[2014 Mid-Year Tests] England

[Tmartin995]

So... Mass?

Haha I was trying to avoid that word in all that! Maybe this problem could be solved by moving Tuilagi to 12 on defence as he's a better matchup with Nonu defensively?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Doesn't solve the issue of the first test, though, which is really turning into a cluster f**k.

England should just not turn up on the day, and say that we thought it was a 2 test series.

 

[McTallshort]

It should be a non cap game end of

 

[Aristodemus]

I myself would love to see Ford Eastmond Tuilagi as that is a great attacking set-up and I have no fear in the respective guys defence either. Ford might not be the rock Farrell is but he will stop what comes at him, the same as Eastmond.

 

[Peat]

Haha I was trying to avoid that word in all that! Maybe this problem could be solved by moving Tuilagi to 12 on defence as he's a better matchup with Nonu defensively?

Nah. At least with Ford and Eastmond at 10-12, it is quite easy to get a double tackle/back-rower involved to put them back on the gainline. Stick Eastmond at 13 and, while he'll probably stop Nonu/Savea if they run at his channel, he's probably not getting any help and as such they'll be over the gainline/get the offload away.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It should be a non cap game end of

Yup, I'd be more than happy with an "England XV" vs NZ Maori game that weekend.

 

[Peat]

Well its not happening, so lets see if Lancaster can plot a respectable result and team out of what he's being given.

 

[goodNumber10]

I think Eastmond will be fine... He wasn't a bad defender in league and he stops people whilst not being devastating.

Ford will more than likely be fine with a familiar player outside him and I would hope his defence will go up a level through sheer terror.... He strikes me as a boy who thrives on stepping up a level.

 

[Maverick1987]

You never know NZ May use it as an opportunity to try a few new players and we might find ourselves 1-0 up into the second test positivity is the key

 

[Shaggy]

You never know NZ May use it as an opportunity to try a few new players and we might find ourselves 1-0 up into the second test positivity is the key

Just responding to this ... not trying to steer another NZ conversation, but the only new player I can see them playing (unless Injuries occur), is Malaki Fekitoa at outside centre, maybe off the bench ... otherwise you should be getting the most experienced lineup available.

To steer this back to a conversation about England ... at least they know who the opposing personnel are likely to be, so they can plan their tactics accordingly.

 

[Peat]

Huh. I'd have thought it would have made sense for NZ to experiment a little in the opening match, its a gilt edged opportunity. Only a little mind.

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

NZ aren't really one for experimenting. If a player deserves a spot, so be it, but they aren't just going to throw guys in just to see how they do, which is a big contrast to the other nations.

 

[Patchey]

Wow, I go away for a few days and this happens. This tour (especially the first test) has gone from 'a good challenge with a chance to test a few new guys' to being a real hazard.

Twelvetrees is, in rugby terms, the biggest loss IMO. I think he;s really grown into the 12 shirt after some early wobbles and offers a versatility that none of our other inside centres can match right now. Totally agree with Peat that a Ford/Eastmond axis is going to be very tempting for NZ to run at.

Talking about NZ, I've heard some rumours that Richie might get dropped? I;ve got to agree with Shaggy that Fekitoa looks a cert for a place, although considering how many talented new or inexperienced guys there are in the New Zealand conference right now I can't imagine he'll be the only one involved in the first test.

I guess out team for the first test will now be something like this:

1 Marler
2 Ward
3 Wilson
4 Launchbury
5 Attwood
6 Haskell
7 Robshaw
8 Morgan
9 Care
10 Ford
11 Yarde
12 Eastmond
13 Tuilagi
14 May/Roko
15 Brown

16 Mullan
17 George / LCD
18 Sinckler
19 Robson ? / Stooke ? (Not sure here)
20 Kvesic
21 Youngs
22 Cips
23 Daly

Still fairly strong, but not 'lets go beat the world champions' strong is it?

 

[Maverick1987]

Sorry double post remove please

 

[Maverick1987]

To be honest I firmly believe it will be a sarries vs tigers final which will leave us with almost a full first 15 by the first test anyway

Marler
Hartley (if fit)
Wilson
Launchbury
Lawes
Wood
Robshaw
Morgan
Care
Ford/Myler/Cipriani
Eastmond (maybe)
Burrell
May
Yarde
Brown

That is pretty close to our starting team in the 6N as many players lost to injury as lost to the final of the AP .

The replacements are what worry me but if we have

Mullan
Ward
Sinkler
Attwood
Dickinson ?
Robson/Simpson/Dickson
Ford/Myler/Cipriani
Daly/Watson

I'd be resonably happy with that

 

[Shaggy]

Wow, I go away for a few days and this happens. This tour (especially the first test) has gone from 'a good challenge with a chance to test a few new guys' to being a real hazard.

Twelvetrees is, in rugby terms, the biggest loss IMO. I think he;s really grown into the 12 shirt after some early wobbles and offers a versatility that none of our other inside centres can match right now. Totally agree with Peat that a Ford/Eastmond axis is going to be very tempting for NZ to run at.

Talking about NZ, I've heard some rumours that Richie might get dropped? I;ve got to agree with Shaggy that Fekitoa looks a cert for a place, although considering how many talented new or inexperienced guys there are in the New Zealand conference right now I can't imagine he'll be the only one involved in the first test.

I guess out team for the first test will now be something like this:

1 Marler
2 Ward
3 Wilson
4 Launchbury
5 Attwood
6 Haskell
7 Robshaw
8 Morgan
9 Care
10 Ford
11 Yarde
12 Eastmong
13 Tuilagi
14 May/Roko
15 Brown

16 Mullan
17 George / LCD
18 Sinckler
19 Robson ? / Stooke ? (Not sure here)
20 Kvesic
21 Youngs
22 Cips
23 Daly

Still fairly strong, but not 'lets go beat the world champions' strong is it?

I hadn't heard the Richie might get dropped rumour ... there is some suggestion that he might lose the Captaincy to Read (assuming he doesn't get concussed again) by some of the media, in an effort to prolong his longevity, but I think that's someone in the media's idea, rather than what's planned.

Your England side still looks pretty strong to me, looking forward to seeing Ford play, and also Brown ... I guess Brown will be marking Dagg, but Dagg's form isn't that great (could be B.Smith in the first test)

 

[Patchey]

Ah maybe I misread the article then. I mean if he was dropped it isn't like your back row would suffer overly, which is a bit daunting.

Also, watched a bit of Blues v Chiefs this morning. Nonu is in ominous form.

I agree that's still a healthy team. I'd happily have that as a Six Nations 23 but I don't think it's got the experience or proven quality to have much hope of beating New Zealand.

 

[Shaggy]

Ah maybe I misread the article then. I mean if he was dropped it isn't like your back row would suffer overly, which is a bit daunting.

Also, watched a bit of Blues v Chiefs this morning. Nonu is in ominous form.

I agree that's still a healthy team. I'd happily have that as a Six Nations 23 but I don't think it's got the experience or proven quality to have much hope of beating New Zealand.

Nonu started well, but he made a number of mistakes as the game progressed ... did you see Piutau's injury ... at first glance, it looked serious, so he might not feature in the June tests

 

[Bada-Bing!]

I hadn't heard the Richie might get dropped rumour ... there is some suggestion that he might lose the Captaincy to Read (assuming he doesn't get concussed again) by some of the media, in an effort to prolong his longevity, but I think that's someone in the media's idea, rather than what's planned.

Your England side still looks pretty strong to me, looking forward to seeing Ford play, and also Brown ... I guess Brown will be marking Dagg, but Dagg's form isn't that great (could be B.Smith in the first test)

The Kiwis "favourite" journalist Mark Reason on Stuff.co.Nz suggested Richie McCaw be dropped to keep him fresh for the WC. I hardly call him an authority when it comes to All Black selections. So it is not even a rumour; just an opinion of some hack journalist.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/opinion/10016029/Reason-Drop-McCaw-now-so-he-can-play-RWC

 

[goodNumber10]

12 Eastmong

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