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Although this is absolute ********.
You can't exactly blame people for thinking that given the sort of players who actually end up being picked.
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England centre combinations?
- Thread starter Craigg
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Although this is absolute ********.
You can't exactly blame people for thinking that given the sort of players who actually end up being picked.
Some people think the sun shines out of his arse and some think he literally cannot pass a rugby ball.
I think he's a good-to-very-good crashball centre with average distribution - not as good or as bad as many would make out.
I tend to just ignore Ewis whenever he talks about England, its blindingly obvious he never watches club rugby so I'm not sure why he comments on the state of English players so often.
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Right then...Who else would you play at 13 ahead of a fully fit and firing Manu?
Big Ewis
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Oh well I comment on what I see at int'l level, obviously. When I say "England this or that" I mean England the squad that plays on Rugby fields, the team - not as a nation. And those remarks, in that scope, are founded. I don't just say things for the pleasure of it. I know England have guys like Wade and Yarde, but I haven't seen any athletic backs in English teams.
And Olyy, no need for the expression "blindingly obvious", you talk as if I'm hiding that fact
I'd like to watch more Prem, I just don't have the time unfortunately, but I've said it a few times on these forums. When I say "England blah blah" bare in mind I know....not *nothing*, but very little about Prem Rugby.
And Olyy, no need for the expression "blindingly obvious", you talk as if I'm hiding that fact
I'd like to watch more Prem, I just don't have the time unfortunately, but I've said it a few times on these forums. When I say "England blah blah" bare in mind I know....not *nothing*, but very little about Prem Rugby.
So Mike Brown isn't "athletic" then? Nor is Ben Foden? Danny Care? Yarde? Burns? Flood? All in the EPS for the AIs.
Big Ewis
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Can you please stay on topic for a second Olyy ? OK ? I don't mean to be that guy, but you're *ALWAYS* derailing threads with your own little digressions and thinking out loud and what not. I understand utter chaos is a part of your life, of your identity...but the topic right now is English centres. Not how sexy and ballet-like the English backline might be (esp. Foden), alright ? And to some extent the marvelous ability of Brian O'Driscoll.
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What best suits England's game, with Eoin Farrell at 10, is to have the two centres who can go the furthest forward in contact with the ball and who can most consistently make their hits before the other team gets over the gain line. I'm not going to say who that is because I haven't watched any premiership rugby this year but if Lancaster continues to play his "Bully" rugby tactic, which seems very likely, that's the way to go.
Twelvetrees also adds his boot to the game which is average but could be used and even though I think he's a very limited player (Based on HCup, internationals and pre-BT prem) his style probably suits what England are going to do very well. He would want to run lines other than diagonal towards the ruck against the backrows France, Wales and Ireland will be throwing out.
Twelvetrees also adds his boot to the game which is average but could be used and even though I think he's a very limited player (Based on HCup, internationals and pre-BT prem) his style probably suits what England are going to do very well. He would want to run lines other than diagonal towards the ruck against the backrows France, Wales and Ireland will be throwing out.
Funny that the Irish don't seem to rate 36. I remember snoopy snoopy dog dog saying a while ago that he thought every single 12 in the pro rabo was better than Twelvetrees, including Connaughts 12! I wonder why he divides people so.
Cmac: I'd say in Twelvetrees' defence that for such a big lad he has a bit of a step on him, as well as being the best distributing 12 we can come up with. He offloads where possible and his lines are good. He's been one of the most improved England players in or around the International set-up over the past 18 months in my view. I think he has more in him than is utilised at international level.
Cmac: I'd say in Twelvetrees' defence that for such a big lad he has a bit of a step on him, as well as being the best distributing 12 we can come up with. He offloads where possible and his lines are good. He's been one of the most improved England players in or around the International set-up over the past 18 months in my view. I think he has more in him than is utilised at international level.
Edited for accuracy.
I'm not sure how you came to that conclusion on Twelvetrees, on my watching he's a very complete player who can be used in a number of ways, arguably has consistency issues. But fair enough.
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Maybe, I've only seen him play in the AI's and a couple of his Heineken cup matches this year but from what I've seen he really struggles with a defence in his face and resorts to stepping inside and running hard. Considering this was most prevalent against the All Blacks and Munster maybe I'm being unfair.
I was going to make a comment about us Irish having a higher standard for inside centres but then I remembered James Downey starts for Munster and held myself back!
Ha, that'd just be a little off topic so I'll alter it again to "two centres who can recover under pressure hospital passes and through pure brute force hit the gainline?!"
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Nowhere near as good as Kyle in this regard IMO.
I'm Irish and fan of 36. Still unsure is he international class but he's a good player. My point for not picking him is his strengths are not matched with what Lancaster wants. I agree he has lovely skill set and good rugby brain but with less time in international rugby mixed with him not being type suited to gameplan is my views
