[2014 Mid-Year Tests] England

[TRF_Olyy]

9. Care, 10. Cipriani, 11. Yarde, 12. 36, 13. Tuilagi, 14. Rokoduguni, 15. Brown

Talk about your mixture of creativity, pace and power.

 

[Patchey]

9. Care, 10. Cipriani, 11. Yarde, 12. 36, 13. Tuilagi, 14. Rokoduguni, 15. Brown

Talk about your mixture of creativity, pace and power.

That's given me a funny feeling deep down inside that I quite like...

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

That's given me a funny feeling deep down inside that I quite like...

Same, although that might be the ridiculous amounts of caffeine I've had (yay exams).

I really look forward to seeing that 9-15 in action though. Our forwards have been pretty settled with just the props being undecided (mostly due to injuries). That looks like a proper set of backs though. It will be intereting to see how Cips/36 work together. Farrel is traditionally a territory/control 10 rather than a creative attacking 10. Might we miss that having Cips on or will 36 alter his style to look for territory more whilst Cips plays as a running 10?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Same, although that might be the ridiculous amounts of caffeine I've had (yay exams).

I really look forward to seeing that 9-15 in action though. Our forwards have been pretty settled with just the props being undecided (mostly due to injuries). That looks like a proper set of backs though. It will be intereting to see how Cips/36 work together. Farrel is traditionally a territory/control 10 rather than a creative attacking 10. Might we miss that having Cips on or will 36 alter his style to look for territory more whilst Cips plays as a running 10?

Danny's more than capable of playing a territory game when the conditions/gameplan calls for it - done it several times this season to goo effect.
Ford will be our 10 going in to the first test, I've no doubt, though. He's also a very good kicker from hand.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Danny's more than capable of playing a territory game when the conditions/gameplan calls for it - done it several times this season to goo effect.
Ford will be our 10 going in to the first test, I've no doubt, though. He's also a very good kicker from hand.

How ever much I have supported ford and doubted cipriani I think his greater experience should mean he starts for the first test.

I think I'd be more comfortable as he is older, played more test rugby than ford, had longer in the England camp this summer and played super rugby.

In other circumstances id probably change my mind but in this case I think we should start him.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Lancaster clearly decided quite a while ago that Ford is starting the first test - It's as close to certain as possible.

 

[goodNumber10]

How ever much I have supported ford and doubted cipriani I think his greater experience should mean he starts for the first test.

I think I'd be more comfortable as he is older, played more test rugby than ford, had longer in the England camp this summer and played super rugby.

In other circumstances id probably change my mind but in this case I think we should start him.

The better player should start. Simple.

Cips has 7 caps. Ford 2 it's not like Danny hasn't struggled at international level in those 7 caps.

 

[j'nuh]

The better player should start. Simple.

Cips has 7 caps. Ford 2 it's not like Danny hasn't struggled at international level in those 7 caps.

Cips has 7 caps from 6 years ago. He didn't even play under MJ, let alone SL. It counts for very little now.

Ford may only have 2 caps, but he's been in SL's setup significantly longer than Cips has been. This counts for quite a bit. As Sarries show, it's not always about having the best player in every position - it's as much about every player having an understanding of the role they fill in the squad.

Cips will get his chance. I hope he gets a bench opportunity in the first test. It'll be far more interesting to see what Cips may manage in the AIs though, when he should be getting to grips with the setup.

SL is obviously aiming to have three fly-halves to call upon during the WC. Farrell, Ford, Cipriani and Burns should have integrated with Lancaster's setup enough that three will be picked for the Six Nations and continue to go on to the WC. At that point, it'll come down to form as to who benches for Farrell.

 

[goodNumber10]

Cips has 7 caps from 6 years ago. He didn't even play under MJ, let alone SL. It counts for very little now.

Ford may only have 2 caps, but he's been in SL's setup significantly longer than Cips has been. This counts for quite a bit. As Sarries show, it's not always about having the best player in every position - it's as much about every player having an understanding of the role they fill in the squad.

Cips will get his chance. I hope he gets a bench opportunity in the first test. It'll be far more interesting to see what Cips may manage in the AIs though, when he should be getting to grips with the setup.

SL is obviously aiming to have three fly-halves to call upon during the WC. Farrell, Ford, Cipriani and Burns should have integrated with Lancaster's setup enough that three will be picked for the Six Nations and continue to go on to the WC. At that point, it'll come down to form as to who benches for Farrell.

spot on.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Ford might be out of the tour.

Apparently he might be having an operation immediately following the Amlin final.

 

[Patchey]

Ford might be out of the tour.

Apparently he might be having an operation immediately following the Amlin final.

Cr*p

 

[goodNumber10]

Ford might be out of the tour.

Apparently he might be having an operation immediately following the Amlin final.

Terrible news!

 

[j'nuh]

Scratch everything I said in my last post.

Cips to start the first test.

 

[ratsapprentice]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/ru...ith-George-Ford-ruled-out-through-injury.html

... and that's why you don't put off capping players.

It happened last year with Wade, and it's happened again with Ford.

 

[Patchey]

What Rats says. Wade, Yarde and now Ford all should have been capped sooner.

Who the hell is our reserve 20 now? Burns? Let's pray Cips doesn't fall over.

 

[TheSaffycen]

I guess it is now Slade ? **** sake, maybe they could ask Flood too play in this last tour ?

 

[goodNumber10]

What Rats says. Wade, Yarde and now Ford all should have been capped sooner.

Who the hell is our reserve 20 now? Burns? Let's pray Cips doesn't fall over.

Andy Goode

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I wanted Cips to get game time, but not like this.

We're gonna need to call up another 10, for the baabaas game.
I really hope Slade is the reserve 10 for the first test, or Cipriani plays the full 80. The thought of Burns playing against the all blacks makes me brown my pants.

 

[mt518]

I think Burns should start while cips on the bench. its been a long time that cips hasn't played in an international test match while burns played in argentina last summer...
Just a quick question here, will the England squad facing barbarians going down to nz as well? or there are two separate squads for both barbarians and nz tour?

 

[ratsapprentice]

I think one or two of the BaBaas squad might join on the tour - but they are essentially two separate squads.