England Team Now That Jones Has Come In?

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Would go
1) Mako, 2) George, 3) Brookes
4) Slater. 5) Launchbury
6) Itojie. 8) Vunipola, 7) Fraser
9) Youngs
10) Farrell
11) Nowell
12) Smith/Eastmond
13) Daly
14) Watson
15) Brown
16) Youngs, 17) Mullan, 18) Cole
19) Kruis, 20) Ewers
21) Simpson, 22) Ford, 23) Yarde

50/50 on Cips v Ford.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Jamie George
3. Kieran Brookes
4. Joe Launchbury (C)
5. Dave Attwood
6. James Haskellp
7. Matt Kvesic
8. Billy Vunipola
9. Ben Youngs
10. George Ford
11. Anthony Watson
12. Henry Slade With Slade injured, Manu ideally or Barritt as a stop gap if necessary (Cipriani to the bench)
13. Jonathan Joseph
14. Semesa Rokoduguni
15. Mike Brown

16. Jamie George
17. Nick Auterac
18. Henry Thomas
19. Maro Itoje
20. Jack Clifford
21. Joe Simpson
22. Manu Tuilagi
23. Elliot Daly

I tried to keep something like continuity while living things up a little where needed
Harsh on Nowell and Lawes but I am happy that decent players are missing out, notable names to come in soon: Beaumont, Hughes (I prefer Beaumont), O'Connor maybe, Slater? Mullan, Ewers, Hill (Chiefs one), Robson, LCD, Lewington

Bit of a Jamie George fan?

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Loose heads vuinipola Mullan/ marler
Hookers youngs George, Hartley
Tight heads Brooke's, Coke
Lock 4 lauchberry, kruis
Lock 5 Attwood, kirtchner
Blind sides itoje, slater, ewers
Open sides kvesic, Fraser
No. 8 Morgan billy v
9s youngs, care, Simpson
Fly halves ford, cipriani, Farrell
Wings nowell, may, Watson
Inside centre slade &....
Outside centre Daly JJ
Fullbacks brown, goode

Inside centre is an issue, might be eastmond there but really hope never to see barritt in an England shirt ever again.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Not sure how many he can pick but I'm guessing it will be around 31-15 man squad ?
Loosehead- Vunipola, Mullan, Auterac
Hooker- George, LCD, Youngs
Tighthead- Brookes, Cole, Cooper Wooley
Locks- Launchbury, Slater, Attwood, Itoje
Backrow- Fraser, Kvesic, Vunipola, Ewers, Clifford
Scrum Half- Youngs, Simpson, Care
Fly Half- Farrell, Ford, Cipriani
Centre-Joseph, Daly, Slade, Eastmond, Tuilagi
Winger- Rokoduguni, Nowell, Ashton
Fullback- Brown, Watson

Now to justify some selections-
Mullan and Cooper Wooley have both been part of a strong Wasps set piece. Added to Launchbury and Slater/Attwood, Itoje/Ewers we have serious size and power.
In the backs the inside centre may have to be covered by Farrell. We don't have many options but is now playing the best rugby of his life against good teams.
Ashton is the big one, he just scores tries. He isn't incredibly well rounded but his name comes up on the score board most games. If he can roam around and play off a powerful centre like Tuilagi or maybe Roko at 13 ? I think Rokoduguni could make for a very useful 13, JJ could be Fofana esque at 12 ?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I know I'm biased but I'd take Taylor over LCD.
Exceptional defence and at the breakdown, not as good on the carry, even on the darts but better in the scrum.
Big fan of LCD, having said that. Wouldn't be too upset to see him beat Taylor for a spot.

 

[Deleted member 53362]

Can we start a couple more of these treads because we dont currently already have loads.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

"England prospects at loosehead prop"
England prospects at hooker"
"England prospects at...."

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Can we start a couple more of these treads because we dont currently already have loads.

Was this sarcasm or legitimate statement? I'm new so I don't really know

 

[Deleted member 53362]

Was this sarcasm or legitimate statement? I'm new so I don't really know

Sarcasm mate but Im best ignored.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Sarcasm mate but Im best ignored.

It's what everyone else does to you usually.

 

[Deleted member 53362]

It's what everyone else does to you usually.

Apart from you tigs and I'm very grateful

 

[The Jones Boy]

Sarcasm mate but Im best ignored.

Ne'er a truer word spoken.

 

[Patolski]

A complete fantasy team with some outrageous calls, but hey I only do a degree in rugby...

1 M.Vunipola
2 Hartley
3 Cole
4 Launchbury
5 Attwood
6 Itoje
7 Clifford
8 Sam Burgess c lol (Beaumont)

9 Care
10 Cipriani
11 Wade
12 Devoto
13 Tuilagi
14 Yarde
15 Watson

16 George
17 Waller
18 Brookes
19 Kitchener/Matthews
20 Fraser
21 Simpson
22 Slade
23 JJ

 

[JPS20]

For the upcoming 6N...

1 Mako Vunipola
2 Jamie George
3 Dan Cole
4 Joe Launchbury
5 Maro Itoje
6 Dave Ewers
7 Will Fraser
8 Billy Vunipola

9 Joe Simpson
10 George Ford
11 Antony Watson
12 Owen Farrell (Slade if fit)
13 Elliot Daly
14 Chris Ashton
15 Mike Brown

16 Dylan Hartley
17 Kieran Brookes
18 Matt Mullan
19 Courtney Lawes
20 Tom Wood
21 Ben Youngs
22 Jonathan Joseph
23 Jack Nowell

Feel like that team has a good blend in the pack of experience and newbies. The back line I think would work effectively under Gustard with Simpson having a good box kick and Ashton and Watson great ball chasers. Similarly with the likes of Daly in the team 3 points is likely getting a penalty anywhere within 50-55m. Then get a very powerful bench on to close the games out if we are winning with their experience and or use their skill to completely change the game if we’re losing.

Anyones thoughts?

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

For the upcoming 6N...

1 Mako Vunipola
2 Jamie George
3 Dan Cole
4 Joe Launchbury
5 Maro Itoje
6 Dave Ewers
7 Will Fraser
8 Billy Vunipola

9 Joe Simpson
10 George Ford
11 Antony Watson
12 Owen Farrell (Slade if fit)
13 Elliot Daly
14 Chris Ashton
15 Mike Brown

16 Dylan Hartley
17 Kieran Brookes
18 Matt Mullan
19 Courtney Lawes
20 Tom Wood
21 Ben Youngs
22 Jonathan Joseph
23 Jack Nowell

Feel like that team has a good blend in the pack of experience and newbies. The back line I think would work effectively under Gustard with Simpson having a good box kick and Ashton and Watson great ball chasers. Similarly with the likes of Daly in the team 3 points is likely getting a penalty anywhere within 50-55m. Then get a very powerful bench on to close the games out if we are winning with their experience and or use their skill to completely change the game if we’re losing.

Anyones thoughts?

Doesn't look very threatening to me. Solid forward pack but that backline still reeks of mediocrity.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Doesn't look very threatening to me. Solid forward pack but that backline still reeks of mediocrity.

Kind of agree, it's a bit hit or miss.
Ford has the potential to be world class, and Simpson and Daly, going forward, are as good as anyone.

That said, wouldn't be my first choice backline.

I'd go for:

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Jamie George
3. Dan Cole
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Dave Attwood
6. Dave Ewers
7. Will Fraser
8. Billy Vunipola (is he injured? How's Ben Morgan been playing?)
9. Ben Youngs
10. Owen Farrell
11. Jack Nowell
12. Sam Hill
13. Jonathan Joseph
14. Anthony Watson
15. Mike Brown

16. Tom Youngs
17. Matt Mullan
18. .....? Flip a coin for any number of pretty-good-but-have-their-flaws tightheads that we have. Would be Cole, with Brookes starting, but alas.
19. Courtney Lawes
20. Maro Itoje
21. Danny Care
22. Danny Cipriani
23. Elliot Daly or Semesa Rokoduguni*


*Daly would be my first choice, but means we have no wing cover. Both wings can cover fullback, Farrell and Nowell can cover 12/13, so a winger would make more sense.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Kind of agree, it's a bit hit or miss.
Ford has the potential to be world class, and Simpson and Daly, going forward, are as good as anyone.

That said, wouldn't be my first choice backline.

I'd go for:

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Jamie George
3. Dan Cole
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Dave Attwood
6. Dave Ewers
7. Will Fraser
8. Billy Vunipola (is he injured? How's Ben Morgan been playing?)
9. Ben Youngs
10. Owen Farrell
11. Jack Nowell
12. Sam Hill
13. Jonathan Joseph
14. Anthony Watson
15. Mike Brown

16. Tom Youngs
17. Matt Mullan
18. .....? Flip a coin for any number of pretty-good-but-have-their-flaws tightheads that we have. Would be Cole, with Brookes starting, but alas.
19. Courtney Lawes
20. Maro Itoje
21. Danny Care
22. Danny Cipriani
23. Elliot Daly or Semesa Rokoduguni*


*Daly would be my first choice, but means we have no wing cover. Both wings can cover fullback, Farrell and Nowell can cover 12/13, so a winger would make more sense.

Really, Sam Hill? I'm a Chiefs supporter and like him a lot, but I can't say I'd put him as the starting 12, especially when he's having to compete seriously to keep his shirt at Exeter. I'd put Slade (when fit), Burrell, Eastmond and maybe Barritt ahead of him at 12. Also think putting Itoje as your only back row cover is somewhat risky but fair enough. Also Joe Simpson needs a spot in there. He is the definitive best 9 in England, there just isn't an argument to be had. And with your decision making about Daly or Rokoduguni, Daly can comfortably cover wing or if you don't like that slot him into 13 or 15 with Joseph or Brown moved onto the wing. Personally I'd put him as the starting 13 over Jospeh, he's been on fire and has a much more rounded game. Other than that and maybe putting in Brookes for Cole and Waldrom for Binny I'd say that's the best team England can put together.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Simpson isn't the definitive 9 in the country.

Also Waldrom Lol.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Really, Sam Hill? I'm a Chiefs supporter and like him a lot, but I can't say I'd put him as the starting 12, especially when he's having to compete seriously to keep his shirt at Exeter. I'd put Slade (when fit), Burrell, Eastmond and maybe Barritt ahead of him at 12.

Slade is injured, as you said.
Burrell is barely premiership standard on this seasons showing,
I like Eastmond but he's simply too small for international. Crappy, but that's the way it is.
Barritt is not of international standard, has shown it time and time again. If they used him as a stop gap until Slade is fit, then I wouldn't be 100% outraged, but Hill has the potential to be our 12 going forward. If we don't start capping potential players now then in four years we'll end up in the same situation as this world cup where we don't want to use our best players because they've not been trusted in the past. Also my case for Itoje - what we gonna learn from giving more caps to Wood and Robshaw? If the new guys don't work out then we know they can come back in and do a job, but we need to at least look at the guys who look to have a far higher ceiling.
That you showed umbrage with my suggestion of Hill and not the guy suggesting Farrell is was more mental than me suggesting Hill.


Simpson is not the premier 9 in the country. His basics are...decent at very best.
He's a fantastic runner, almost like a winger, but there are several ahead of him. I'd probably have him in the EPS but probably not in my 23. Definitely not my starting 9.

Brookes is crock, as I said - he'd be my starting 3 if not.
Waldrom I wouldn't even have in the Saxons. Still playing well for Chiefs but looks a step below last season.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

For the 2016 6 Nations

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Jamie George
3. Kieran Brookes
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Dave Attwood
6. Dave Ewers
7. Will Fraser (What does everyone think of Calum Clark. Has a bit of a reputation for his incident, but seems to have fixed his temperament issues and is in very good form. Worth putting him into an England squad or not?)
8. Billy Vunipola (For now. Josh Beaumont is an incredible young talent and will overtake him fairly soon)
9. Joe Simpson
10. Owen Farrell
11. Jack Nowell
12. Henry Slade (That's if he's fit, if not then Faz at 12 with Ford into 10, to keep the 12 as a play-maker, ready for Slade's return.)
13. Elliot Daly
14. Anthony Watson
15. Mike Brown

16. Dylan Hartley
17. Joe Marler
18. Dan Cole
19. Maro Itoje
20. Jack Clifford
21. Ben Youngs
22. George Ford (If Slade unfit and Ford is moved into 10 then put Joseph in here. Ford and Faz would both be starting so having 10 cover on the bench would be unnecessary.)
23. Jonathan Joseph (If moved to 22 then put Rokoduguni in here.)

Also think it's worth mentioning that I desperately want to see Nowell in an England 13 shirt at some point. He played there brilliantly in Exeter's first game against Clermont and despite always being deployed on the wing for England I think outside centre is his best position. He's a phenomenal talent and has hit a great patch of form. If given more international game time and used correctly he could be devastating.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

What does everyone think of Calum Clark.

I'd rather run my cock and ******** through a mangle.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

I'd rather run my cock and ******** through a mangle.

Fair enough. Why is this? I haven't seen a lot of him and he's not talked about very often so fill me in please.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Fair enough. Why is this? I haven't seen a lot of him and he's not talked about very often so fill me in please.

He grabbed the arm of a player, who was pinned at the bottom of a ruck, and bent it backwards until it snapped.

I don't care how well he plays, after that I never want to see him in an England shirt.

 

[Peat]

Fair enough. Why is this? I haven't seen a lot of him and he's not talked about very often so fill me in please.

Colour me surprised - his name comes up more or less every window here, with the same reaction every time.

There's no doubting he is a decent rugby player and in terms of sheer talent, is worth the consideration he gets - probably exactly the consideration he got, actually, which is to say on the fringes of the England camp but never in danger of actually playing because he's probably not quite good enough. He lacks the experience of the incumbents and the raw talent and high ceilings of the youngsters; barring a late flourish, he should slip out of the England squad altogether in a couple of years.

There is of course the minor issue about the incident of course to which you refer. I don't think of him as a liability because of it, but I do think of him as an incredibly distasteful person. I don't think I'd support England if he was playing regularly. I accept a lot of people make mistakes, or have issues, and that it's a hard game. He crossed a line that day and has not shown the faintest hint of meaningful remorse.

Separate issues, but I don't want to see him on the team on either point.

 

[Irish boy]

Eastmond is not to small people just think that because he got the run ariund by the best inside centre in the world on his second appearance he deserves another chance.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Colour me surprised - his name comes up more or less every window here, with the same reaction every time.

There's no doubting he is a decent rugby player and in terms of sheer talent, is worth the consideration he gets - probably exactly the consideration he got, actually, which is to say on the fringes of the England camp but never in danger of actually playing because he's probably not quite good enough. He lacks the experience of the incumbents and the raw talent and high ceilings of the youngsters; barring a late flourish, he should slip out of the England squad altogether in a couple of years.

There is of course the minor issue about the incident of course to which you refer. I don't think of him as a liability because of it, but I do think of him as an incredibly distasteful person. I don't think I'd support England if he was playing regularly. I accept a lot of people make mistakes, or have issues, and that it's a hard game. He crossed a line that day and has not shown the faintest hint of meaningful remorse.

Separate issues, but I don't want to see him on the team on either point.

Lol not shown the faintest hint of meaningful remorse. I guess you didn't see all the interviews about the event afterwards. He looked like a man destroyed and said he needed help.

BUT that's not really the point, just look at his rugby, he's not going to be a top international flanker. So we should focus on those whose can.

Fraser and kvesic have looked just so much better and we need to focus on them and then argue about whether Clifford is naturally a 7 or a 6.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

He did lie in the hearing.

Anyway IMO if Farrell is viewed as starting 10 I wouldn't mind seeing Eastmond starting @ 12.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

He did lie in the hearing.

Anyway IMO if Farrell is viewed as starting 10 I wouldn't mind seeing Eastmond starting @ 12.

However much a like eastmond he doesn't work with ford at international level so he shouldn't be selected.

We need a 12 who can fit in with any 10 or 13 otherwise you have to change your entire backline if you 10 is injured or subbed off.

 

[The Jones Boy]

Ford and Eastmond are very talented players but... they are tiny.
They are breakthrough spots waiting to happen.

 

[SWAGGER]

For the 2016 6 Nations

1. Mako Vunipola
2. Jamie George
3. Kieran Brookes
4. Joe Launchbury
5. Dave Attwood
6. Dave Ewers
7. Will Fraser (What does everyone think of Calum Clark. Has a bit of a reputation for his incident, but seems to have fixed his temperament issues and is in very good form. Worth putting him into an England squad or not?)
8. Billy Vunipola (For now. Josh Beaumont is an incredible young talent and will overtake him fairly soon)
9. Joe Simpson
10. Owen Farrell
11. Jack Nowell
12. Henry Slade (That's if he's fit, if not then Faz at 12 with Ford into 10, to keep the 12 as a play-maker, ready for Slade's return.)
13. Elliot Daly
14. Anthony Watson
15. Mike Brown

16. Dylan Hartley
17. Joe Marler
18. Dan Cole
19. Maro Itoje
20. Jack Clifford
21. Ben Youngs
22. George Ford (If Slade unfit and Ford is moved into 10 then put Joseph in here. Ford and Faz would both be starting so having 10 cover on the bench would be unnecessary.)
23. Jonathan Joseph (If moved to 22 then put Rokoduguni in here.)

Also think it's worth mentioning that I desperately want to see Nowell in an England 13 shirt at some point. He played there brilliantly in Exeter's first game against Clermont and despite always being deployed on the wing for England I think outside centre is his best position. He's a phenomenal talent and has hit a great patch of form. If given more international game time and used correctly he could be devastating.

Not a bad team but I would go for
1.) same
2.) I would go for Hartley
3.) Cole
4.) same
5) 100% salter, Attwood has looked ok this season but bath pack has been pushed about recently. Salter has been playing better than him. Totally agree we do need a big guy at lock.
6) agree but I doubt he would be fit so I would go with robshaw
7.) Kevsic
8.) same
9) Youngs for me but I would have Simpson
10.) same
11) I would go for the Rock
12.) I would go for slade but as he is injured I would go for eastmond
13.) JJ let's get that exciting bath midfield together on a international game & that's coming from a tigers fan.
14.) same
15.) same

16) T youngs for me. Maximum impact & has been the form 2 (George unlucky but does deserve game time this 6 nations)
17) same
18) Brookes is injured and unlucky to play so I would go for Thomas
19) Itoje can cover lock & 6. Brilliant this year.
20) wish Ewers was fit but I would go for Beaumont but most likely Haskell
21) hard call but Simpson but care is close
22) ford or cips. Cips has been playing better this year but ford has played behind a poor pack
23) daly unlucky to miss out on 15 but does deserve game