Aviva Premiership/ Eng v Babas Talent on show

[danieljames87]

With the World Cup looming Lancaster must be seriously considering the youthful talent that he has included in his preliminary training squad.

This weekend is the perfect opportunity for all concerned to showcase their talents.

Just look at the premiership final.

Farrell v Ford, Eastmond and Joseph v Barritt and Taylor, and Watson v Goode; all genuine contenders for a starting position in terms of World Cup without even considering Chris Ashton.
Then moving into the forwards, Burgess; what kind of guy finds himself playing centre and Flanker before finding a place in the World Cup training squad and starting a premiership final in a position with limited experience keeping the likes of Carl Fearnes sidelined?! I genuinely think he will find himself best in the back row and that raw talent which is visible to all will be moulded into an agile, ball winning, breakdown animal.

Burgess is not alone in terms of England prospects, Webber, Atwood and Wilson!

Saracens have a a fair response to Bath; kruis, two Vunipola's and the recently added Jamie George following Hartley's well deserved removal.

This weekend will also give chance to those fringe players expected to be dropped from Lancaster's initial squad:

The wonderful youthful talent generated at Exeter Chiefs is on show with starts for Cowan-Dickie and Slade. The latter of which has been immense this season at 10 and 12. A refreshingly vibrant player keen to look for points from his own 22 with the handling skills and footwork to back it up.

Another chance for Cipriani to prove his flair, and playing inside Slade should give him that chance, easily able to switch into first receiver to change things up.

With all this on show Lancaster will have to refine his finale squad with quite some detail. All being well with players remaining fit, this weekend presents a perfect opportunity for all those selected to stake their claim.

 

[goodNumber10]

all that and you don't mention itoje once?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

 

[ratsapprentice]

 

[yaboyjj]

the prem final sure has some intriguing match ups, young pretenders at blindside (I have a sneaky feeling Burgess may get a schooling at the breakdown by Sarries), Watson needs to show he can deal with a tactical kicking game and the high balls put up by Goode/Farrell (as well as the running/support play), Attwood v Kruis is potentially a battle for the last lock place in a 31 man squad, Barrett v Eastmond hmm.
Oh, and Roko running around and through Strettle on the wing pls (what was Lancaster thinking?).

 

[goodNumber10]

i think Sarries will dismantle Bath.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Tait will nail himself down as England's 15 and will also be named captain.

 

[91jmay]

Bath I think. Sarries just so ordinary in backs with Faz, Barritt and kick first Ashton.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Oh, and Roko running around and through Strettle on the wing pls.

While i think Roko should be in the England squad over strettle, i wouldn't back that. Strettle is a decent enough defender.

i think Sarries will dismantle Bath.

That's what I'm expecting. Not sure why, Bath have a quality pack and their backs work well as a unit - i just back Sarries for some reason.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Anything could happen TBH, couldn't predict with confidence what will happen.

If Sarries can't dominate the breakdown I think Bath will win, if they can then it will probably be quite a boring game with Bath struggling to do much.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I do wonder how the Sarries kicking game will work. None of the Bath back 3 particularly struggle under the high ball and Banahan is particularly solid in that area.

 

[spudungeyee]

Alot on show but with the bulk of the team being in the aviva final it doesn't say much. I highly doubt there will be any major changes between now and the world cup

 

[ncurd]

Surely Burger blocking there?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Surely Burger blocking there?

Is that the opposite to cock blocking??

Sorry couldn't help myself.