Team for Tonga

[Mikey Brown]

The misleading title is only slightly intentional - I don't have an inside scoop. I was just bored enough to start filling in the team selector on the BBC page and ended up with pretty much a B team. I'm struggling for the most useful approach to this game. Scotland switched off shortly after half-time and that was the only point Tonga really seemed to make much of an impact on the game. I'm sure they'll be improved this week but how much of a test is this really going to be?

Do we go with a full first XV - just get as much familiarity with the new systems/combos in to the likely starting team as possible? Or give the fringe guys a chance to push for a spot / save the nailed on starters Itoje/Curry/Farrell etc.

There are some odd cases like number 8 where basically every option is fringe. Is giving Calum Chick or Mark Atkinson a run completely pointless? Or is it best to get some minutes in to them in case we take some injuries during the series and need them to step up? Guys like Ludlam on the other hand are on the fringes but have had plenty of minutes previously to show what they can do.

As soon as you remove Itoje from the 2nd row options I really dislike every potential combination. Give Hill/Ewels a run together and tell them it's the last cap 1 of them is ever getting? That would seem like a charmingly psychotic EJ move.

My usual stance when you can't decide is just pick the most lethal bench possible - Genge, George, Sinkler, Itoje, Simmonds, Quirke, Smith, Radwan - and work from there, but I'm not sure that would actually be particularly useful here. Just accept there might be a few injuries and go full first XV?

[Puja]

It's easy to say that you'll hide Manu from action for fear of injuring him, but he's too soon into his latest comeback and needs gametime to get the rust off. No point in saving him for Australia and him then being rubbish.

I'd go nearly the full first XV and get a bit of time into our new systems that the new coaches have been trying to inculcate. We will learn absolutely nothing from letting the A-team pump Tonga, so we may as well treat it like an opposed training run to warm up for the big games. Put anyone who we want to capture on the bench to add further purpose to it.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Yeah. Pretty much the same thinking from me.

I think Lynagh is the only one who needs ‘capturing’ now unless I missed anyone? On second thoughts, is Quirke Irish-qualified or is that just a rumour?

Personally I’m most interested to see what happens in the back row. I think Curry, Underhill and Dombrandt has the best balance, but that probably means we get Lawes, Curry and Chick.

[Puja]

Yeah. Pretty much the same thinking from me.

I think Lynagh is the only one who needs ‘capturing’ now unless I missed anyone? On second thoughts, is Quirke Irish-qualified or is that just a rumour?

Personally I’m most interested to see what happens in the back row. I think Curry, Underhill and Dombrandt has the best balance, but that probably means we get Lawes, Curry and Chick.

I don't know whether Quirke actually is Irish qualified, but I want him tied down yesterday, just in case. The only other dual-qualified in the squad is Dolly and it really depends how much we care about securing Leicester's second or third choice hooker. I'm still baffled at his selection, especially considering Singleton has actually found form again and Walker is turning in some excellent performances for Quins.

Puja

[Danno]

Stoppit, we're already missing 1, 8, 10 (and likely our 2nd 10 after a wallop to the head) and Lynagh.

[Mikey Brown]

Stop what? And who took a wallop to the head, Smith or Farrell?

[Danno]

Suggesting callups for more Quins players (Walker).

Allen went down via a clearout at the weekend

[Oakboy]

I looked at the BBC thing too. I picked Lawes at 6 just to annoy everyone.

[Puja]

Suggesting callups for more Quins players (Walker).

Allen went down via a clearout at the weekend

I needed the explanation as well - running slowly this morning. You've forgotten you're missing Marchant as well and I do still think Kenningham's worth a look...

Puja

[Danno]

Bloody hell!

Did well to get a LBP on the weekend really.

[Slater582]

Yeah. Pretty much the same thinking from me.

I think Lynagh is the only one who needs ‘capturing’ now unless I missed anyone? On second thoughts, is Quirke Irish-qualified or is that just a rumour?

Personally I’m most interested to see what happens in the back row. I think Curry, Underhill and Dombrandt has the best balance, but that probably means we get Lawes, Curry and Chick.

I don't know whether Quirke actually is Irish qualified, but I want him tied down yesterday, just in case. The only other dual-qualified in the squad is Dolly and it really depends how much we care about securing Leicester's second or third choice hooker. I'm still baffled at his selection, especially considering Singleton has actually found form again and Walker is turning in some excellent performances for Quins.

Puja

Quirke has an Irish grandmother apparently. Hasn't Tommy Freeman played for Wales U18?

[fivepointer]

Its a only a 3 game series and we've new players to bed in. There's limited scope for experimentation.
Smith must start, which means Youngs at 9 and Farrell at 12, Manu at 13, Steward at FB, May on one wing and possibly Radwan on the other.
Quirke on the bench with one of Freeman or Lynagh.
Up front theres a case for starting the understudy front row of Genge, Blamire and Stuart. Itoje and Lawes at lock with a back row of Dombrandt, Curry and Underhill. Simmonds on bench with Hill and the 1st choice FR.
Dont think we'll get anything too ambitious.

[Scrumhead]

Yeah. Pretty much the same thinking from me.

I think Lynagh is the only one who needs ‘capturing’ now unless I missed anyone? On second thoughts, is Quirke Irish-qualified or is that just a rumour?

Personally I’m most interested to see what happens in the back row. I think Curry, Underhill and Dombrandt has the best balance, but that probably means we get Lawes, Curry and Chick.

I don't know whether Quirke actually is Irish qualified, but I want him tied down yesterday, just in case. The only other dual-qualified in the squad is Dolly and it really depends how much we care about securing Leicester's second or third choice hooker. I'm still baffled at his selection, especially considering Singleton has actually found form again and Walker is turning in some excellent performances for Quins.

Puja

Singleton is a weird one. He was in the summer squad then ruled out due to isolation protocols and now is forgotten entirely.

I know I predicted Dolly’s call-up but I don’t see him as a genuine contender outside of an injury crisis.

[Mikey Brown]

Its a only a 3 game series and we've new players to bed in. There's limited scope for experimentation.
Smith must start, which means Youngs at 9 and Farrell at 12, Manu at 13, Steward at FB, May on one wing and possibly Radwan on the other.
Quirke on the bench with one of Freeman or Lynagh.
Up front theres a case for starting the understudy front row of Genge, Blamire and Stuart. Itoje and Lawes at lock with a back row of Dombrandt, Curry and Underhill. Simmonds on bench with Hill and the 1st choice FR.
Dont think we'll get anything too ambitious.

Aside from Malins in for Radwan/Steward or at 23 I'd say that sounds about right. Though where does Slade fit in? I actually thought we had 4 games to be honest.

[Mikey Brown]

Oh...

"Marcus hasn't done much this week, just a bit of ball handling," said head coach Eddie Jones.

"We've been conservative with him, but we are cautiously optimistic he'll be all right."

Smith's injury is one of a string of backline issues for Jones to work around.

At full-back, Leicester's Freddie Steward is a doubt with a leg injury, while Saracens Max Malins, who can play 15, is definitely out as he continues rehabilitation on an injury picked up on club duty.

Sale scrum-half Raffi Quirke is out of contention for the Tonga match with an injury picked up on club duty.

So potentially that's 10. Farrell 11. May 12. Tuilagi 13. Slade 14. Radwan 15. Freeman?

[SDHoneymonster]

Lynagh another one who's definitely out of the game on Saturday. Well, they say he's injured, but I'm still convinced Eddie's holding him back for maximum Australian annoyance next week. Always funny how injuries tend to know where squads are weak; Jones has neglected no.9 since he came in, and now he seems to have finally decided he needs to look beyond Youngs his two most promising players get injured!

[Mikey Brown]

Oh great. Lynagh too. Where's that come from?

I wonder how many of these are injuries from England training.

[Oakboy]

Ah well, I always fancied Tuilagi and Slade as the centre pairing and if Farrell is in the squad he's at 10 or on the bench. If Malins and Smith are out who covers FH?

Mitchell could do himself a lot of good.

Strange that all the injured are backs.

[Danno]

Slade I guess

[SDHoneymonster]

Also, re: the capturing conversation above; Alex Mitchell is Irish qualified, so he'd be another one tied down.

[Raggs]

Reduced the team:
https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... the-bubble

Lawes is still in the backrow then.

[fivepointer]

28 players left, 4 of whom are definitely out or are doubtful (Smith, Quirke, Malins, Steward)

Davison likely to the one forward not to make the matchday 23.

[Puja]

Excellent news for Leicester - we'll happily take Dolly and Martin back for our game at the weekend.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Reduced the team:
https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... the-bubble

Lawes is still in the backrow then.

Ewels in and Lawes as a lock instead of Simmonds is quite a statement. He may as well just take the French bucks now if they’re available to him.

I really like Lawes as a bench option and don’t really mind him covering 6 in that role, but I still don’t like the trade offs as a 6. Particularly with Dombrandt offering a serious lineout option in a way Billy didn’t.

[Which Tyler]

Excellent news for Leicester - we'll happily take Dolly and Martin back for our game at the weekend.

Yeah - you were totally screwed without them...