England v Australia, Sat 13 Nov KO 5.30pm

[Danno]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59198981

Squad for this week:

Forwards

Jamie Blamire, Callum Chick, Tom Curry, Trevor Davison, Nic Dolly, Alex Dombrandt, Charlie Ewels, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Jonny Hill, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Ludlam, Joe Marler, George Martin, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckler, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill

Backs

Mark Atkinson, Owen Farrell, Tommy Freeman, George Furban, Max Malins, Joe Marchant, Jonny May, Alex Mitchell, Raffi Quirke, Adam Radwan, Henry Slade, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Manu Tuilagi, Ben Youngs.


Jones seems to be laying the groundwork not to start Smith if his bizarre comments about Emma Raducanu are anything to go by:
https://www.the42.ie/eddie-jones-marcus ... 7-Nov2021/

[SDHoneymonster]

Either that or he's intentionally trying to throw Rennie off the scent, as he's known to be a bit of a nause when it comes to opponent analysis. Train for the cameras with Smith at 10 and Faz at 12, only to unleash the Smith/Manu/Slade hydra on Saturday?

[Oakboy]

Has there been any news on whether Underhill is fit after his HIA?

[Danno]

Haven't seen anything

[Mikey Brown]

Get ready for Chick at openside.

[Peej]

But Farrell will need game time, so will almost certainly start. I'm expecting to see Smith on the bench

[Oakboy]

I doubt there will any changes in the 23 beyond injury reinstatement - unless there are new injuries. Hence, my query re Underhill. Furbank and Mitchell could dip out etc.

[p/d]

Love to see Dombrandt start. Lawes will stay at 6 so Curry at 7. Bench split 6:2 with Underhill and Simmonds covering back row.

[Mikey Brown]

I really hope Mitchell gets another go.

[p/d]

I really hope Mitchell gets another go.

Yep. Even if he does remind me of a young Gary Neville

[Puja]

Either that or he's intentionally trying to throw Rennie off the scent, as he's known to be a bit of a nause when it comes to opponent analysis. Train for the cameras with Smith at 10 and Faz at 12, only to unleash the Smith/Manu/Slade hydra on Saturday?

I like your reality. Let's live there! Sadly, I fully expect Eddie to fall back into his same old patterns, exactly the same as he did with Itoje.

His comments about Raducanu were pretty shitty, even by Eddie's standards. Not only did it show a lack of knowledge about tennis, but heavily implied that a teenage girl got distracted by clothes, modelling, fame, and looking pretty rather than continuing to work hard which, quite apart from leaning into harmful stereotypes about women in sport, is far worse when you consider that there is an actual teenage girl on the other end of his barbed comments. I doubt he'll apologise, but he really fucking should.

Puja

[p/d]

Well put Puja

[FKAS]

Puja if there was a like button... Well said.

I think we'll see some changes for this one. Make up of the backrow, midfield and subs bench all very likely. If Underhill is fit the kamikaze kids will be in the flanks with Lawes in the row, Smith/Farrell/Manu midfield. Quirke to make the bench as Youngs back up. This will mean Eddie has to drop one of Hill or Ewels though which we know he's loathe to do so maybe not.

[Digby]

I don't mind his comments about Raducanu especially, it is always a concern to find a balance. But there are plenty of his England players who taken what promotional for they can and have turned in some dire individual performances and/or been part fo some dire collective efforts, and he's been shy in public at least when it comes to making comments at some of his own charges. And frankly even if not promotional work how much quality rest/sleep are they getting, what educational work are they doing, what educational improvements are underway, how often are they drinking, how's their diet, what's' their fitness programme 'outside' rugby, how much focus even is rugby getting... it's all a balance, and judging from the outside we have enough issues in camp

Nobody for instance can have wanted to see Ben Youngs going topless, and yet the world was not given a choice

[fivepointer]

Concur 100% with Puja about Jones comments. They were disrespectful and ill informed, as well as a bit insulting to Smith who might get carried away if he gets to start a game for England.

[Which Tyler]

Either that or he's intentionally trying to throw Rennie off the scent, as he's known to be a bit of a nause when it comes to opponent analysis. Train for the cameras with Smith at 10 and Faz at 12, only to unleash the Smith/Manu/Slade hydra on Saturday?

I like your reality. Let's live there! Sadly, I fully expect Eddie to fall back into his same old patterns, exactly the same as he did with Itoje.

His comments about Raducanu were pretty shitty, even by Eddie's standards. Not only did it show a lack of knowledge about tennis, but heavily implied that a teenage girl got distracted by clothes, modelling, fame, and looking pretty rather than continuing to work hard which, quite apart from leaning into harmful stereotypes about women in sport, is far worse when you consider that there is an actual teenage girl on the other end of his barbed comments. I doubt he'll apologise, but he really fucking should.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Puja if there was a like button... Well said.

I think we'll see some changes for this one. Make up of the backrow, midfield and subs bench all very likely. If Underhill is fit the kamikaze kids will be in the flanks with Lawes in the row, Smith/Farrell/Manu midfield. Quirke to make the bench as Youngs back up. This will mean Eddie has to drop one of Hill or Ewels though which we know he's loathe to do so maybe not.

I’m curious to see if Curry showing he’s not an 8 coupled with the potential injury to a Underhill and the return of Simmonds and Chick actually means anything …

My preferred back row is Curry, Underhill and Dombrandt, but I wouldn’t actually mind seeing if Lawes, Curry and Simmonds could work.

[Mikey Brown]

Which one gets the role of repeatedly slamming into 3 defenders?

[FKAS]

Puja if there was a like button... Well said.

I think we'll see some changes for this one. Make up of the backrow, midfield and subs bench all very likely. If Underhill is fit the kamikaze kids will be in the flanks with Lawes in the row, Smith/Farrell/Manu midfield. Quirke to make the bench as Youngs back up. This will mean Eddie has to drop one of Hill or Ewels though which we know he's loathe to do so maybe not.

I’m curious to see if Curry showing he’s not an 8 coupled with the potential injury to a Underhill and the return of Simmonds and Chick actually means anything …

My preferred back row is Curry, Underhill and Dombrandt, but I wouldn’t actually mind seeing if Lawes, Curry and Simmonds could work.

It's not like Eddie has brought Chick and Simmonds into the team for the weekend it's just that they are still part of the 34 man squad for training. They'll be back at their clubs by Wednesday when the squad is streamlined for the weekend.

Only Lynagh I think is out and that's because he was injury cover for Farrell.

If Underhill is injured I'd like to see Martin given a go at 6 as he's a bit like a younger version of Lawes except without the rather old fashioned values.

Genge, George, Sinckler
Itoje, Lawes
Martin, Dombrandt, Curry

That should work, has the right balance.

[Danno]

I hope we stick with Steward and Radwan instead of shoving Furbank at 15 and Malins on the wing. Not about to kid myself by thinking Youngs / OF won't start, so for the backs:

Youngs
Smith
May
Farrell
Tuilagi
Radwan
Steward

Quirke, Slade, Malins bench (my Quins bias prefers Marchant over Slade tbh)

What I think will happen

Youngs
Farrell
May
Tuilagi
Slade
Malins
Furbank

What I would love to see since this game doesn't really matter for ranking points as the WC draw was a year ago

Mitchell
Smith
May
Tuilagi
Marchant
Radwan
Steward

Bench of Quirke, Ford, Malins/Slade

[Puja]

Puja if there was a like button... Well said.

I think we'll see some changes for this one. Make up of the backrow, midfield and subs bench all very likely. If Underhill is fit the kamikaze kids will be in the flanks with Lawes in the row, Smith/Farrell/Manu midfield. Quirke to make the bench as Youngs back up. This will mean Eddie has to drop one of Hill or Ewels though which we know he's loathe to do so maybe not.

I’m curious to see if Curry showing he’s not an 8 coupled with the potential injury to a Underhill and the return of Simmonds and Chick actually means anything …

My preferred back row is Curry, Underhill and Dombrandt, but I wouldn’t actually mind seeing if Lawes, Curry and Simmonds could work.

It's not like Eddie has brought Chick and Simmonds into the team for the weekend it's just that they are still part of the 34 man squad for training. They'll be back at their clubs by Wednesday when the squad is streamlined for the weekend.

Only Lynagh I think is out and that's because he was injury cover for Farrell.

If Underhill is injured I'd like to see Martin given a go at 6 as he's a bit like a younger version of Lawes except without the rather old fashioned values.

Genge, George, Sinckler
Itoje, Lawes
Martin, Dombrandt, Curry

That should work, has the right balance.

Martin's way too green to be starting. He's promising, but he's not got the years of nous to be able to apply his skills properly -there's a reason he's behind Liebenberg for Leicester.

While I'm not usually a fan of Lawes at 6, nor am I a fan of Ewels or Hill at 5, Lawes has been playing blindside exclusively for Northampton for the past season and a half. At this point, it's true to say that having him at lock would be shifting him out of his club position. If Underhill's out, then he is the obvious choice to stay at 6.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Not sure I’m as hyped about Steward as everyone else. He’s world class under the high ball but not sure what else he currently brings to the party. Did he beat the first man at any point on Saturday? At this stage of his development, and he’s of an age where he clearly has plenty of room for improvement, he seems like a taller Mike Brown with better hands but less elusive. Let’s also not forget he was skinned by a singer from N-Dubz and had to be rescued by Lawes. I may be biased, but Furbank brings an awful lot more in attack than Steward, for me. It seems a bit like the Ford/Smith v Farrell debate but at 15 rather than 10. I’d argue that you could pick Steward if picking Smith but should pick Furbank if not.

[Danno]

Not sure I’m as hyped about Steward as everyone else. He’s world class under the high ball but not sure what else he currently brings to the party. Did he beat the first man at any point on Saturday? At this stage of his development, and he’s of an age where he clearly has plenty of room for improvement, he seems like a taller Mike Brown with better hands but less elusive. Let’s also not forget he was skinned by a singer from N-Dubz and had to be rescued by Lawes. I may be biased, but Furbank brings an awful lot more in attack than Steward, for me. It seems a bit like the Ford/Smith v Farrell debate but at 15 rather than 10. I’d argue that you could pick Steward if picking Smith but should pick Furbank if not.

Can't blame us for getting excited about a fullback doing fullback things in an England shirt after the last 4 years

[Scrumhead]

Puja if there was a like button... Well said.

I think we'll see some changes for this one. Make up of the backrow, midfield and subs bench all very likely. If Underhill is fit the kamikaze kids will be in the flanks with Lawes in the row, Smith/Farrell/Manu midfield. Quirke to make the bench as Youngs back up. This will mean Eddie has to drop one of Hill or Ewels though which we know he's loathe to do so maybe not.

I’m curious to see if Curry showing he’s not an 8 coupled with the potential injury to a Underhill and the return of Simmonds and Chick actually means anything …

My preferred back row is Curry, Underhill and Dombrandt, but I wouldn’t actually mind seeing if Lawes, Curry and Simmonds could work.

It's not like Eddie has brought Chick and Simmonds into the team for the weekend it's just that they are still part of the 34 man squad for training. They'll be back at their clubs by Wednesday when the squad is streamlined for the weekend.

You’re probably right on that but I wouldn’t rule out seeing one of them make the 23. Obviously I’d prefer that to be Simmonds.

[Mellsblue]

Not sure I’m as hyped about Steward as everyone else. He’s world class under the high ball but not sure what else he currently brings to the party. Did he beat the first man at any point on Saturday? At this stage of his development, and he’s of an age where he clearly has plenty of room for improvement, he seems like a taller Mike Brown with better hands but less elusive. Let’s also not forget he was skinned by a singer from N-Dubz and had to be rescued by Lawes. I may be biased, but Furbank brings an awful lot more in attack than Steward, for me. It seems a bit like the Ford/Smith v Farrell debate but at 15 rather than 10. I’d argue that you could pick Steward if picking Smith but should pick Furbank if not.

Can't blame us for getting excited about a fullback doing fullback things in an England shirt after the last 4 years

This is true.