Chariot repair shop - What to fix and change

[Peat]

I MAKE THE RULES PETER! I know though, I realised that when posting and sort of asked myself 'Is this ok?'

Oversight, I forgot Sam. He's a class act, though nobody seems to have cracked what his best position is yet. I've seen better jacklers but he's a tad more physical and a bit quicker than lots of 7's out there so he cuts it there as an all-rounder. I don't rate him as an 8 because at the back of the pack you need to be able to fend for yourself without support for a while, and his tendency is to burst away from support and get turned over.

Cannon's having a great season - he's a bit like Parling actually - a good carrier because of his ability to pick good lines in midfield. Good hands and learning welwl from mWentzel at the lineout - lock is quite competitive though, there may not be that many Top quality locks in England at present, but there's a hell of a lot of guys with good Saxon level ability. James may find it hard, but we'll see.

It's not ok. You're like the Bob Diamond of TRF.

I reckon Jones is a 7, because he won't be either of the others at a high enough level - stick him there and let him learn the specialist skills, in time he could be something special.

As for Cannon - how big is he? The stats say quite large, but, you know, stats. You would, you're like Bob Diamond, you're used to making them up

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

I'll try and take the positives from that comparison . Now what might they be.........sufficiently intelligent as to make it as an investment banker? Could start a new hedge fund at any time if he felt like it Sounds alright to me!

My match day programme for today tells me that Cannon's 116kg - thats like, 18 right? I know what you mean though, I've seen stats putting him at 19-20 which just isn't right. Hes bloody tall though, he's like Courtney Lawes; hefty by virtue of being massively tall. He won't be enforcing for England, though.

 

[TommyV]

I'd like to see something like this for the Argie tour: (I'm assuming Cole, Parling, Robshaw, Ben Youngs, Farrell and Tuilagi are Lions tourists)

1 Corbisiero
2 Youngs
3 Thomas
4 Launchbury
5 Attwood
6 Wood
7 Kvesic
8 Morgan

9 Care
10 Burns
11 May
12 Twelvetrees
13 Daly/Joseph
14 Wade
15 Brown

Bench something like both Vunipola's, Hartley, Lawes, Joe Simpson, Flood and Eastmond as the utility back.

 

[Ospreylian]

I'd like to see something like this for the Argie tour: (I'm assuming Cole, Parling, Robshaw, Ben Youngs, Farrell and Tuilagi are Lions tourists)

1 Corbisiero
2 Youngs
3 Thomas
4 Launchbury
5 Attwood
6 Wood
7 Kvesic
8 Morgan

9 Care
10 Burns
11 May
12 Twelvetrees
13 Daly/Joseph
14 Wade
15 Brown

Bench something like both Vunipola's, Hartley, Lawes, Joe Simpson, Flood and Eastmond as the utility back.

That backline looks soooo much better than the current one starting. Care was a bit off during the tournament, sure, but I think he has the better all-round game than Youngs these days. Really like the idea of a Twelvetrees/Joseph centre pairing, would be good to see if they could buck the trend of having to have a ball-crashing giant in midfield. And those wingers look so much more threatening than Aston/Brown. Still haven't been won round by Brown, but I haven't watched him at fullback, strangely, so my opinions of him may be skewed by him playing out of position during the 6N.

As for the forwards, I would hope Morgan is in the Lions squad somewhere. I would potentially start him if he is fit by then. I do think he is England's best, and most crucial, player when available. Same for Wood, I reckon he'll be on Lions duty, possibly along with Corbisiero (depending on availability)

 

[Aedaphon]

I'd like to see something like this for the Argie tour: (I'm assuming Cole, Parling, Robshaw, Ben Youngs, Farrell and Tuilagi are Lions tourists)

1 Corbisiero
2 Youngs
3 Thomas
4 Launchbury
5 Attwood
6 Wood
7 Kvesic
8 Morgan

9 Care
10 Burns
11 May
12 Twelvetrees
13 Daly/Joseph
14 Wade
15 Brown

Bench something like both Vunipola's, Hartley, Lawes, Joe Simpson, Flood and Eastmond as the utility back.

As much as I'd love to see that backline out it could be a bit fragile in defence. I expect almost all of those players to get a look in over the course of the tour, but at the same time I expect change in moderation. Chances are we'll stay pretty conservative and rotate in one or two new faces every game.

 

[Peat]

The only area in which that backline would be more fragile in defence would be the 10/12 channel. I'd like to see that go and see how it does.

edit: Not going to happen mind.

 

[ratsapprentice]

How good does Mako look on Saracens' pitch?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

He had a cracker,
Brown was great too - much better at 15 than wing. He outplayed Goode despite the commentators jizzing themselves over him
"He just adds something else to a side" - like what? :huh:

 

[ratsapprentice]

That was a rhetorical question if it wasn't obvious (realised this after I wrote it).
I was sceptical as to how much the pitch affected the type of game played, as I had always put the temperature/weather above the surface in terms of importance for a quick game.
But every match I have seen on it has been full of running rugby, it really is quite noticeable.

I don't get what they are seeing in Goode either...

Also - Ashton's defence is still utterly awful, he always plants his feet really far from his target and leaves his arm trailing. As Austin Healey pointed out on the commentary, he is also very indecisive when chasing high ball.
He either needs to compete for the ball or hold off and tackle the player when he lands, he continually does neither and ends up just pulling out of the tackle leaving the player free space to run into and possibly giving away a penalty for dangerous play. All this after he had been sent away by England to brush up on his defence. He really needs to sort these (massive) issues out on his own. Until such a time as he does that, and finds his try scoring form again then he is not even on the long-list for the England Wing spots. I really don't understand how Lancaster could justify picking him for the Argentina tour, if indeed he does.

 

[j'nuh]

Goode... I've never seen a guy so uncertain about what he's going to do next. It's like he's in a persistent struggle with his body over what he does. There was a point in the 6N where he decided to run the ball back, but before he approached the defensive line, he got caught in two minds as to where he'd go, and ended up just... going nowhere. Standing still and getting nailed.

Remember that we may be limited in selections because of the EPS. We're a little more flexible than usual because we'll be able to call up temporary replacements for the Lions (and if they impress, bring them into the EPS fully in July), but it might limit how many changes we can make and it will certainly stop Ashton and Goode dropping out of the squad.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

How many years now have england selected a absoulety awful backline with at least one player playing out of position?

I was ranting to my mate over the weekend and i couldn't actually remember a backline i was happy with. The saxons always seem to get the best players. Why is england so un able to pick some good backs?

 

[McTallshort]

I'd like to see something like this for the Argie tour: (I'm assuming Cole, Parling, Robshaw, Ben Youngs, Farrell and Tuilagi are Lions tourists)

1 Corbisiero
2 Youngs
3 Thomas
4 Launchbury
5 Attwood
6 Wood
7 Kvesic
8 Morgan

9 Care
10 Burns
11 May
12 Twelvetrees
13 Daly/Joseph
14 Wade
15 Brown

Bench something like both Vunipola's, Hartley, Lawes, Joe Simpson, Flood and Eastmond as the utility back.

Now thats more like it! Still not happy with Care being there think its time move on from him now. Wood might find himself touring with the Lions....

 

[ratsapprentice]

Isn't the summer tour outside of the domestic season, so they can pick pretty much whoever they want?

 

[Crapspray]

"He just adds something else to a side" - like what? :huh:

Mediocre pace and indecision from depth?

Remember that we may be limited in selections because of the EPS. We're a little more flexible than usual because we'll be able to call up temporary replacements for the Lions (and if they impress, bring them into the EPS fully in July), but it might limit how many changes we can make and it will certainly stop Ashton and Goode dropping out of the squad.

Luckily there are two fullbacks in the EPS for Goode and two more wingers for Ashton, but yes it's a stupid system. Let's hope Lancaster takes a big touring party and finds a fudge to shuffle between the Saxons and the EPS. Ashton mysteriously disappears in downtown Buenos Aires for three weeks? After watching the Sarries game he looks like he could do with the rest, he was all over the place (mentally, sadly not literally).

 

[ratsapprentice]

Giving Ashton the summer off would do him far more good than a sojourn to Argentina would.

 

[Rhondda Rudie]

Have to say Argentina is a hell of a tough place to tour with an under strength party especially given the Pumas recent exposure to a much higher level of competition.If England do well hats off to them.

 

[psychic duck]

Have to say Argentina is a hell of a tough place to tour with an under strength party especially given the Pumas recent exposure to a much higher level of competition.If England do well hats off to them.

However, Argentina will be even more under strength. So a loss to them, even though it is away, would be a very poor result for England.

Not sure whether it is that much tougher than travelling to other places anyway. Scotland won there last 3 matches there in 2010 and in 2008, against the proper Pumas XV.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Why will Argentina be under strength?

 

[Rhondda Rudie]

Why will Argentina be under strength?

:lol:England will be under strength because of the Lions.Although not quite as under strength as they would have been expecting to be a fortnight ago.<_<

Apologies,didn't see Duck's post,thought you were replying to me.

 

[psychic duck]

Why will Argentina be under strength?

As part of an agreement with the European clubs

The players can't play in both June and the RC. It's an either or, as part of a compromise so Argentina can have a full team for the RC (a condition of them joining), the Pumas have to rest players to not "overplay" them and get rest for the European clubs.

So first choice players such as Albacete, Figallo, Fernández Lobbe, Hernández, Camacho, Ayerza, Carizza and Imhoff will all likely not feature. Only players based in Argentina can play both June and RC.

So the team will be made of players based in Europe who won't likely make the team for the RC (for example Ignacio Mieres or Joaquín Tuculet). Alongside players based in Argentina who the agreement doesn't effect. So for example the first choice scrum half will still play.

These are the team lineups they fielded in June 2012, and likely something similar England will face as well.

vs Italy - http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/match/154932.html
vs France (1st Test) - http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/match/154933.html
vs France (2nd Test) - http://www.espnscrum.com/statsguru/rugby/match/154934.html


Personally. I think the agreement is ridiculous, as it means that the international matches are weakened. And also the first choice team play 2 warm up matches (vs Stade Français last year, will be vs Chiefs this year), meaning they don't get any more rest anyway.