England Rugby 2020/21 Thread

[ALJ]

mum may be tall?

Although my My cousin is 6 foot 3 or 4 and my auntie and uncle are both under 5 foot 3. And he’s Chinese. These things can happen. No logic when it comes to genes.

Tbh, it’s all logic when it comes to genes. It’s just complicated (I work in genetics).

 

[FLOBALOB]

Almost certain it will be something like this -

Lawes and Wilson potentially for the versatility

UB
Malins,
Marchant / Nowell (injury dependant)
BACK 3
Daly
Watson,
May
CENTRE
Slade,
Farrell,
Lawrence
FH
Ford,
SH
Youngs,
Robson
FR
Genge, Marler, M Vunipola
George, LCD
Sinckler, Stuart, Williams
SR
Itoje, Launchbury, Hill, Ewels/Lawes
BR
Curry, Underhill, B. Vunipola, Earl, Willis/Wilson

Nowell out for another 5/6 weeks.
Joseph for Marchant ,and wouldnt surprise me if Obano is included (could be for any you've picked)

 

[Reiser99]

Almost certain it will be something like this -

Lawes and Wilson potentially for the versatility

UB
Malins,
Marchant / Nowell (injury dependant)
BACK 3
Daly
Watson,
May
CENTRE
Slade,
Farrell,
Lawrence
FH
Ford,
SH
Youngs,
Robson
FR
Genge, Marler, M Vunipola
George, LCD
Sinckler, Stuart, Williams
SR
Itoje, Launchbury, Hill, Ewels/Lawes
BR
Curry, Underhill, B. Vunipola, Earl, Willis/Wilson

Looks pretty likely. I reckon JJ though for Marchant. Rugby Pass article from yesterday has Nowell out for another 7 weeks. I also don't think he'll take Willis. With him being dropped after his debut I have a nasty feeling he's going to end up as another Simmonds, where for some reason he doesn't meet EJ's weird criteria.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

I'd be amazed if Jones takes 6 props in a 28 man squad when he only took 5 in a 31 man squad to the RWC. I'd expect something along the lines of a full 23 + 1 prop, 1 hooker, 1 lock/back row, 2 backs

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

I'd be amazed if Jones takes 6 props in a 28 man squad when he only took 5 in a 31 man squad to the RWC. I'd expect something along the lines of a full 23 + 1 prop, 1 hooker, 1 lock/back row, 2 backs

Sinks is banned for the first game though - Marler is his auxillary prop (despite not being really) so either Sinks comes in a week late (which i don't think is allowed) or he has to take 6...

 

[Reiser99]

Sinks is banned for the first game though - Marler is his auxillary prop (despite not being really) so either Sinks comes in a week late (which i don't think is allowed) or he has to take 6...

That's a good point. Williams is as well for Wales. Not as bad for Wales as they should be able to get away with selecting Williams and having him unavailable, but it doesn't help matters. Sinckler is a more difficult issue as if you select him and he can't play you still need enough props. However as it's the first game I imagine they could get away with Genge & Vunipola and Stuart & Marler. Then Sinckler can come in after and free up Marler. It's a risk, especially as first game is against Scotland and it would mean Marler potentially against Sutherland who has been in ridiculous form.

Selecting 6 though feels like overkill just to cover 1 game. The other option is Stuart and Williams with Sinckler missing out. I can see EJ taking a gamble with 5 props for 1 game.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

That's a good point. Williams is as well for Wales. Not as bad for Wales as they should be able to get away with selecting Williams and having him unavailable, but it doesn't help matters. Sinckler is a more difficult issue as if you select him and he can't play you still need enough props. However as it's the first game I imagine they could get away with Genge & Vunipola and Stuart & Marler. Then Sinckler can come in after and free up Marler. It's a risk, especially as first game is against Scotland and it would mean Marler potentially against Sutherland who has been in ridiculous form.

Selecting 6 though feels like overkill just to cover 1 game. The other option is Stuart and Williams with Sinckler missing out. I can see EJ taking a gamble with 5 props for 1 game.

Potentially select 5 and then Williams gets "injured in training" and sinks comes in?

 

[Reiser99]

Potentially select 5 and then Williams gets "injured in training" and sinks comes in?

I imagine any 'injured in training' would be monitored. Also just realised that I misread. This only affects England doesn't it. Let's stick to arrogant English stereotypes, we're just giving ourselves a handicap to give everyone else a chance.

 

[FLOBALOB]

Potentially select 5 and then Williams gets "injured in training" and sinks comes in?

Good idea ! Then he could play for Chiefs

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Sarries players in fine form*.

*Not sure how many 1st 15 players played but billy played the full 80.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sarries players in fine form*.

Only Billy from the English contingent,

80mins from him is good, though - he'll inevitably play the full 80 every 6N game so needs the match fitness.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Looking at that Ealing side its mental that Guy Thompson isn't playing Premiership rugby. He could start for several teams and I imagine would come a fair bit cheaper than their incumbents. Would love to see him get picked up again - even though he is aging a bit.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Looking at that Ealing side its mental that Guy Thompson isn't playing Premiership rugby. He could start for several teams and I imagine would come a fair bit cheaper than their incumbents. Would love to see him get picked up again - even though he is aging a bit.

34 and has a pretty poor injury record in an extremely competitive position is a hard sell unfortutely.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

34 and has a pretty poor injury record in an extremely competitive position is a hard sell unfortutely.

Jeez, didn’t realise he was aging quite that much. Even so, when you consider that Matt Kvesic (who I’d consider to be a relatively similar playing ability/style) is supposedly on ~400k at Worcester you’d imagine that someone would be willing to pick up Thompson for more than he’s on at Ealing.

 

[RedruthRFC]

*Not sure how many 1st 15 players played but billy played the full 80.

Team News: Ealing Trailfinders vs Saracens Men - Saracens

Saracens begin their Trailfinders Challenge Cup campaign on the road at Ealing Trailfinders with seven full internationals in the starting XV.

www.saracens.com

 

[RedruthRFC]

Jeez, didn’t realise he was aging quite that much. Even so, when you consider that Matt Kvesic (who I’d consider to be a relatively similar playing ability/style) is supposedly on ~400k at Worcester you’d imagine that someone would be willing to pick up Thompson for more than he’s on at Ealing.

No idea, but maybe it's an insight into the money that Mike Gooley is spending. It's not like he's an unknown quantity in the GP and his agent would have touted him around.

Any team with ambitions of winning promotion and staying up need a Premiership survival quality team in The Championship (Welsh showed what happens when you try to build one in the off season), so you're going to have to pay the going rate for the players you need, plus whatever it costs to lure them away from level one rugby for at least one season.

 

[EdBirch]

England Rugby 150 Years Replica Jersey - Mens

The England Rugby 150 Years Replica Jersey is part of a special Anniversary Range to celebrate 150 years of English Rugby and is inspired by the original kit from 1871. England will commemorate this historic milestone against Scotland in the Calcutta Cup match, 150 years after the two sides met...

www.englandrugbystore.com

What do people think? Think i preferred the previous retro jersey by Nike in 2010

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

That's rank ngl

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, that's grim

Bloody loved that 2010 one, as well