England 2024/25

[TRF_Olyy]

2 props (1 covering hooker?)

Pretty sure you'd need three front rowers regardless of one covering hooker, so he could have three props, one of them also covering hooker, but I think that aspect of it is more thinking out loud/thinking about squad number limitations (drop your third hooker for an extra backrower, have one of your props as emergency cover if required)

I could definitely see them going for a 7:1, especially if they can get Quirke on form as he's played some wing before 0 - maybe they'll get Marcus some runs at 9

 

[Geordie]

Yeah but he's not stupid enough to have Genge throwing in at a knockout game. Or if he is then off he fucks and we find a new HC

Hed still be better than Dan and Blamire!

 

[Reiser99]

Pretty sure you'd need three front rowers regardless of one covering hooker, so he could have three props, one of them also covering hooker, but I think that aspect of it is more thinking out loud/thinking about squad number limitations (drop your third hooker for an extra backrower, have one of your props as emergency cover if required)

I could definitely see them going for a 7:1, especially if they can get Quirke on form as he's played some wing before 0 - maybe they'll get Marcus some runs at 9

Yeah I reread it and it's more to do with covering injuries than having only 2 front row players on the bench. Still a stupid idea though. Heavily reliant on your backs not getting injured.

 

[Ddanno]

Hed still be better than Dan and Blamire!

Fair.

 

[Which Tyler]

George Kloska got MOTM on his prem debut as a hooker for Bristol. He's now converted to prop and I know he has been in and around the England training squad. Leinster had been sniffing around this season due to him qualifying for Ireland as well. He could definitely do it but would need to practice his darts for international level. Could make do in a pinch?

Or Barbeary covering hooker & 8 - but yeah, it's a terrible idea - especially as 0 hooker are conditioned to play 80 minutes; least of all, the 2 older gentlemen who ae England's first and second choice

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Said on here before that Rodd should convert to hooker. Actually no-one hooks any more so I’ll just start calling it 2 or the bloke between the props.

Anyone remember Marler’s line out?

Anyone remember the visionary who said numbers on shirts don’t matter??

 

[Rinkadink]

Absolutely.

It's not something I would strategize for except as an emergency. Definitely not base a game plan around it.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

My thing is I get it's for a squad pov but specialist position are for a reason

I blame SA, I feel Borthwick just follows

I 100% see Pollock being lined up as a back cover

16. Dan
17. Baxter
18. Heyes
19. Coles
20. CCS
21. Earl
22. Pollock
23. Quirke

When?

Could see Lawrence playing in the back row

 

[Crash Hamster]

My thing is I get it's for a squad pov but specialist position are for a reason

I blame SA, I feel Borthwick just follows

I 100% see Pollock being lined up as a back cover

16. Dan
17. Baxter
18. Heyes
19. Coles
20. CCS
21. Earl
22. Pollock
23. Quirke

When?

Could see Lawrence playing in the back row

Ah, I see you've gone with the 5:3 bench...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

5 being cumulative tackles made, 3 being cumulative hours spent on the wing

 

[Saintjay]

Pound shop Rassie

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I just don’t get what you’d gain from that extra forward vs the risk of a back going off.

Just feels like innovation for the sake of things and not to actually improve anything.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I just don't get what you'd gain from that extra forward vs the risk of a back going off.

Just feels like innovation for the sake of things and not to actually improve anything.

It’s a gamble isn’t it so you’ll lose sometimes - implications very different if the dice fall against you vs RSA than USA.

Gotta think that the additional upside of 6v5 fresh forwards or 7v6 is relatively marginal so it’s not a risk I’d think worth it plus I just plain dislike the concept.

And as Tigs said earlier, there’s a reason for specialists.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Or maybe we are going for a repeat of the highly successful Muaro Birgamasco experiment

 

[higgik]

My thing is I get it's for a squad pov but specialist position are for a reason

I blame SA, I feel Borthwick just follows

I 100% see Pollock being lined up as a back cover

16. Dan
17. Baxter
18. Heyes
19. Coles
20. CCS
21. Earl
22. Pollock
23. Quirke

When?

Could see Lawrence playing in the back row

The backs cover themselves, e.g. Freeman or Roebuck to 15, Quirke on wing.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

We've a few players who would have brilliant SHs, or French style SH/FH hybrids - Marcus, Ford, Ryan, Eastmond, Lamb...
But of all positions on the pitch, SH is one you need to have been playing since youth level - you only ever see adults moving away from SH, not towards (professionally, this is). Of all positions it's the most instinctive, the most relying on having played there for a decade. FH would be the 2nd most instinctive, to excel at least.

Former scrum half in scrum half is the most difficult position shocker.

 

[Saintjay]

Former scrum half in scrum half is the most difficult position shocker.

Can you -

Shout at the forwards for not doing there job

Pass a ball to nearest person when you get it. Always blame the other person if they drop it

Annoy everone including your own team mates

Start a fight then run away.

Congratulations you are a scrum half.

 

[Which Tyler]

Former scrum half in scrum half is the most difficult position shocker.

Yes but... I didn't say "most difficult" but "most instinctive"
I feel I could have gone with "most specialised", but heaven forbid I annoy a hooker...

Start a fight then run away

Hey... I still had to take the first punch before I get to back out of it - and do my best to make sure the ref is looking to spot that first punch - it's a real skill

 

[Rugbyfan564]

The Bomb squad is going to get banned at some point because of the Dementia issue so it is a huge risk using it and getting accused of causing brain damage. Over the next few years there will sadly be well known players dying from their conditions at an increasing frequency.

 

[Saintjay]

The Bomb squad is going to get banned at some point because of the Dementia issue so it is a huge risk using it and getting accused of causing brain damage. Over the next few years there will sadly be well known players dying from their conditions at an increasing frequency.

Not so sure. They've already rowed back on what was a red card at the last word cup to a yellow at best now.

They've also gone into 20min reds that is not exactly screaming changes in behaviour.

If they get hammered in court they might change the position back