2014 QBE Internationals [EOYT] England

[goodNumber10]

think it's pretty common to move people around in the build up to a world cup - you can only take so many players and you may have to fill in the blanks on occasion - this is probably him doing that.

When was the last time NZ picked a FH with a skillset like Farrell's and then put him at 12 when he didn't perform?

july 7 2007

 

[TommiG88]

@goodNumber10 Not anywhere near as regularly as Lancaster.

This would have been a great time to give some of the less established players a chance to prove they are better than the encumbants in their position yet it looks like instead we are going to be playing a tried, tested and failed setup. Can't see any creativity in there at all.

Weak opponents means a team like England should be testing other partnerships. Wood, robshaw and Farrell are the undroppables.

I'm losing interest quickly with Lancaster and his strange decisions.

 

[j'nuh]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]When was the last time NZ picked a FH with a skillset like Farrell's [/FONT]<strike>[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]and then put him at 12 when he didn't perform[/FONT]</strike>[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Tahoma, Calibri, Geneva, sans-serif]?[/FONT]

ftfy

 

[Peat]

People, people, lets be positive...

... no Calum Clark!


Although, seriously, its beginning to be absurd the number of squads he's been in without actually playing.

 

[Maverick1987]

Weak opponents means a team like England should be testing other partnerships. Wood, robshaw and Farrell are the undroppables.

I'm losing interest quickly with Lancaster and his strange decisions.

Ditto even though I'm a huge fan of Robshaw

 

[Maverick1987]

think it's pretty common to move people around in the build up to a world cup - you can only take so many players and you may have to fill in the blanks on occasion - this is probably him doing that.



july 7 2007

Who was that then ?

 

[TommiG88]

Ditto even though I'm a huge fan of Robshaw

Wood or Robshaw not both, I prefer Robshaw too. Think he's becoming a top flanker.

 

[goodNumber10]

Who was that then ?

No clue, i made it up.

 

[TommiG88]

No clue, i made it up.

That was rather amusing.

 

[Wendigo7]

For what it's worth I think they are seriously looking at

10 Ford
12. Farrell
13. Tuilagi

As a centre combo in future and want to call on Barritt to steer the ship. Trouble is this is doomed to fail, although I expect Ford to play well and it will gloss over things somewhat.

What is a travesty is that Hartley and Lawes suffered concussions against NZ, missed Thursday training, but played against SA.

Kyle Eastmond has a minor concussion, training is moved to wednesday, he has been told he will be ok on thursday but has been dropped completely from the squad.

Farrell issue aside, to me that's ****ty management.

 

[TommiG88]

It will wind me up if Morgan doesn't start.

 

[goodNumber10]

Eastmond was never going to play this weekend so don't really see it.

That was rather amusing.

no point in being sensible around here at the moment.

 

[TommiG88]

Eastmond was never going to play this weekend so don't really see it.

Should be a game when he's given more time though. He's been blooded against NZ and SA which is unusual.

 

[ratsapprentice]

http://www.premiershiprugby.com/news/33879.php#.VGukMNZjjbs

Hang on lads, I've figured out why England have been misfiring.... Andy Farrell has been moonlighting as England's goalkeeper!

 

[Shaggy]

think it's pretty common to move people around in the build up to a world cup - you can only take so many players and you may have to fill in the blanks on occasion - this is probably him doing that.



july 7 2007

Totally agree - the RWC squads simply aren't large enough to have specialist backups, particularly after you take into account the need for backups in specialist positions (Front Row, Halfbacks), any player playing outside of those positions, probably needs the ability and experience in playing outside of their preferred position,

This is why I don't think it's a bad thing that Lancaster is (perhaps) looking to do this against Samoa ... I'm not saying it's going to be an easy game, but it's probably going to be the easiest game they are going to get for a while, so it's probably his best opportunity to do so

 

[Wendigo7]

Eastmond was never going to play this weekend so don't really see it.



no point in being sensible around here at the moment.

Sorry you can't say that.

You also can't have a coach who is picking players to be pencilled in prior to autumn games starting and you definitely shouldnt pencil in a 10/12 combo just because you've decided pre AIs.

So Lawes and Hartley are exempt and Farrell isn't. Eastmond plays fairly well with what little given... Farrell and Barritt aren't. Saracens don't even play this combo. It was played once or twice at Sarries and it failed, spectacularly. It hasn't been seen since because Sarries doesn't believe it works. That should surely tell you all you need to know.

 

[goodNumber10]

Sorry you can't say that.

Why? it was always unlikely the starting midfield would turn out this weekend. it was always going to be 2nd choice city.

You also can't have a coach who is picking players to be pencilled in prior to autumn games starting and you definitely shouldnt pencil in a 10/12 combo just because you've decided pre AIs.

course you can...

So Lawes and Hartley are exempt and Farrell isn't. Eastmond plays fairly well with what little given... Farrell and Barritt aren't. Saracens don't even play this combo. It was played once or twice at Sarries and it failed, spectacularly. It hasn't been seen since because Sarries doesn't believe it works. That should surely tell you all you need to know.

They played almost a whole season in the center didn't they? Didn't they also play in the first few 6nations games at 12/13?

And, Eastmond hardly shone on Saturday, and i don't think we need to talk anymore about Farrell until everyone watches the game again...

 

[Peat]

Wendigo, got a source for what you're saying about Eastmond's concussion?

Why? it was always unlikely the starting midfield would turn out this weekend. it was always going to be 2nd choice city.

Except this isn't 2nd choice city.

 

[j'nuh]

Exactly. Only three changes have been made. One to Vunipola, who has looked woefully out of form and second best to Morgan. One to Care, who has looked woefully out of form (he was directly responsible for conceding two tries on the weekend). And one to Eastmond, which I can't comprehend. Eastmond would be one of the last players I'd rest, with the need to cement him in the centres. Lancaster's clearly not resting players for this match... which means he actually thinks Eastmond deserves the chop and that Farrell-Barritt needs looking at.

 

[Maverick1987]

Wendigo, got a source for what you're saying about Eastmond's concussion?



Except this isn't 2nd choice city.

This is a quote from SSN

"Kyle has not been able to train due to the Graduated Return To Play protocol and will return to Bath to continue that process and hopefully he should be available for his club this weekend along with the other released players."