Newcastle vs Saracens - Sunday 3pm

[Puja]

Newcastle Falcons team to face Saracens (Sunday, 3pm, Kingston Park Stadium).

15 Tom Penny, 14 Adam Radwan, 13 Matias Moroni, 12 Matias Orlando, 11 Mateo Carreras, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Sam Stuart; 1 Adam Brocklebank, 2 George McGuigan, 3 Trevor Davison, 4 Greg Peterson, 5 Sean Robinson, 6 Will Welch (captain), 7 Connor Collett, 8 Callum Chick.

Replacements: 16 Jamie Blamire, 17 Logovi’i Mulipola, 18 Richard Palframan, 19 Sebastian de Chaves, 20 Freddie Lockwood, 21 Michael Young, 22 Pete Lucock, 23 Ben Stevenson.

Not available for selection: Phil Brantingham, Luke Coulston, Nathan Earle, Carl Fearns, Gary Graham, Conor Kenny, Tom Marshall, George Merrick, Chidera Obonna, Charlie Smith, Josh Thomas, Philip van der Walt.


Saracens: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Max Malins, 13 Alex Lozowski, 12 Nick Tompkins, 11 Alex Lewington, 10 Owen Farrell (captain), 9 Ivan Van Zyl; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Kapeli Pifeleti, 3 Marco Riccioni, 4 Callum Hunter-Hill, 5 Theo McFarland, 6 Jackson Wray, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Eroni Mawi, 18 Alec Clarey, 19 Hugh Tizard, 20 Andy Christie, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Alex Goode, 23 Josh Hallett.

Referee: Wayne Barnes.

[Peej]

At what point are Sarries going to rest Farrell?

[Spiffy]

Just saw the highlights. Daly had another great game laying on a few tries with rugby intelligence, footwork, pace and passing. Also Malins, who runs some great support lines and is a consistent try poacher. I think he is probably faster than I previously thought. Not an out-and-out flier like Radwan, May etc. but he seems to glide along with a long stride and ample pace to get the job done with plenty of rugby smarts. More to his game than say, Jack Nowell's. If Jones is set on playing Faz at 10 for England, he might consider putting a few familiar club mates beside him (Daly, Malins, Lozowski) to try and reproduce Sarries form at the higher level. May sound daft, but no more daft than some of Eddie's past experiments. I would say that a significant part of Ireland's success in the past few seasons is down to the selection of Leinster club combinations who play together regularly.

[Puja]

Daly is looking very good, although I want to see how he goes in the ERC before championing him for England again.

Malins is very hard done by from a lot of England fans - he's a very decent player and we could do much worse. Farrell puts in some nice touches from those highlights as well.

Not a clever looking clearout from Mako. Don't think he was ever going to be in England contention, but that could rule him out regardless.

Is it just me, or does that Newcastle pitch look a very dingy and sickly green? It's artificial turf - surely they could spraypaint it a more vibrant shade!

Puja

[FKAS]

That's a pretty nasty clear out from Mako. He's going to get a few weeks ban on the back of that.

[Banquo]

Daly is looking very good, although I want to see how he goes in the ERC before championing him for England again.

Malins is very hard done by from a lot of England fans - he's a very decent player and we could do much worse. Farrell puts in some nice touches from those highlights as well.

Not a clever looking clearout from Mako. Don't think he was ever going to be in England contention, but that could rule him out regardless.

Is it just me, or does that Newcastle pitch look a very dingy and sickly green? It's artificial turf - surely they could spraypaint it a more vibrant shade!

Puja

Malins is not hard done by, but yes he is a decent player. He has been poor for England, albeit not in a position or team that suits.

Why is Mako not in contention?

[Timbo]

Big fan of Malins. Quality rugby player. Don’t think he’s a winger at international level, but could easily see him as a classy test fullaback. Or a regular in the 23 shirt.

[Banquo]

Big fan of Malins. Quality rugby player. Don’t think he’s a winger at international level, but could easily see him as a classy test fullaback. Or a regular in the 23 shirt.

indeed on the wing, where he looks unhappy. Not that convinced at 15 either, where his positioning ansd high ball presence are weak at the mo. He is a good player who hasn't found intl position. Like him t 10 tbh. But not hard done by- needs to prove his case off the wing.

[Puja]

Daly is looking very good, although I want to see how he goes in the ERC before championing him for England again.

Malins is very hard done by from a lot of England fans - he's a very decent player and we could do much worse. Farrell puts in some nice touches from those highlights as well.

Not a clever looking clearout from Mako. Don't think he was ever going to be in England contention, but that could rule him out regardless.

Is it just me, or does that Newcastle pitch look a very dingy and sickly green? It's artificial turf - surely they could spraypaint it a more vibrant shade!

Puja

Malins is not hard done by, but yes he is a decent player. He has been poor for England, albeit not in a position or team that suits.

Why is Mako not in contention?

I had thought, for some reason, that he wasn't been in the England training squad last week, but a quick check tells me I'm inventing things. Good to know. I think he'll struggle not to get a 4 week plus ban for that red though, so he'll be the obvious droppee when Marler returns.

Puja

[Spiffy]

Big fan of Malins. Quality rugby player. Don’t think he’s a winger at international level, but could easily see him as a classy test fullaback. Or a regular in the 23 shirt.

indeed on the wing, where he looks unhappy. Not that convinced at 15 either, where his positioning ansd high ball presence are weak at the mo. He is a good player who hasn't found intl position. Like him t 10 tbh. But not hard done by- needs to prove his case off the wing.

He has not looked too unhappy on the wing for Sarries in the past few games, where he has been scoring tries for fun and also making a few incursions infield to good effect. Of course it will be argued that with Sarries in dominant form any wing will look good playing for them and just has to run in the tries. He will never be able to prove his case on or off the wing for England unless he gets another squad opportunity, so that is perhaps a bit of a circular argument, and depends a lot on his club position. It will be interesting to see how he is used by Bristol. Last time he was there he scored 11 tries in 11 games, mostly playing FB. I have not been a particularly big fan, but I am warming up to him and would consider him a talented all-round footballer with consistent good form and real rugby intelligence, and probably still improving.
If he was not that great for England in the past, he is not alone in that department. Jones has persevered with some donkeys who should be long gone.

[FKAS]

Big fan of Malins. Quality rugby player. Don’t think he’s a winger at international level, but could easily see him as a classy test fullaback. Or a regular in the 23 shirt.

indeed on the wing, where he looks unhappy. Not that convinced at 15 either, where his positioning ansd high ball presence are weak at the mo. He is a good player who hasn't found intl position. Like him t 10 tbh. But not hard done by- needs to prove his case off the wing.

I thought he was good under the high ball personally, positioning was improving. At most sides in the league he'd look a perfectly good fullback he's just unlucky to be sat behind Goode who's got fantastic positioning.

Malins issue is pace. He's got great footwork and good skills but international level is pretty unforgiving out on the wing if you've only got ok pace. If he'd had a run at 15 before Steward got there he might have done ok in that position.

[TheNomad]

I think, sadly, Malins is going to fall into the Alex Goode category of rugby players.

Wonderfully talented, capable of playing in most positions in the back line...but falling between the cracks when it comes to test rugby, in particular given we have Steward at 15, where I suspect he's best suited.

While good at club level at everything, he has neither outstanding pace, size, nor defensive ability, which means, in my opinion, he'll never bed down a spot in the first XV for England. Which is a shame, as I think he's fantastic. Is a great 23 though

[Banquo]

Big fan of Malins. Quality rugby player. Don’t think he’s a winger at international level, but could easily see him as a classy test fullaback. Or a regular in the 23 shirt.

indeed on the wing, where he looks unhappy. Not that convinced at 15 either, where his positioning ansd high ball presence are weak at the mo. He is a good player who hasn't found intl position. Like him t 10 tbh. But not hard done by- needs to prove his case off the wing.

He has not looked too unhappy on the wing for Sarries in the past few games, where he has been scoring tries for fun and also making a few incursions infield to good effect. Of course it will be argued that with Sarries in dominant form any wing will look good playing for them and just has to run in the tries. He will never be able to prove his case on or off the wing for England unless he gets another squad opportunity, so that is perhaps a bit of a circular argument, and depends a lot on his club position. It will be interesting to see how he is used by Bristol. Last time he was there he scored 11 tries in 11 games, mostly playing FB. I have not been a particularly big fan, but I am warming up to him and would consider him a talented all-round footballer with consistent good form and real rugby intelligence, and probably still improving.
If he was not that great for England in the past, he is not alone in that department. Jones has persevered with some donkeys who should be long gone.

He also looked good for Brizz on the wing, that was when he got picked there for England IIRC. He is a skilled player no doubt- but I watched him live for England v Wales and he looked hugely uncomfortable and out of his depth. Not sure what the answer is tbh, I just think he's a good player without being clear with himself what position he likes to play; not sure why he moved from 10 tbh.

[Banquo]

Big fan of Malins. Quality rugby player. Don’t think he’s a winger at international level, but could easily see him as a classy test fullaback. Or a regular in the 23 shirt.

indeed on the wing, where he looks unhappy. Not that convinced at 15 either, where his positioning ansd high ball presence are weak at the mo. He is a good player who hasn't found intl position. Like him t 10 tbh. But not hard done by- needs to prove his case off the wing.

I thought he was good under the high ball personally, positioning was improving. At most sides in the league he'd look a perfectly good fullback he's just unlucky to be sat behind Goode who's got fantastic positioning.

Malins issue is pace. He's got great footwork and good skills but international level is pretty unforgiving out on the wing if you've only got ok pace. If he'd had a run at 15 before Steward got there he might have done ok in that position.

We will have to disagree on high ball, and yes, positioning will always improve the more you play there- but as you point out he's behind Daly and Goode for 15 (and was behind Piatau)....so we won't find whether he'd be a perfectly good 15. I also don't think ok pace is enough at 15 unless the rest of your game is outstanding.
TBH all I'm saying is, is that he isn't especially hard done by. He's had plenty of England exposure and been found wanting to date.

[Mikey Brown]

Just seen the Vunipola red. What a moron. Should be a lengthy ban given current sanctions.

[Spiffy]

indeed on the wing, where he looks unhappy. Not that convinced at 15 either, where his positioning ansd high ball presence are weak at the mo. He is a good player who hasn't found intl position. Like him t 10 tbh. But not hard done by- needs to prove his case off the wing.

I thought he was good under the high ball personally, positioning was improving. At most sides in the league he'd look a perfectly good fullback he's just unlucky to be sat behind Goode who's got fantastic positioning.

Malins issue is pace. He's got great footwork and good skills but international level is pretty unforgiving out on the wing if you've only got ok pace. If he'd had a run at 15 before Steward got there he might have done ok in that position.

We will have to disagree on high ball, and yes, positioning will always improve the more you play there- but as you point out he's behind Daly and Goode for 15 (and was behind Piatau)....so we won't find whether he'd be a perfectly good 15. I also don't think ok pace is enough at 15 unless the rest of your game is outstanding.
TBH all I'm saying is, is that he isn't especially hard done by. He's had plenty of England exposure and been found wanting to date.

All fair enough. What ticks me is that others found wanting are still regulars (e.g. Youngs, Farrell, Nowell, Ewels.)

[fivepointer]

Just seen the Vunipola red. What a moron. Should be a lengthy ban given current sanctions.

Should be. That was a really nasty, uncalled for hit.

[Banquo]

I thought he was good under the high ball personally, positioning was improving. At most sides in the league he'd look a perfectly good fullback he's just unlucky to be sat behind Goode who's got fantastic positioning.

Malins issue is pace. He's got great footwork and good skills but international level is pretty unforgiving out on the wing if you've only got ok pace. If he'd had a run at 15 before Steward got there he might have done ok in that position.

We will have to disagree on high ball, and yes, positioning will always improve the more you play there- but as you point out he's behind Daly and Goode for 15 (and was behind Piatau)....so we won't find whether he'd be a perfectly good 15. I also don't think ok pace is enough at 15 unless the rest of your game is outstanding.
TBH all I'm saying is, is that he isn't especially hard done by. He's had plenty of England exposure and been found wanting to date.

All fair enough. What ticks me is that others found wanting are still regulars (e.g. Youngs, Farrell, Nowell, Ewels.)

well...yes. But have been there done that re them

[Mellsblue]

Jeez, Mako’s ‘clear out’ is terrible. Springboks on a bad day terrible. I’ll also note that the Ice Man came steaming in from 20 yards away to throw a punch on the deck.