeth in adding it to our losing streak), now we appear to be going full development with the Pathway Manager in charge and presumably a bunch of neophytes turning out.

Puja

I’m not sure I understand it. Unless it’s a chance for the grown ups to see how he performs at that level for the England coach shortlist.

Scrumhead wrote:Indeed. Very strange.

In the absence of Saxons fixtures, I quite like the idea of the Barbarians game being a carrot for players on the fringes of the full squad, but why we’d ask Mallinder to get involved baffles me.

TBF, he is the current England A coach and was in charge the last time they played the Wolfhounds. So if it's being treated as an England A game, then I guess it makes some sense that he'd be in charge. However usually he's in charge because the main coaching team are off doing something with the full side - not sure what Eddie and Co are planning on doing that week?

Puja

Uh oh. Remember the last chap who ultimately failed on the domestic stage and was then groomed within the RFU before taking the top job?

Puja wrote:

Scrumhead wrote:Indeed. Very strange.

In the absence of Saxons fixtures, I quite like the idea of the Barbarians game being a carrot for players on the fringes of the full squad, but why we’d ask Mallinder to get involved baffles me.

TBF, he is the current England A coach and was in charge the last time they played the Wolfhounds. So if it's being treated as an England A game, then I guess it makes some sense that he'd be in charge. However usually he's in charge because the main coaching team are off doing something with the full side - not sure what Eddie and Co are planning on doing that week?

Puja

I suspect it’s something to do with preparation for the World Cup. I doubt Eddie wants any first team players involved given what they have coming up, and does he want to waste a week or two in camp with a ‘b’ team?

Mallinder means Mallinder

We have 2 warm up fixtures that will have the finalists involved.
It makes sense to play a development team.

The Times are reporting that Jones will pick the squad, which will not contain any players in with chance of going to Japan, but Mallinder will have sole control from there. They as say that this is part of the RFU’s elite coach development pathway (can’t remember the exact title), which is a worry.

Why isn't this just an actual saxons fixture?

Renniks wrote:Why isn't this just an actual saxons fixture?

Might affect ticket sales?

Renniks wrote:Why isn't this just an actual saxons fixture?

It's an England XV, as always - no caps are allocated. But England XV can be shortened to England vs Barbarians and that sells more tickets than Saxons.

Puja

Mellsblue wrote:The Times are reporting that Jones will pick the squad, which will not contain any players in with chance of going to Japan, but Mallinder will have sole control from there. They as say that this is part of the RFU’s elite coach development pathway (can’t remember the exact title), which is a worry.

The worst of all worlds. Incredibly depressing for those picked after a long season of slog ("you've got no chance of playing for England, but fancy a run around this weekend?"), and then hoisting a group on Mallinder that he hasn't chosen for himself.

Peej wrote:

Mellsblue wrote:The Times are reporting that Jones will pick the squad, which will not contain any players in with chance of going to Japan, but Mallinder will have sole control from there. They as say that this is part of the RFU’s elite coach development pathway (can’t remember the exact title), which is a worry.

The worst of all worlds. Incredibly depressing for those picked after a long season of slog ("you've got no chance of playing for England, but fancy a run around this weekend?"), and then hoisting a group on Mallinder that he hasn't chosen for himself.

I don't know - I'd imagine it'll be a younger set of post-RWC prospects, rather than inviting the likes of Danny Cipriani to have a run around.

Puja

Double header with the woman’s team. Should be a good day out.

Puja wrote:I don't know - I'd imagine it'll be a younger set of post-RWC prospects, rather than inviting the likes of Danny Cipriani to have a run around

This - it'll be a case of "Fancy staking your case to full the boots of any pst-RWC retirees?"

Wonder which players will be retiring?
Brown
Ashton
Te'o
Cole
Are the only 30+ in the 6N's squad.

Manu is likely off to france.

Jones will be with the main England squad. Ryan will be with the u20's. Mallinder will be free and should relish the chance to take charge of what will be a very young and inexperienced side.

Just thinking about the kind of team that we could turn out for this game, with the criteria of a) not likely to be involved with the England warm-up camp and b) being someone who'll likely be of interest to England going forwards.

I'd say:

Obano
Singleton
Stuart
J.Hill
Kpoku
T.Hill/Dombrandt
Willis
Mercer (c)

Vellacott/Maunder
Smith
Thorley
Williams
Marchant
Ibitoye
OIowofela

Boyce, Walker, Painter, Hill/Dombrandt, Curry, Vellacott/Maunder, Simmons, Dingwall

I'm sure I've missed a dozen (plus there'll be none from whichever teams are playing in the Prem final) - anyone think of who I've missed?

Puja

I suspect we will see no Top 4 players in it and maybe n U20's.

Would leave maybe currently
1. Obano
2. Singleton
3. Schonert
4. Stooke
5. Ewels
6. Willis
7. Ludlam
8. Mercer
9. White
10. Grayson
11. Ibitoye
12. Williams
13. James
14. Olowofela
15. Radwan

16. Walker
17. Harrison
18. Stuart
19. Green
20. Ellis
21. Mitchell
22. Searle
23. Loader

From the Sale ranks I would be disappointed if B Curry, Ross, Beaumont, Harrison, Denny and S James weren’t at least in the training squad.

Realistically though I think only B Curry and, maybe, Beaumont and Denny will be there

BenHK wrote:From the Sale ranks I would be disappointed if B Curry, Ross, Beaumont, Harrison, Denny and S James weren’t at least in the training squad.

Realistically though I think only B Curry and, maybe, Beaumont and Denny will be there

I had completely forgotten the existence of Drunkie Dennie. I was happy too.

Puja

Denny might be a drunk, but I'd back him to bag two if not three tries that Ashton fluffed against France

Digby wrote:Denny might be a drunk, but I'd back him to bag two if not three tries that Ashton fluffed against France

Not unfair, although you could say that about Brown as well. I also can't see Dennie chasing like Ashton, nor tackling Picamoles. Thankfully, we do have Cokanasiga and Nowell which should make the choice unnecessary.

Puja