RugbyRebels

The Barbarians game is always a bit of a strange fixture, but in a World Cup year, it takes on a different level of significance IMO.

By the time the warm up games start, most decisions in the squad should be made, so the Barbarians game is pretty much the last time to try anyone who’s borderline.

I’d go with:

1. Genge
2. Cowan-Dickie
3. Williams
4. Isiekwe
5. Ewels
6. Hill
7. Willis
8. Mercer
9. Robson*
10. Cipriani
11. Thorley
12. Devoto
13. Joseph
14. Cokanasiga
15. Watson

16. Singleton** 17. Hepburn 18. Thomas 19. Stooke 20. Dombrandt 21. Spencer 22. Smith 23. Lozowski

*Hopefully the blood clot thing is not as serious as it sounds. If he’s not fit, I’d play Spencer with Chudley on the bench

**If not fit, I’d go with Dunn

To me that lineup gives a chance for the possible bolters as well as a chance for the fringe players who are in/around the squad to show that they deserve a spot in the warm up games.

Prem final weekend, plus the u20s will be in Argentina for the JWC. Who will be fit and available?

Be nice to give some gametime to those who have been around the squad like Singleton, Stooke, Mercer, Thorley, Devoto, Cokanasiga, Spencer, Robson and Joseph
I think it might be a chance to have a look at those with longer term promise like Stuart, Painter, Ribbans, Ludlam, Ellis, Willis, B Curry, Dombrandt, Randall, Mitchell, Williams, Ibitoye, kiribrige, Fairbank and Mallinder.

Eddie might want to withdraw some players if he picks them in a wider WC squad, so it might be quite a raw, young side who go out.

Ah yeah. Totally forgot about that, although hard to see the Prem Final not being Exeter vs. Saracens.

If that’s the case I’d be looking at a lot of the same names you suggested:

Cowan-Dickie > Singleton or Dunn (with the other on the bench)

Williams > Thomas (Will Stuart on the bench)

Isiekwe > Stooke (Will Spencer on the bench)

Hepburn > Boyce

Spencer > Chudley

Lozowski > Woodward

Surely Genge will be in Portugal with Eddie, probably one of Robson/Spencer, a good chance that all 3 Bath backs will be with them too (though it's sadly also possible that none of them will).
Or did I imagine reading that he'd hold back his RWC squad from this match?

I’m not suggesting Genge won’t be in Portugal. Same with Joseph, Cokanasiga and Watson (if fit).

I’m just thinking it would be good to give these guys some more game time.

Which Tyler wrote:Surely Genge will be in Portugal with Eddie, probably one of Robson/Spencer, a good chance that all 3 Bath backs will be with them too (though it's sadly also possible that none of them will).
Or did I imagine reading that he'd hold back his RWC squad from this match?

You didn't imagine it - we had a thread a while back about the news that none of the potential RWC squad will be involved in this game, nor will Eddie's coaching team.

Puja

So no one wants to get picked for this, since they know that means there's no RWC chance.

Might as well send the jrwc u20s team, and give them a good hit out.

Raggs wrote:So no one wants to get picked for this, since they know that means there's no RWC chance.

Kvesic, Morgan, and Cipriani will be awaiting the call, no doubt.

Puja

how about an old lags XV? Guys who have been capped, or nearly capped but unlikely to be picked again.
Something like Catt, Taylor, Cooper-Woolley, Slater, Attwood, Wood, Harrison, Morgan, Chudley, Cips, Solomona, S James, Francis, Roko, Pennell. Bench Webber, Bateman, Schonert, Green, M Williams, M Young, Burns, Banahan

fivepointer wrote:how about an old lags XV? Guys who have been capped, or nearly capped but unlikely to be picked again.
Something like Catt, Taylor, Cooper-Woolley, Slater, Attwood, Wood, Harrison, Morgan, Chudley, Cips, Solomona, S James, Francis, Roko, Pennell. Bench Webber, Bateman, Schonert, Green, M Williams, M Young, Burns, Banahan

Other options- Sam Hill at 12, Paul Hill at 3, Calum Clark at 7 and JJ at 13

The Barbarians side is going to be strong.

Pat Lam has already called up: John Afoa, Steven Luatua, Charles Piutau, Chris Vui, Bill Mata, Liam Messam and Malakai Fekitoa

I know it’s a non-cap game but if we go with a team of fringe players/rookies we could get our asses handed to us.

Banquo wrote:

fivepointer wrote:how about an old lags XV? Guys who have been capped, or nearly capped but unlikely to be picked again.
Something like Catt, Taylor, Cooper-Woolley, Slater, Attwood, Wood, Harrison, Morgan, Chudley, Cips, Solomona, S James, Francis, Roko, Pennell. Bench Webber, Bateman, Schonert, Green, M Williams, M Young, Burns, Banahan

Other options- Sam Hill at 12, Paul Hill at 3, Calum Clark at 7 and JJ at 13

Let me just put it on the record that Calum Clark can still go fuck himself

Puja wrote:

Which Tyler wrote:Surely Genge will be in Portugal with Eddie, probably one of Robson/Spencer, a good chance that all 3 Bath backs will be with them too (though it's sadly also possible that none of them will).
Or did I imagine reading that he'd hold back his RWC squad from this match?

You didn't imagine it - we had a thread a while back about the news that none of the potential RWC squad will be involved in this game, nor will Eddie's coaching team.

Puja

Absolutley pointless fixture then.

The "On Stand by" squad?
On the radar squad.

Apprentices?

Oh the halcyon days of seeing Forrester skin Lomu....

Yeah - pretty sure Jim Mallinder is coaching this side.

Even if we’re solely looking at players who won’t be involved in the RWC squad, we could still put out a decent squad. Assuming the final is Chiefs vs. Saracens, we could be looking at something like:

1. Obano / Rapava-Ruskin
2. Dunn / Singleton
3. Schonert / Brookes
4. Beaumont / Symons
5. Stooke / Rowlands
6. Ross / Dombrandt
7. Clifford / B. Curry
8. Morgan / Mercer
9. Chudley / Randall
10. Smith
11. Thorley / McConnochie
12. Atkinson / Francis
13. Marchant / S. James
14. Solomona
15. Woodward / Hammersley

I’m struggling for another 10 without being able to choose Joe Simmonds and hoping Cipriani will be involved in the warm-ups at the very least

Freddie Burns with Ryan Mills as cover.

Smith will be with the U20's

Good shout on Freddie Burns.

I think Ryan Mills is still injured so I guess Piers Francis covers 10 ...

I think I'd like to see...

Obano
Thacker
Hill
Ewels
Stooke
Dombrandt
Curry
Mercer
Vellacott
Burns
Thorley
Atkinson
Marchant
Ibitoye
Hammersley

Singleton, Boyce, Collier, Symons , Clifford, Uren, Francis, Woodward

Would like to see Thacker given a look and Sheedy could cover 10.

I love how you're all pretending that Cipriani won't be playing cause he'll be in the RWC training squad.

Personally, I'd like to see Shields, Hughes, Te'o, Ashton and Solomona involved.

Puja

On that logic ... me too!

I’m less set against Ashton though. Of the 5 you mentioned, I find his presence in/around the squad the least objectionable.

Scrumhead wrote:On that logic ... me too!

I’m less set against Ashton though. Of the 5 you mentioned, I find his presence in/around the squad the least objectionable.

Me too, but the problem with Ashton is the players he could displace. I tried doing a 31-man squad and with 11 or 12 of the spots having to go to front row and scrum-halves, it was hard work to fit people in. If we assume Watson, May, and Daly are guarantees, then we're likely to only need two extra back three players from Nowell, Cokanasiga, Brown, and Ashton, and Ashton's clearly 4th from 4 on that list for me.

Same with Shields and Hughes - neither of them are terrible, but if we're taking 4 locks, then it's likely 5 back row and I'd prefer those to be Wilson, Curry, BillyV, Robshaw, Underhill without any "He's not as good, but he does come with an antipodean accent" selections being risked.

Puja

Hopefully Robshaw’s form across the last quarter of the season has pushed Shields out of the picture. He’s been brilliant and given Wilson and Curry’s relative lack of experience, Robshaw would be good to have in the squad. I’d be happy with the same five back row players as you with Wilson covering 8.

It’s interesting that Marler, Robshaw, Care and Brown were the Quins mainstays in the England squad over the last few years, while all are now both playing the best rugby they have in a good while and looking as far from the England side as they have in years.

Mikey Brown wrote:It’s interesting that Marler, Robshaw, Care and Brown were the Quins mainstays in the England squad over the last few years, while all are now both playing the best rugby they have in a good while and looking as far from the England side as they have in years.

Well, indeed.

I'd have them all in the squad and considering the way England have been playing off 9, I'd start Care.

I don't think you can argue that Reinach and Faf have been the best 2 SHs this year, but Care is easily the 3rd best. He's been excellent for Quins and has really held Smith's hand along.

No coincidence that our terrible run came when he was out injured...

Mikey Brown wrote:It’s interesting that Marler, Robshaw, Care and Brown were the Quins mainstays in the England squad over the last few years, while all are now both playing the best rugby they have in a good while and looking as far from the England side as they have in years.

Marler = retired
Robshaw = returning from injury
Care = returning from injury (even if unfairly dropped during AIs)
Brown = limited, one dimensional player that seemingly doesn’t fit gameplan requirements.

Marler would definitely be in the squad if available and I’ll be shocked if Robshaw doesn’t make Japan, even though he was shown wanting on the hard grounds in SA. Care should in the top three SHs. I’d take Brown as back up 15 but I can understand why Jones might not agree.