2014 QBE Internationals [EOYT] England

[TheSaffycen]

Yes but with a reluctance to select the guy tied in with constant injuries. Garvey is a bit more versatile and can do a role not many of our players can do, Ewers being much younger. This was his chance but now he wont play the AI I cant see him going to the world cup unless he has a truly stellar year and even then Lancasters plans are hard to break into.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Garvey has been injured just as much as Carl in recent times and is a year older. Granted he's more versatile but I can't see him being that far ahead of Carl.

 

[Peat]

Fearns has played all across the back row, Garvey's played 4 and 6 - not sure I'd call the latter more versatile.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Versatile in that he can be on the bench to cover lock/backrow - Lancaster thus far hasn't really put back rowers on the bench.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Maybe not but I still don't think he'll play for England. Dave Ewers and maybe a Kruis/Launchbury for a big blindside, but I still think Garvey is ahead just because Lancaster prefers a jack of all trades over a specialist.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Fearns covered donkey row for us in the past - I wouldn't say he's particularly a viable option there, but if everyone got crocked mid-game you could stick him and he'd do a job.

I'd take Fearns over Garvey in the back row/on the bench every day.

 

[Peat]

Versatile in that he can be on the bench to cover lock/backrow - Lancaster thus far hasn't really put back rowers on the bench.

Lancaster's preferences don't change what versatile means Besides, he's not really looked for lock/back rows much either, or at least not used them in that versatile sense.

I do feel I get what Saffy means. He's missed a lot of chances to shine because of injury and every time, he becomes a little more forgotten.

Not that Lancaster seems remotely interested in big blindsides anyway. Wood, Croft and Tom Johnson - hardly the choices of a Ewis-esque selector.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Lancaster might move to a big blind as he looks to be selecting Fraser and Kvesic. Though Fearns is a better player than Garvey I still think that being able to cover lock and 6/8 he will get selected over Fearns. I bet that if he was fit slater would have been looked at playing 19

 

[Peat]

Lancaster might move to a big blind as he looks to be selecting Fraser and Kvesic. Though Fearns is a better player than Garvey I still think that being able to cover lock and 6/8 he will get selected over Fearns. I bet that if he was fit slater would have been looked at playing 19

Eh? Since when has he been looking to select Fraser and Kvesic? Have I misunderstood something here?

I don't see how playing Robshaw at 7 tied him to no big blindsides either. Or big locks, something else he's mostly ignored. Lancaster has just been consistently indifferent to playing big guys. Has Garvey even been in one of his squads? Like, even a Saxons one? He's blithely ignored Atwood and Slater for the Launchbury/Lawes/Parling triumvirate of workhorse, preferred Tom Johnson over Haskell most of the time.

Not being funny, but I don't get how you get Lancaster moving to a big guy or playing Slater ahead of Parling as a logical argument based on Lancaster's actions, unless he's said something I've missed. I'd quite like him to consider these ideas too, don't get me wrong, but it seems a little reach-y...

 

[ratsapprentice]

Eoin out for "a few weeks" apparently.

 

[Patchey]

Do we think Parling is realistically going to play again? I guess if not, that opens the door to Slater a bit.

Is Sisi fit yet?

Anyone else seen Sisi's mugshot on the Bath website? That neck beard goatee makes him look terrifying...

Similarly, Will Spencer is 23. Look him up and let that sink in.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Do we think Parling is realistically going to play again? I guess if not, that opens the door to Slater a bit.
.

With Slater's injury I think Kitchener has the bigger chance.

He is now Leicester most senior Lock for the time being and will lead the line out.

If Kitchener stays fit and shows maturity behind the young Props.

Leicester props this weekend are all 22 or below.

Then he could well have a shot of being the 4/5th lock for England.

 

[Peat]

The big winner is Attwood. Feel that Slater was closer to overtaking him than he was to overtaking Parling. Now it seems like both of those problems have gone.

Kitchener probably is lock number 4 at the moment but there's a lot of rugby to be played and guys like Kruis, Matthews, Gaskell, Stooke and so on, who were previously nowhere near should all be scenting blood.

 

[TheSaffycen]

Eh? Since when has he been looking to select Fraser and Kvesic? Have I misunderstood something here?

I don't see how playing Robshaw at 7 tied him to no big blindsides either. Or big locks, something else he's mostly ignored. Lancaster has just been consistently indifferent to playing big guys. Has Garvey even been in one of his squads? Like, even a Saxons one? He's blithely ignored Atwood and Slater for the Launchbury/Lawes/Parling triumvirate of workhorse, preferred Tom Johnson over Haskell most of the time.

Not being funny, but I don't get how you get Lancaster moving to a big guy or playing Slater ahead of Parling as a logical argument based on Lancaster's actions, unless he's said something I've missed. I'd quite like him to consider these ideas too, don't get me wrong, but it seems a little reach-y...

I'm just going on his group he had after the New Zealand so I assumed he was looking at Fraser and Kvesic. Of course I could be wrong but I looked at that as an indication to his future thoughts. As you say he has neglected alot of other players so a year out from the world cup why would he change ? I just think that if we play teams like South Africa we wont be physical enough and players like Fearns/Ewers/Attwood can all help that.

 

[Peat]

I'm just going on his group he had after the New Zealand so I assumed he was looking at Fraser and Kvesic. Of course I could be wrong but I looked at that as an indication to his future thoughts. As you say he has neglected alot of other players so a year out from the world cup why would he change ? I just think that if we play teams like South Africa we wont be physical enough and players like Fearns/Ewers/Attwood can all help that.

Oh, with you.

Long term, yeah, he's looking at one of Kvesic or Fraser... but when? Before the World Cup? After? Season after that? I think short term we'll see Robshaw and maybe the odd smaller game given to those two. I was looking pretty much exclusively at the short term there.

If I'm honest, I'm coming around to Lancaster's point of view here. He's building a pack that is quick enough, fit enough and clever enough to be where ever they are needed. There's no easier way to concede a line break or make a line break than for a player to just not be there to begin with. Intensity and technique are just as important as raw strength and power in defence and rucking at least. I'd like a few more guys with super-strong ball carrying games, but they've got to fit in that mould. I think the current pack can be physical enough to take it to South Africa, I worry more about their fitness vis a vis New Zealand.

The only issue is I look at Attwood and wonder if he's really slower and less fit than Parling et al; Haskell and Johnson; and so on.

Also, given the game plan that goes along with the pack I've described, being so slow to stick in a specialist openside is just odd...

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

New Zealand are one of the most athletic teams out there and it shows when they can just up the tempo to ensure they win. I guess the teams that are bulky are Wales and South Africa. I'd rather we try to emulate NZ more as it obviously works. High levels of athleticism combined with very good basic skills will take you further than simply throwing in more bulk.

 

[Big Ewis]

hey you guys (HEYYYY YOUUUUU GAAAAH-UUUYS !!) - Farrell is apparently uncertain for this coming Tour. Obviously it's an issue de facto in that he's been the no.1 option and everything has run through him almost entirely throughout the past 3 years for England; but besides that point if you can rest that somewhat, are any England fans actually glad, or at very least are happy to try out one of those other options at no.10 ? That's all *if he is indeed absent.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

It will either cement his place in the starting XV or end it. I'm leaning towards cementing it.

 

[Peat]

I don't want to get my hopes up prematurely, so I shan't talk about Farrell missing the window until he actually does so.

 

[Tony Manx]

He has only started one match this season and if he is out for say four weeks, is playing for just the two weeks prior reasonable preparation for the AB's ie 3 matches in nearly five months? If he plays in those circumstances, it strikes me a bit desperate on behalf of Lancaster..........

Anyways, he just wanted to avoid playing against his successor at Sale is it this week?!!