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2024 Guinness Six Nations
[2018 Six Nations] England Squad
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<blockquote data-quote="Pieter Steph du Teague" data-source="post: 891739" data-attributes="member: 72520"><p>My thoughts on what changes are needed in the team. Clearly it's the breakdown where we're really struggling and the thing is that it shouldn't actually be too difficult to fix, it's just a case of us being able to clear out and secure our own rucks. With that in mind:</p><ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Williams for Cole is a necessity IMO. At this point Cole is 100% a passenger. Williams' ruck clear outs are superb so this would help out the pack massively. Ok, maybe we'll lose something at scrum time, but if it means we're able to secure our own ruck ball then it's worth it. And it's also not like Williams is incapable at scrum time, he's just not quite Cole. Also adds a lot more go forward than Cole.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Lawes either into lock or onto the bench. I'd bench him, he has a fantastic work rate but doesn't offer that much in the rucks. I think giving him the finisher label may lead him to make more of an impact in defence. Itoje's not having the best Championship but I think he'll pull through. Launch is absolutely our best lock; such an underrated ball carrier.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Underhill in to start. As soon as he came on the ruck's became noticeably better. Although I don't think he's a natural 7 he's a hell of a lot more of a 7 than Robshaw. Robshaw back to 6.</li> </ul><p>For now in the backs wouldn't make any changes to the starters. I agree that Care isn't a starter but Robson or Vellacott realistically won't be able to be brought up to speed in time for France. would bring one of them in on the bench for Wigs but not to start. Personally think that calls to break up the Ford-Farrell axis are frankly a bit ridiculous. They've been great in the games leading up to this. Ok they were poor yesterday behind a bad pack but that doesn't mean we should bin them, it means we need to sort out the bad pack. Thought it was interesting to see that Nowell was top of the "Key Influencer" thing that the Inside Line make. I think someone like him is needed in grudge matches like yesterdays to provide some go forward in the backs but I still wouldn't start him as May and Watson are such good finishers on the wings. It's just a case of bringing him on earlier once it's been recognised that he's needed. Similar for Te'o, we need his go forward in some games but don't start him, just bring him on when needed, and as a 13 as well. Farrell-Te'o-Joseph doesn't work. As for Brown, he had a bit of a shocker yesterday but I'd keep him around. As Eddie said after the Wales game, he's usually superb for us in terms of reliability. Yesterday was unfortunately a bad game for him but credit has to be given to the Scottish kicking game which was pretty excellent. </p><p></p><p>As for when all players are fit I'd bring Daly straight in for May. Unfortunate for May who has been good, but Daly just offers more. Due to us always seemingly always having at least one winger injured it's also not like May's not going to get game time. I'd also bring Simmonds in on the flank for Robshaw, I know people tend to disagree with me on this but I can't help feeling that he's a passenger that's managed to acquire the workhorse label. He doesn't actually make that many tackles and has no impact going forward or at the breakdown. Marler also offered nothing when he came on; I'd bring in Genge for him.</p><p></p><p>For France:</p><p>1. Vunipola</p><p>2. Hartley</p><p>3. Williams</p><p>4. Launchbury</p><p>5. Itoje </p><p>6. Robshaw</p><p>7. Underhill</p><p>8. Hughes</p><p>9. Care</p><p>10. Ford</p><p>11. May</p><p>12. Farrell</p><p>13. Joseph</p><p>14. Watson</p><p>15. Brown</p><p></p><p>16. George</p><p>17. Marler </p><p>18. Sinckler</p><p>19. Lawes</p><p>20. Mercer?</p><p>21. Vellacott/Robson</p><p>22. Te'o</p><p>23. Nowell</p><p></p><p>All fit:</p><p>1. Vunipola</p><p>2. Hartley</p><p>3. Williams</p><p>4. Launchbury</p><p>5. Itoje</p><p>6. Underhill</p><p>7. Simmonds</p><p>8. Vunipola</p><p>9. Youngs</p><p>10. Ford</p><p>11. Daly</p><p>12. Farrell</p><p>13. Joseph</p><p>14. Watson</p><p>15. Brown</p><p></p><p>16. George</p><p>17. Genge</p><p>18. Sinckler</p><p>19. Lawes</p><p>20. Hughes</p><p>21. Care</p><p>22. Te'o</p><p>23. Nowell</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Pieter Steph du Teague, post: 891739, member: 72520"] My thoughts on what changes are needed in the team. Clearly it's the breakdown where we're really struggling and the thing is that it shouldn't actually be too difficult to fix, it's just a case of us being able to clear out and secure our own rucks. With that in mind: [LIST] [*]Williams for Cole is a necessity IMO. At this point Cole is 100% a passenger. Williams' ruck clear outs are superb so this would help out the pack massively. Ok, maybe we'll lose something at scrum time, but if it means we're able to secure our own ruck ball then it's worth it. And it's also not like Williams is incapable at scrum time, he's just not quite Cole. Also adds a lot more go forward than Cole. [*]Lawes either into lock or onto the bench. I'd bench him, he has a fantastic work rate but doesn't offer that much in the rucks. I think giving him the finisher label may lead him to make more of an impact in defence. Itoje's not having the best Championship but I think he'll pull through. Launch is absolutely our best lock; such an underrated ball carrier. [*]Underhill in to start. As soon as he came on the ruck's became noticeably better. Although I don't think he's a natural 7 he's a hell of a lot more of a 7 than Robshaw. Robshaw back to 6. [/LIST] For now in the backs wouldn't make any changes to the starters. I agree that Care isn't a starter but Robson or Vellacott realistically won't be able to be brought up to speed in time for France. would bring one of them in on the bench for Wigs but not to start. Personally think that calls to break up the Ford-Farrell axis are frankly a bit ridiculous. They've been great in the games leading up to this. Ok they were poor yesterday behind a bad pack but that doesn't mean we should bin them, it means we need to sort out the bad pack. Thought it was interesting to see that Nowell was top of the "Key Influencer" thing that the Inside Line make. I think someone like him is needed in grudge matches like yesterdays to provide some go forward in the backs but I still wouldn't start him as May and Watson are such good finishers on the wings. It's just a case of bringing him on earlier once it's been recognised that he's needed. Similar for Te'o, we need his go forward in some games but don't start him, just bring him on when needed, and as a 13 as well. Farrell-Te'o-Joseph doesn't work. As for Brown, he had a bit of a shocker yesterday but I'd keep him around. As Eddie said after the Wales game, he's usually superb for us in terms of reliability. Yesterday was unfortunately a bad game for him but credit has to be given to the Scottish kicking game which was pretty excellent. As for when all players are fit I'd bring Daly straight in for May. Unfortunate for May who has been good, but Daly just offers more. Due to us always seemingly always having at least one winger injured it's also not like May's not going to get game time. I'd also bring Simmonds in on the flank for Robshaw, I know people tend to disagree with me on this but I can't help feeling that he's a passenger that's managed to acquire the workhorse label. He doesn't actually make that many tackles and has no impact going forward or at the breakdown. Marler also offered nothing when he came on; I'd bring in Genge for him. For France: 1. Vunipola 2. Hartley 3. Williams 4. Launchbury 5. Itoje 6. Robshaw 7. Underhill 8. Hughes 9. Care 10. Ford 11. May 12. Farrell 13. Joseph 14. Watson 15. Brown 16. George 17. Marler 18. Sinckler 19. Lawes 20. Mercer? 21. Vellacott/Robson 22. Te'o 23. Nowell All fit: 1. Vunipola 2. Hartley 3. Williams 4. Launchbury 5. Itoje 6. Underhill 7. Simmonds 8. Vunipola 9. Youngs 10. Ford 11. Daly 12. Farrell 13. Joseph 14. Watson 15. Brown 16. George 17. Genge 18. Sinckler 19. Lawes 20. Hughes 21. Care 22. Te'o 23. Nowell [/QUOTE]
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