Uncapped players

[Epaminondas Pules]

So which, if any, uncapped players do you think will make the upcoming squad?

Willis (J) should be a shoe-in, though backrow is a proper tough area. Ben Curry's injury is ill-timed.

With Kruis off there could be a place for Hill.

Lawrence should be in with a shout of the squad. Well, in my mind anyway.

One of the fly halves?

Will there be an uncapped SH? Mitchell or Randall maybe? Spencer, you'd think, might get the other slot with Youngs, but will he call up a third? Even then maybe Maunder.

Any others?

[Epaminondas Pules]

Apprentice wise, Barbeary and Steward?

[Puja]

I had thought Hill got a 5 minute sympathy cap on the tour to SA, but a google tells me I'm wrong. I'd agree definitely on him and JWillis. I suspect TWillis could also make an appearance, although possibly just as an apprentice.

To my mind, Mitchell *needs* to be selected - I think he's current the best EQ scrum-half. Don't know if Eddie agrees as of yet. If I were him, I'd pick Randall, Mitchell, Maunder, and Uren alongside Youngs, and get Gomarsall in to work with them. Sod messing around with Spencer and Robson who are no improvement on Youngs - go straight to the next generation and start trying to fix them.

Puja

[Peej]

I think Hill was the one player not to make a match day squad on that tour - although actually thinking about it Robson might also have been missed out.

For me, Hill has to be in the mix, he's been phenomenal. I'd pick Randall over Mitchell, but that's down to personal preference. Uren has made a strong case too, of course.

Joe Simmonds should be included. I'm not sold on Lawrence just yet, but it's hard to look good in this Worcester team.

[TheNomad]

Are we talking Ted or Jonny?

[fivepointer]

Good chance a few uncapped players will get a chance against the Barbarians.
We then have 5 games in 6 weeks, so you can see some rotation coming into play.
Hill and Willis SHOULD get an opportunity.
Thereafter, well its a bit of a lottery. Any one of 3 or 4 young SH's could make the cut, we need to identify a 3rd choice FH and decide on a 3rd hooker. I'd like to see Steward in as an apprentice, maybe Barbeary but waiting a bit wont hurt.

[jngf]

Alex Dombrandt imo should have already been capped at No.8 in this year’s 6 Nations. Wasting time on playing Tom Curry there has been a big mistake on the part of Eddy and Mitchell.

Whilst he’s not uncapped Sam Simmonds should get a chance at 6 or 7 to add some much needed flair and speed into the backrow mix - Ben Earl would add something similar too, though neither strikes me as being what’s needed at test level at no.8 specifically (Though both a significant step up from Tom Curry playing there).

[Oakboy]

When will the Exeter players be available? Did I read that they will miss the Barbarians game?

[Puja]

Are we talking Ted or Jonny?

I was talking Jonny. There's a hole left alongside Itoje and (to my mind) he's the form candidate to fill it.

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

Alex Dombrandt imo should have already been capped at No.8 in this year’s 6 Nations. Wasting time on playing Tom Curry there has been a big mistake on the part of Eddy and Mitchell.

Whilst he’s not uncapped Sam Simmonds should get a chance at 6 or 7 to add some much needed flair and speed into the backrow mix - Ben Earl would add something similar too, though neither strikes me as being what’s needed at test level at no.8 specifically (Though both a significant step up from Tom Curry playing there).

Just playing devil's advocate, but how was not picking Dombrandt and playing Curry at 8 a big mistake?

[Epaminondas Pules]

When will the Exeter players be available? Did I read that they will miss the Barbarians game?

The Prem final is the 24th, if they make it. otherwise Champs Cup is 17th. Baabaas game is 25th, Italy game 31st.

[FKAS]

Are we talking Ted or Jonny?

I was talking Jonny. There's a hole left alongside Itoje and (to my mind) he's the form candidate to fill it.

Puja

Agree completely. He was already quite a player before lockdown but seems to have come back even stronger. I'd argue he's currently head and shoulders above the other EQ locks bar Itoje.

Dombrandt, has he upped his work rate to Eddie's level yet? Is he more than just a big ball carrier? On current form of be looking at Earl to play 8 with Curry and Underhill on the flanks.

Joe Simmons to be third flyhalf as on current form he offers what the other pretenders don't and that's consistency and leadership. Umaga is heavily reliant on Gopperth playing alongside him and Smith is no less hit and miss. Devoto and Slade are likely to be in and around the squad as well so Simmons cohesion with them will help.

[Danno]

If Billy isn't available then Curry will be in the 8 shirt. Eddie's not for turning.

[jngf]

Alex Dombrandt imo should have already been capped at No.8 in this year’s 6 Nations. Wasting time on playing Tom Curry there has been a big mistake on the part of Eddy and Mitchell.

Whilst he’s not uncapped Sam Simmonds should get a chance at 6 or 7 to add some much needed flair and speed into the backrow mix - Ben Earl would add something similar too, though neither strikes me as being what’s needed at test level at no.8 specifically (Though both a significant step up from Tom Curry playing there).

Just playing devil's advocate, but how was not picking Dombrandt and playing Curry at 8 a big mistake?

Because Alex Dombrandt is an experienced and talented no.8 and in the context of this role Tom Curry’s a rank amateur - did you see the number of 3 out 10 ratings he was getting on his first test there? Don’t get me wrong some of Eddy’s experiments do work - I actually think bringing Lewis Ludlum into the test squad was an inspired move as Ludlum has the type of versitility to move between the 6,7 and 8 roles in a way that T Curry imo simply doesn’t.

[jngf]

If Billy isn't available then Curry will be in the 8 shirt. Eddie's not for turning.

I do fear you may be right:( - then again some of us have said from the outset Eddy should have resigned after RWC2019 final and I’ve seen nothing to change my opinion on this yet....

[Shiny]

One thing for sure is that Uncle Eddie will what he wants so I don't expect to see many changes. He will certainly annoy a lot of this board with his selections instead of taking this period of congestion to experiment and blood new talent.

[francoisfou]

I’d like to see both the Simmonds be included, Ted Hill and Jonny Hill. Mitchell will hopefully be called up and Ben Youngs and George Ford’s recent form should mean that they are axed.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Alex Dombrandt imo should have already been capped at No.8 in this year’s 6 Nations. Wasting time on playing Tom Curry there has been a big mistake on the part of Eddy and Mitchell.

Whilst he’s not uncapped Sam Simmonds should get a chance at 6 or 7 to add some much needed flair and speed into the backrow mix - Ben Earl would add something similar too, though neither strikes me as being what’s needed at test level at no.8 specifically (Though both a significant step up from Tom Curry playing there).

Just playing devil's advocate, but how was not picking Dombrandt and playing Curry at 8 a big mistake?

Because Alex Dombrandt is an experienced and talented no.8 and in the context of this role Tom Curry’s a rank amateur - did you see the number of 3 out 10 ratings he was getting on his first test there? Don’t get me wrong some of Eddy’s experiments do work - I actually think bringing Lewis Ludlum into the test squad was an inspired move as Ludlum has the type of versitility to move between the 6,7 and 8 roles in a way that T Curry imo simply doesn’t.

Is Dombrandt an experienced 8? Genuine question.

And Curry's first game at 8 was France away where the ratings were generally low, but that said the lowest I've found so far is a 5 out of 10, and almost all of them having him higher rated than Maro Itoje. A

And why do you think Ludlam can play 8 BTW?

[Puja]

I’d like to see both the Simmonds be included, Ted Hill and Jonny Hill. Mitchell will hopefully be called up and Ben Youngs and George Ford’s recent form should mean that they are axed.

Bit harsh on Ford. He's had one (admittedly very very) bad game and you're calling that form worthy of being axed?!

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

I’d like to see both the Simmonds be included, Ted Hill and Jonny Hill. Mitchell will hopefully be called up and Ben Youngs and George Ford’s recent form should mean that they are axed.

Bit harsh on Ford. He's had one (admittedly very very) bad game and you're calling that form worthy of being axed?!

Puja

Bit harsh? He's single handedly kept a horrific Tigers team afloat at times.

[francoisfou]

I’d like to see both the Simmonds be included, Ted Hill and Jonny Hill. Mitchell will hopefully be called up and Ben Youngs and George Ford’s recent form should mean that they are axed.

Bit harsh on Ford. He's had one (admittedly very very) bad game and you're calling that form worthy of being axed?!

Puja

Bit harsh? He's single handedly kept a horrific Tigers team afloat at times.

Yeah, 'tis a bit harsh, and I take it back

[16th man]

I'd take Ford being dropped if it meant Youngs going with him.

[16th man]

Are we talking Ted or Jonny?

The fewest surnames xxiii has shown that people do need to start adding at least a first initial.

[francoisfou]

I'd take Ford being dropped if it meant Youngs going with him.

I'd go along with that, but will sentimental ol' Eddie leave him stranded on 99 caps?

[Mikey Brown]

Since when are EJ's halfback selections anything to do with form? In that case Simmonds is starting with Smith on the bench.