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Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 12:30 pm
by fivepointer

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 12:44 pm
by Peej
Good stuff.

Will be fun now to guess who will be a starter in the Saxons, or a fringe player in the senior squad!

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 1:13 pm
by Which Tyler
Good news.
Now if only they could have sent them touring Russia/Georgia/Romania; or the PIs or some such.
Oh, I'd also sent them without Callard - Perfect time to bring in the likes of Baxter/Hatley/Mallinder etc

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 1:16 pm
by Greebo
Good news. It will give Eddie's team the chance to look at at some other players.

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 1:22 pm
by Mikey Brown
Greebo wrote:Good news. It will give Eddie's team the chance to look at at some other players.
Doesn't it kind of inhibit Eddie's ability to pick some more fringe players? Or do you simply mean he'll get to see them play for the Saxons?

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 1:24 pm
by Mush
Which Tyler wrote:Good news.
Now if only they could have sent them touring Russia/Georgia/Romania; or the PIs or some such.
Or at least play one or two of those teams as well, say on the way out and on the way home

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 1:43 pm
by Nightynight
Depends if the Saxons are a pure development side or an England 'A' (B) team, there is a difference from trying out totally new options or just running a bunch of players out who didn't make the cut to EPS level, i.e. playing a guy you already know isn't world class above a new talent who could be just because he just happens to be second choice at the moment.

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 2:43 pm
by Greebo
Mikey Brown wrote:
Greebo wrote:Good news. It will give Eddie's team the chance to look at at some other players.
Doesn't it kind of inhibit Eddie's ability to pick some more fringe players? Or do you simply mean he'll get to see them play for the Saxons?
I'm hoping they will get some game time as I don't see him changing too much for the Oz tour.

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 2:51 pm
by Mellsblue
Which Tyler wrote:Good news.
Now if only they could have sent them touring Russia/Georgia/Romania; or the PIs or some such.
Oh, I'd also sent them without Callard - Perfect time to bring in the likes of Baxter/Hatley/Mallinder etc

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 3:58 pm
by TheNomad
If you had to pick a team of players outside of the EPS, and with a bias towards youth, what might it look like? Difficult to say how it will interact but these are some players (am sure there loads more, but off the top of my head) who are either EPS fringe (some actually in, but not playing) who I'd like to see get some sort of exposure

Auterac/Waller
Taylor/Haywood
Thomas/Hill (admittedly in EPS but might benefit from getting game time)
Slater/Gaskell
Kitchener/Symons
Ewers/Gibson/Williams
Underhill/Fraser/Harrison
Beaumont

Robson (could be in EPS)
Burns/Lozowski
Yarde/Short/Walker
Devoto/Hill/Sloan/Williams/Mallinder
James/Marchant (early, but I like the look of him)
Wade/Roko/Addison
Haley/Hammersly

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:03 pm
by Banquo
TheNomad wrote:If you had to pick a team of players outside of the EPS, and with a bias towards youth, what might it look like? Difficult to say how it will interact but these are some players (am sure there loads more, but off the top of my head) who are either EPS fringe (some actually in, but not playing) who I'd like to see get some sort of exposure

Auterac/Waller
Taylor/Haywood
Thomas/Hill (admittedly in EPS but might benefit from getting game time)
Slater/Gaskell
Kitchener/Symons
Ewers/Gibson/Williams
Underhill/Fraser/Harrison
Beaumont

Robson (could be in EPS)
Burns/Lozowski
Yarde/Short/Walker
Devoto/Hill/Sloan/Williams/Mallinder
James/Marchant (early, but I like the look of him)
Wade/Roko/Addison
Haley/Hammersly
imo Underhill needs tying in quickly!

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:33 pm
by Peej
TheNomad wrote:If you had to pick a team of players outside of the EPS, and with a bias towards youth, what might it look like? Difficult to say how it will interact but these are some players (am sure there loads more, but off the top of my head) who are either EPS fringe (some actually in, but not playing) who I'd like to see get some sort of exposure

Auterac/Waller
Taylor/Haywood
Thomas/Hill (admittedly in EPS but might benefit from getting game time)
Slater/Gaskell
Kitchener/Symons
Ewers/Gibson/Williams
Underhill/Fraser/Harrison
Beaumont

Robson (could be in EPS)
Burns/Lozowski
Yarde/Short/Walker
Devoto/Hill/Sloan/Williams/Mallinder
James/Marchant (early, but I like the look of him)
Wade/Roko/Addison
Haley/Hammersly
Think you might need some slightly older heads in there. I'd also throw Myall, Miller and McIntyre in the mix (but I am biased towards Wasps)

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:38 pm
by Mellsblue
Peej wrote:
TheNomad wrote:If you had to pick a team of players outside of the EPS, and with a bias towards youth, what might it look like? Difficult to say how it will interact but these are some players (am sure there loads more, but off the top of my head) who are either EPS fringe (some actually in, but not playing) who I'd like to see get some sort of exposure

Auterac/Waller
Taylor/Haywood
Thomas/Hill (admittedly in EPS but might benefit from getting game time)
Slater/Gaskell
Kitchener/Symons
Ewers/Gibson/Williams
Underhill/Fraser/Harrison
Beaumont

Robson (could be in EPS)
Burns/Lozowski
Yarde/Short/Walker
Devoto/Hill/Sloan/Williams/Mallinder
James/Marchant (early, but I like the look of him)
Wade/Roko/Addison
Haley/Hammersly
Think you might need some slightly older heads in there. I'd also throw Myall, Miller and McIntyre in the mix (but I am biased towards Wasps)
Miller will be playing in Oz......

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:49 pm
by Tigersman
I would go for
1) Waller, Auterac
2) Taylor, Haywood
3) Thomas, Balmain (?)
4) Barrow, Symons (Slater over Lawes for me)
5) Kitchener, Gaskell
6) Underhill, Gibson (would have Williams instead of Gibson but injured).
7) Kvesic, Harrison (Ewers in original EPS over Kvesic)
8) Morgan, (Beaumont injury a worry, would have Gaskell covering 8)
9) Simpson/Robson, Cook, Spencer (reckon Simpson or Robson in EPS)
10) Cips, Burns (Can't see Cips being included in EPS)
11) Wade, Yarde,
12) Devoto/Hill, Sloan
13) James, Thompkins
14) Roko, Lewington
15) Pennell, Haley

Would have all U20 bar Underhill available for the Home RWC. So Williams, Marchant, Mallinder etc etc

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 4:49 pm
by Tigersman
Mellsblue wrote:
Miller will be playing in Oz......
R U being Serious M8

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 5:16 pm
by Banquo
Tigersman wrote:
Mellsblue wrote:
Miller will be playing in Oz......
R U being Serious M8
Could ask the same about Gaskell as 5 and 8 cover, frankly.

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 5:17 pm
by Mellsblue
Tigersman wrote:
Mellsblue wrote:
Miller will be playing in Oz......
R U being Serious M8
Like, totes. Well, not totally.


I suggested him as a dark horse for EPS fullback if Jones wanted to move on from Brown and Goode and saw Watson solely as wing. The motm performance this weekend has sealed the EPS deal. Possibly.

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 5:24 pm
by Banquo
Mellsblue wrote:
Tigersman wrote:
Mellsblue wrote:
Miller will be playing in Oz......
R U being Serious M8
Like, totes. Well, not totally.


I suggested him as a dark horse for EPS fullback if Jones wanted to move on from Brown and Goode and saw Watson solely as wing. The motm performance this weekend has sealed the EPS deal. Possibly.
OMG srsly?

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 8:30 pm
by Tigersman
Banquo wrote:
Tigersman wrote:
Mellsblue wrote:
Miller will be playing in Oz......
R U being Serious M8
Could ask the same about Gaskell as 5 and 8 cover, frankly.
How dare you talk to me like that M8.

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 10:00 pm
by Puja
This is great news. Rumour has it that Ali Hepher will be along as backs coach as a potential audition for England, so hopefully he'll mitigate some of Callard's influence.
The development has not been universally welcomed, however, with Richard Cockerill, the Leicester director of rugby, questioning the lack of detail. “Is it a Saxons tour or Under-23 tour? Nobody seems to know,” Cockerill said. “Joe Lydon was running it but he has resigned so that is the problem. There will be the England tour and there will be a Saxons or development tour so we will have seven for preseason but we will just get on with it.”
Misery-guts.

Puja

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Tue Apr 05, 2016 10:05 pm
by Banquo
Tigersman wrote:
Banquo wrote:
Tigersman wrote:
R U being Serious M8
Could ask the same about Gaskell as 5 and 8 cover, frankly.
How dare you talk to me like that M8.
que? That's relatively polite :D

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 9:05 am
by Tigersman
U wot m8.

;)


It's such a shame that this Saxons squad could have so much potential and talent only to be have Callard put in charge.

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 9:40 am
by Peej
To pick up on Cockers' point - has there been any further word if it is an Under 23 tour, or open to everyone?

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 2:09 pm
by Puja
Peej wrote:To pick up on Cockers' point - has there been any further word if it is an Under 23 tour, or open to everyone?
Wouldn't have thought they'd set specific rules on it, but I don't think you'll see too many over 24s. I get the feeling that this is a tour to run the rule over young talent, rather than picking an experienced second string. Plus, an opportunistic grab for Underhill and Williams before the Welsh go a-poaching.

Puja

Re: Saxons in SA confirmed

Posted: Wed Apr 06, 2016 10:32 pm
by Epaminondas Pules
Hepher has signed up.