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2024 Guinness Six Nations
[2020 Six Nations] England Squad
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<blockquote data-quote="BPM" data-source="post: 991838" data-attributes="member: 59968"><p>I don't agree with that. I'm a huge fan of all three, but if I were picking right now, I'd say Mercer's arguably the best all round player.</p><p></p><p>He's quick for a fairly big guy and is a good carrier as well as being a solid defender and a good lineout forward (which Dombrandt and Simmonds aren't). Also someone of his age, he's a very influential player at Bath which is a good sign of his character. There's a lot to like about him and even if his pros are possibly less stellar than Dombrandt or Simmonds', he has less cons right now.</p><p></p><p>That said, Dombrandt seems to be really upping his work rate recently and adding more graft to the highlight reel moments. If he carries on doing that, he might become better than Mercer. He has the natural ability and potential to be a special player IMO.</p><p></p><p>I'm torn with Simmonds. On the one hand I feel he's surely too good not to feature somewhere and I don't think he'd have done any worse than Curry did at 8, but on the other, we're highly unlikely to pick him in combination with Curry and Underhill who are (deservedly) first choice on the flanks.</p><p></p><p>It really depends on how you want your back row to set-up. You could even argue that a back row of 6. Dombrandt 7. Mercer and 8. Simmonds has a very 'Exeter' feel to it and maybe playing all three isn't as crazy as it sounds. However, you'd imagine we're always reasonably likely to have at least one of (Tom) Curry, Underhill or Billy playing if fit.</p><p></p><p>Let's assume that defence is a basic essential as I think all of our back row options are solid in that regard. In attack I would normally want my back row to have a mix of the carrying, ball-pilfering, link play, ruck/mail nous and lineout options. The numbers don't matter as much for me as long as the combination is right.</p><p></p><p>I've got a lot of time for Ted Hill as a 6 that offers a good carrying and lineout game and I'd like to see him in combination with Willis or Earl at 7 and one of Dombrandt or Mercer at 8. Any of those combinations would be exciting and well balanced IMO.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BPM, post: 991838, member: 59968"] I don’t agree with that. I’m a huge fan of all three, but if I were picking right now, I’d say Mercer’s arguably the best all round player. He’s quick for a fairly big guy and is a good carrier as well as being a solid defender and a good lineout forward (which Dombrandt and Simmonds aren’t). Also someone of his age, he’s a very influential player at Bath which is a good sign of his character. There’s a lot to like about him and even if his pros are possibly less stellar than Dombrandt or Simmonds’, he has less cons right now. That said, Dombrandt seems to be really upping his work rate recently and adding more graft to the highlight reel moments. If he carries on doing that, he might become better than Mercer. He has the natural ability and potential to be a special player IMO. I’m torn with Simmonds. On the one hand I feel he’s surely too good not to feature somewhere and I don’t think he’d have done any worse than Curry did at 8, but on the other, we’re highly unlikely to pick him in combination with Curry and Underhill who are (deservedly) first choice on the flanks. It really depends on how you want your back row to set-up. You could even argue that a back row of 6. Dombrandt 7. Mercer and 8. Simmonds has a very ‘Exeter’ feel to it and maybe playing all three isn’t as crazy as it sounds. However, you’d imagine we’re always reasonably likely to have at least one of (Tom) Curry, Underhill or Billy playing if fit. Let’s assume that defence is a basic essential as I think all of our back row options are solid in that regard. In attack I would normally want my back row to have a mix of the carrying, ball-pilfering, link play, ruck/mail nous and lineout options. The numbers don’t matter as much for me as long as the combination is right. I’ve got a lot of time for Ted Hill as a 6 that offers a good carrying and lineout game and I’d like to see him in combination with Willis or Earl at 7 and one of Dombrandt or Mercer at 8. Any of those combinations would be exciting and well balanced IMO. [/QUOTE]
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