I rate Earl massively
For me it would be between CCS and Earl on the bench
Ideally I would have 19. CCS, 20. Earl, 21. Pollock TBH with Chessum as lock sub
But don't fully trust our loss fitness.
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England 2024/25
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I rate Earl massively
For me it would be between CCS and Earl on the bench
Ideally I would have 19. CCS, 20. Earl, 21. Pollock TBH with Chessum as lock sub
But don't fully trust our loss fitness.
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Earl is a fantastic player. I just feel he doesn't really suit a balanced international back row. He can carry, but a top quality specialist 8 will be better. He can jackal, but again a specialist 7 will be better. He can tackle, but I don't see him as a 6, especially if you want someone to compete in the lineout. He's a fantastic impact sub, but that would be it for me.
Hmm disagree in 2023/24 he was by far the best forward for us imo and he was one of the best 8's
Just we need a bigger 6 with him at 8
In fact
6. Lawes/Chessum
7. Underhill
8. Earl
IMO has been our best back row combo
Just we need a bigger 6 with him at 8
In fact
6. Lawes/Chessum
7. Underhill
8. Earl
IMO has been our best back row combo
So you're saying... if we have someone else to do the #8 stuff for him, then he can be great...?
[/facetioustwat]
What I do love about this conversation is that fact we actually have options. I could put together 3 different back rows that people might have a slight argument against, but in reality wouldn’t moan at.
That’s a massive positive. We have so much talent!
That’s a massive positive. We have so much talent!
Nah because I don't think an 8 should be doing that stuff.
But without a big 6 we need an 8 who can do that more
That being said it can be great to have all these options
Agreed finally starting to see depth.
Just need Borthwick start building depth at a international level
My England back 5 at the moment would be..
4 Itoje
5 Chessum
6 T. Curry
7 B. Earl
8 T. Willis
Ben Curry is very close and I guess Pollock is going to be in the conversation also. I'm also a big fan of Kenningham who offers something a little different...but maybe a little further back unless he goes to Argentina and shows up well ..
Then Pepper.... what do we do with him ...
Underhill.....I'm curious where he'll be playing next season...
4 Itoje
5 Chessum
6 T. Curry
7 B. Earl
8 T. Willis
Ben Curry is very close and I guess Pollock is going to be in the conversation also. I'm also a big fan of Kenningham who offers something a little different...but maybe a little further back unless he goes to Argentina and shows up well ..
Then Pepper.... what do we do with him ...
Underhill.....I'm curious where he'll be playing next season...
Flankers' paradise
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TBH i have a feeling that Pepper could miss out completely, or end up like Ludlow and only get capped when the senior players are away
I just think he's the complete 7..but you may well be right...there's just so much competition there...we shall see what happens.
I think Tom Curry and Earl will be lions..so that will give us an indicator of who SB takes to Argentina.
Ben Curry must start for England he was top class in the 6n performances, but who on the other flank.
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Agreed. Pepper is a good player but no better than the likes of Kenningham, who will struggle to get caps in non Lions summers unless they have absolute stormers and injuries go their way
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Yeah, sometimes the difference between being a multi-cap international and not comes down to when you were born and who you’re competing with. Had either of those two been 10yrs older, they’d have been shoo-ins for the squad. As it is, we have such a strong roster of flankers that they’ll probably not get too many chances.
Mad to think that Sam Underhill (28) and Tom Curry (26) are still comparatively young. With their injury histories, I don’t necessarily see both playing deep into their 30s, but conceivably both could be around for another 4+ years.
Mad to think that Sam Underhill (28) and Tom Curry (26) are still comparatively young. With their injury histories, I don’t necessarily see both playing deep into their 30s, but conceivably both could be around for another 4+ years.
Pepper will get his chance if he keeps playing
I don't see a space really for Dombrandt
Earl, CCS, Willis are better 8 options going forward.
Yeah it's crazy how young the back row options are though really those involved in the 6N's setup
Underhill (28)
Dombrandt (28)
Earl (27)
Willis (26)
Curry x 2 (26)
Hill (26)
Chessum (24)*
CCS (22)
Pollock (20)
A games set up players
Kenningham (25)
Pearson (25)
Barbeary (24)
Fisilau (21)
Youngster playing well and regularly
Ilione (23)
Pepper (22)
(Also Excited to see Carnduff now he's back from his surgery)
I don't see a space really for Dombrandt
Earl, CCS, Willis are better 8 options going forward.
Yeah it's crazy how young the back row options are though really those involved in the 6N's setup
Underhill (28)
Dombrandt (28)
Earl (27)
Willis (26)
Curry x 2 (26)
Hill (26)
Chessum (24)*
CCS (22)
Pollock (20)
A games set up players
Kenningham (25)
Pearson (25)
Barbeary (24)
Fisilau (21)
Youngster playing well and regularly
Ilione (23)
Pepper (22)
(Also Excited to see Carnduff now he's back from his surgery)
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When we’ve been talking about who should be given a chance in certain positions like 12 it’s sometimes felt like “well they’re English and have played a few Prem games” rather than them absolutely battering the door down and demanding to be picked. That’s what Pollock has done and it’s brilliant to see.
Quite where he fits in remains to be seen, probably bench initially, but it’s now hard to see an England 23 without him.
For the first time in forever I’m now looking at an England squad and thinking that they really can go places if properly managed. Still a few places to nail down / with depth worries, but our first choice team should be able to put up a good fight against anyone.
On the back row, I didn’t think we’d see a better athlete than Earl, yet Pollock may be that man. With Twindaloo also going brilliantly, Underhill available and big men options in Chessum / Willis / CCS available for 6 / 8 if you want to go that way, I really do wonder if there are serious conversations going on about switching Earl to 12.
Quite where he fits in remains to be seen, probably bench initially, but it’s now hard to see an England 23 without him.
For the first time in forever I’m now looking at an England squad and thinking that they really can go places if properly managed. Still a few places to nail down / with depth worries, but our first choice team should be able to put up a good fight against anyone.
On the back row, I didn’t think we’d see a better athlete than Earl, yet Pollock may be that man. With Twindaloo also going brilliantly, Underhill available and big men options in Chessum / Willis / CCS available for 6 / 8 if you want to go that way, I really do wonder if there are serious conversations going on about switching Earl to 12.
Be interesting to watch the Earl situation definitely. He has the physical ability we're crying out for at 12. Maybe his passing might be a focal point of if it goes ahead or not...
But Dingwall has put a few good markers down to be fair to him for that 12 spot.
The only position really that needs looked at for depth is Lock. Hopefully this Argentina tour will give us an idea of what we have. Itoje and Chessum lions, Martin injured so it's down to the bare bones.
Coles and Arthur probably start...but the cupboard is bare after that...
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Yeah, very different type of player but hopefully Carnduff can break through. A big, abrasive 6 with good leadership skills would be nice to have.
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Earl's passing is pretty good. England often use him in midfield off set plays and he's shown good enough hands to suggest it could work. Major career shift though.
Insult to Pepper to compare the two, ha
Remember when Ludlow for some reason was made England captain and he capped his performance by kneeing a semi pro player in the face and breaking his nose for no reason
Yeah massively different standards.
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