Australia Tour Squad

[SDHoneymonster]

Hold on to your hats...

Forwards:

Ollie Chessum
Luke Cowan-Dickie
Tom Curry
Charlie Ewels
Ellis Genge
Jamie George
Joe Heyes
Jonny Hill
Nick Isiekwe
Maro Itoje
Courtney Lawes
Lewis Ludlam
Bevan Rodd
Patrick Schickerling
Will Stuart
Sam Underhill
Billy Vunipola
Mako Vunipola
Jack Walker
Jack Willis

Backs:

Henry Arundell*
Danny Care
Joe Cokanasiga
Fraser Dingwall
Owen Farrell
Tommy Freeman
George Furbank
Will Joseph*
Joe Marchant
Jonny May
Jack Nowell
Guy Porter
Harry Randall
Jack van Poortvliet
Marcus Smith
Freddie Steward

* - apprentice player

Unavailable for selection due to injury: Alex Dombrandt, George Ford, Joe Launchbury, Louis Lynagh, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckler, Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi, Nic Dolly and Anthony Watson.

[SDHoneymonster]

Dingwall and Porter are two I didn't see coming, although certainly not unhappy with either. Walker maybe played his way in being just about the only man in the starting forward pack not to embarrass himself totally yesterday?

[Gloskarlos]

OK...... standard eddie. wtf in spades plus a few expected.

[SDHoneymonster]

Also, sorry about the formatting: copy-pasted straight from the website. I'll try and make it easier to read!

[Puja]

Here it is in a better order:

Forwards:

Ellis Genge
Mako Vunipola
Bevan Rodd

Jamie George
Luke Cowan-Dickie
Jack Walker

Will Stuart
Joe Heyes
Patrick Schickerling

Maro Itoje
Jonny Hill
Ollie Chessum
Nick Isiekwe
Charlie Ewels

Tom Curry
Sam Underhill
Jack Willis
Courtney Lawes
Lewis Ludlam

Billy Vunipola


Backs:

Harry Randall
Danny Care
Jack van Poortvliet

Marcus Smith
Owen Farrell

Joe Marchant
Fraser Dingwall
Guy Porter
Will Joseph *apprentice player

Jonny May
Jack Nowell
Joe Cokanasiga

Freddie Steward
Tommy Freeman
George Furbank
Henry Arundell *apprentice player

[Puja]

No Mitchell is the main shock to me. He's had a phenomenal season, waaaay above what JVP's currently bringing. The only thing he's lacking is the fitness, which admittedly is quite a big thing, but I'm shocked that he's left out.

Fun to see Porter in there. Not convinced by him as a 12 yet, but I think he's a more than handy 13 and rewarded for some great form. Other than that, relatively standard squad - there's a decent team to be picked out of it, but whether Jones actually will is a different matter. Real shame we've not got a midweek against Fiji or someone to give the apprentices a runout as well.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Seemingly knocking the ball on and getting floored by a high shot is good enough to get you in the squad… could be a case of last man standing at 3 as Collier clearly didn’t impress but ffs.

I see no point in five locks, especially when the group includes Ewels.

Billy needs to stay fit.

Porter is a wtf selection.

[SDHoneymonster]

No Mitchell is the main shock to me. He's had a phenomenal season, waaaay above what JVP's currently bringing. The only thing he's lacking is the fitness, which admittedly is quite a big thing, but I'm shocked that he's left out.

Fun to see Porter in there. Not convinced by him as a 12 yet, but I think he's a more than handy 13 and rewarded for some great form. Other than that, relatively standard squad - there's a decent team to be picked out of it, but whether Jones actually will is a different matter. Real shame we've not got a midweek against Fiji or someone to give the apprentices a runout as well.

Puja

Feel like Porter might be a bit of a troll selection - he's eligible for Australia and Rennie and RA did recently try and lure him back down under. Seeing as trolling is an underrated criteria in selection I am all for it.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah I thought Porter was Australian.

Nothing particularly crazy (aside from bizarre tight-head situation) in there I guess, though Mitchell and Murley would be obvious form picks. Not sure why he wouldn't have looked at Dingwall sooner, but maybe it's more about Atkinson blowing it. I guess Billy is fit to play after all then.

I think Ewels is a mainstay with no Borthwick or Kruis around.

[Puja]

Yeah I thought Porter was Australian.

Nothing particularly crazy (aside from bizarre tight-head situation) in there I guess, though Mitchell and Murley would be obvious form picks. Not sure why he wouldn't have looked at Dingwall sooner, but maybe it's more about Atkinson blowing it. I guess Billy is fit to play after all then.

I think Ewels is a mainstay with no Borthwick or Kruis around.

He's only Australian through long-term residency, I think. Born in England and moved there when he was 7 - his accent's a bit of both. Oddly enough, very similar story to Harry Potter - was noted as weird when they both signed for Leicester from Sydney University at the same time,

Puja

[SDHoneymonster]

After my defence of Atkinson so spectacularly backfired yesterday I'm going to take a risk and stick my neck out for Schickerling too, who seems weirdly unpopular on here - has forced his way into the picture despite having had two solid international tightheads ahead of him for much of his career at Exeter, had a good season, is a burly carrier and if we're not picking him because he dropped a ball yesterday then we pretty much can't pick anyone! He's in a similar position to Genge and Sinckler on the last tour to Oz - picked because the raw materials are all there and because the potential upside is greater than it is with, say, Collier. Also again, hardly his fault Skelton tried to feed him his shoulder.

[Puja]

After my defence of Atkinson so spectacularly backfired yesterday I'm going to take a risk and stick my neck out for Schickerling too, who seems weirdly unpopular on here - has forced his way into the picture despite having had two solid international tightheads ahead of him for much of his career at Exeter, had a good season, is a burly carrier and if we're not picking him because he dropped a ball yesterday then we pretty much can't pick anyone! He's in a similar position to Genge and Sinckler on the last tour to Oz - picked because the raw materials are all there and because the potential upside is greater than it is with, say, Collier. Also again, hardly his fault Skelton tried to feed him his shoulder.

How is he actually English though? There doesn't appear to be any information on that - he hasn't been here long enough for residency and appears to have been born in Namibia, to Namibian parents, and played for the Namibian U20s side. I'm assuming it's a grandparent, but I'm not thrilled about us poaching a player from a T3 nation because we need a 4th choice tighthead.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

I'm not sure he's unpopular is he? I thought it was just confusion at whether this is an apprenticeTM thing, Jones thinking he's spotted a rough diamond, or just Collier doing something unforgivable in that first half and blowing his chance.

I'm still confused that he didn't return if he passed his HIA, but I'm sure we'll never get an answer to that mystery.

Really felt for Atkinson, but it was hard to ever see him being involved in the RWC squad so it's seemed like a pointless exercise from the off.

[Mikey Brown]

After my defence of Atkinson so spectacularly backfired yesterday I'm going to take a risk and stick my neck out for Schickerling too, who seems weirdly unpopular on here - has forced his way into the picture despite having had two solid international tightheads ahead of him for much of his career at Exeter, had a good season, is a burly carrier and if we're not picking him because he dropped a ball yesterday then we pretty much can't pick anyone! He's in a similar position to Genge and Sinckler on the last tour to Oz - picked because the raw materials are all there and because the potential upside is greater than it is with, say, Collier. Also again, hardly his fault Skelton tried to feed him his shoulder.

How is he actually English though? There doesn't appear to be any information on that - he hasn't been here long enough for residency and appears to have been born in Namibia, to Namibian parents, and played for the Namibian U20s side. I'm assuming it's a grandparent, but I'm not thrilled about us poaching a player from a T3 nation because we need a 4th choice tighthead.

Puja

Hadn't realised there was a question over his eligibility. Pirates website says he joined Exeter in 2018. Can't remember when the rules changed from 3 to 5 though.

[Puja]

After my defence of Atkinson so spectacularly backfired yesterday I'm going to take a risk and stick my neck out for Schickerling too, who seems weirdly unpopular on here - has forced his way into the picture despite having had two solid international tightheads ahead of him for much of his career at Exeter, had a good season, is a burly carrier and if we're not picking him because he dropped a ball yesterday then we pretty much can't pick anyone! He's in a similar position to Genge and Sinckler on the last tour to Oz - picked because the raw materials are all there and because the potential upside is greater than it is with, say, Collier. Also again, hardly his fault Skelton tried to feed him his shoulder.

How is he actually English though? There doesn't appear to be any information on that - he hasn't been here long enough for residency and appears to have been born in Namibia, to Namibian parents, and played for the Namibian U20s side. I'm assuming it's a grandparent, but I'm not thrilled about us poaching a player from a T3 nation because we need a 4th choice tighthead.

Puja

Hadn't realised there was a question over his eligibility. Pirates website says he joined Exeter in 2018. Can't remember when the rules changed from 3 to 5 though.

He would need to have been capped back in 2020 if we were to take advantage of the 3 year eligibility. That's what's just done for Spain's RWC hopes - they rushed to get someone capped before the window closed and they had to wait another 2 years, and fucked up/deliberately looked the other way on whether he was actually eligible.

I'm sure there isn't actually a question, I'm sure there is an eligibility link, but I can't find any hint of it on the internet.

Puja

[SDHoneymonster]

How is he actually English though? There doesn't appear to be any information on that - he hasn't been here long enough for residency and appears to have been born in Namibia, to Namibian parents, and played for the Namibian U20s side. I'm assuming it's a grandparent, but I'm not thrilled about us poaching a player from a T3 nation because we need a 4th choice tighthead.

Puja

Hadn't realised there was a question over his eligibility. Pirates website says he joined Exeter in 2018. Can't remember when the rules changed from 3 to 5 though.

He would need to have been capped back in 2020 if we were to take advantage of the 3 year eligibility. That's what's just done for Spain's RWC hopes - they rushed to get someone capped before the window closed and they had to wait another 2 years, and fucked up/deliberately looked the other way on whether he was actually eligible.

Suspect the Spain fiasco is why we can assume he's qualified through a parent/grandparent - that will have had a lot of boards making sure their homework was in good order! Does make the likelihood of another Brett Sinkinson scenario far less likely though, which IMO can only be a bad thing for entertainment purposes.

[Tigersman]

Out of interest which 12 should be going instead of Porter if Porter is a troll/WTf selection?

It’s more a highlight of the lack of 12’s coming up/are fit

[SDHoneymonster]

Out of interest which 12 should be going instead of Porter if Porter is a troll/WTf selection?

It’s more a highlight of the lack of 12’s coming up/are fit

I agree, I just think that selections that annoy your opposition should always be made over selections that don't. Scotland are the kings of this: Toonie knows.

[Banquo]

Glad he has volte faced on the Vunipolae, picked JVP, Chessum, Fraser Dingwall and Freeman. TBH it looks very thin on quality in the backs (and elsewhere tbh), but not sure that's Eddie's fault, but its certainly his problem.

[Mellsblue]

Out of interest which 12 should be going instead of Porter if Porter is a troll/WTf selection?

It’s more a highlight of the lack of 12’s coming up/are fit

I’d take Dingwall as back up 12 and take Lozowski instead.

Just noticed no Daly.

[Banquo]

Out of interest which 12 should be going instead of Porter if Porter is a troll/WTf selection?

It’s more a highlight of the lack of 12’s coming up/are fit

I’d take Dingwall as back up 12 and take Lozowski instead.

Just noticed no Daly.

Good point on Daly.

[Mellsblue]

Out of interest which 12 should be going instead of Porter if Porter is a troll/WTf selection?

It’s more a highlight of the lack of 12’s coming up/are fit

I’d take Dingwall as back up 12 and take Lozowski instead.

Just noticed no Daly.

Good point on Daly.

You can’t anything past me, Dors.

[FKAS]

Out of interest which 12 should be going instead of Porter if Porter is a troll/WTf selection?

It’s more a highlight of the lack of 12’s coming up/are fit

There's also the aspect of Porter's versatility. We know Eddie loves a utility option, I see Furbank is selected again, Porter does handily cover pretty much the entire backline outside of 9 and 10. He hasn't played 15 for Tigers but that was his preferred position for the Sydney Uni team (where he was also captain when they won the championship). Eddie could be eying up as an option for the 23 shirt knowing he has enough pace, step and physicality to cover a host of positions and give some options.

Randall and Care are very lucky, they were both dire yesterday. Mitchell unlucky, is it just the concerns over his stamina? Can't be anything else as he's been fantastic this season.

[Tigersman]

Out of interest which 12 should be going instead of Porter if Porter is a troll/WTf selection?

It’s more a highlight of the lack of 12’s coming up/are fit

I’d take Dingwall as back up 12 and take Lozowski instead.

Just noticed no Daly.

Somewhat funny
Playing 2 people out of position over someone who arguably had the best game of a centre this weekend. Especially Lozowski who has played like 4 games at 12 in the last 5 years

But would suit Eddie Jones selection I guess

[Mellsblue]

Out of interest which 12 should be going instead of Porter if Porter is a troll/WTf selection?

It’s more a highlight of the lack of 12’s coming up/are fit

I’d take Dingwall as back up 12 and take Lozowski instead.

Just noticed no Daly.

Somewhat funny
Playing 2 people out of position over someone who arguably had the best game of a centre this weekend. Especially Lozowski who has played like 4 games at 12 in the last 5 years

But would suit Eddie Jones selection I guess

Dingwall as backup 12, where he’s played numerous times and some think is his best position, and Loz as back up 13.