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Life after Eddie …

Can we make a boks style front 5 from the players we have in the premiership? I'm sure you guys can help but I think we need a super solid TH to go with Marler/ Genge and then a proper TH lock to partner Itoje and we look quite set.

Although I really think with some decent coaching and tactics we could win the WC with only a few squad tweaks.
 
No, I struggle to think of any true set piece specialists we've got to bring in
The meta the last few years has been for hybrids and front rowers who play like backrowers

In terms of a 5:
Think Isiekwe is growing into a good tighthead lock since he's stopped being put in the backrow, he's bulked up quite a lot
Tizard has promise, but will be fighting with Isiekwe for Sarries 5 shirt when everyone's fit so might end up at 4 with Itoje at 6
Chessum reminds me of a younger Isiekwe in that he looks like he'll be a fantastic lock but keeps being put at backrow - looks to be settling at lock now, though, so hopefully get him on the South African biltong diet and get some meat on the bones

In terms of frontrow:
At loosehead I can't think of any setpiece specialists. Rapava-Ruskin going well this season, would be interested to see how he does internationally. Rodd definitely excels more in the loose/breakdown than scrum
Hooker would be Walker for me - remember Marler saying Walker contributes massively to Quins scrummaging. Also got good darts.
Tighthead: Heyes, but he's still developing. James Harper looked like one to watch but think injury is going to stop him developing at any real rate, he's out again atm.
 
Do we need a SA style front 5? I don't think so.

Collier at Quins is very good scrummager...

Ribbans has put a good shout for the lock spot..but some good locks coming through...
Get Sinckler a proper scrum coach again like Adam Jones.

1 Genge
2 George
3 Sinckler (Quins version)
4 Itoje
5 Ribbans v Chessum v Tizard v Isiekwe
6 T. Hill v G. Martin - real physicality
7 Curry v Earl
8 Dombrandt v Mercer....
 
Do we need a SA style front 5? I don't think so.

Collier at Quins is very good scrummager...

Ribbans has put a good shout for the lock spot..but some good locks coming through...
Get Sinckler a proper scrum coach again like Adam Jones.

1 Genge
2 George
3 Sinckler (Quins version)
4 Itoje
5 Ribbans v Chessum v Tizard v Isiekwe
6 T. Hill v G. Martin - real physicality
7 Curry v Earl
8 Dombrandt v Mercer....
I'd say we need a solid set piece front 5
 
Solid front 5 completely agree...SA style juggernaut not absolutely required...

BUT I want some more raw aggression and physicality in the pack as a whole...
 
Solid front 5 completely agree...SA style juggernaut not absolutely required...
I'd say the 2 tend to go hand in hand. Not always but bigger is very often better in the set piece. People can point out juggernauts getting tired out and this is constantly said to be a tactic against SA but when was the last time anyone saw an SA team that looked dead on their feet by the end of the game? It really doesn't happen.
 
Not on the Ribbans hype train,
Would be a decent reserve at 4 but doesn't have the ballast or grunt for what we need as a tighthead lock - our scrum's a mess and we need as much beef in the engine room as we can muster
 
Ribbons is a great player but he plays at LH lock, as does hill at sale it seems.

Where o where art though TH locks.

I did really like Chessum, so would be good to see him develop but never understood Tizzard signing for sarries with Itoje and Isiekwe.
 
Ribbons is a great player but he plays at LH lock, as does hill at sale it seems.
Hill plays at tighthead - I've seen people say he's very very good in the scrum, and he does seem to add to the maul, but he's no Attwood/Kruis though
I think he's the best we have at the moment but that's saying more about our options than about him tbh

Hopefully a new coach can bring his (/everyone's) play up a notch - seeing T.Curry for Sale today vs how he's looked for England over the autumn is like night and day
 
Hill plays at tighthead - I've seen people say he's very very good in the scrum, and he does seem to add to the maul, but he's no Attwood/Kruis though
I think he's the best we have at the moment but that's saying more about our options than about him tbh

Hopefully a new coach can bring his (/everyone's) play up a notch - seeing T.Curry for Sale today vs how he's looked for England over the autumn is like night and day
He was at LH today in the scrum wasn't he?
 
But Hill was packing down at the LH in the scrums though.
Yeah, he was. Whether a lock wears 4 or 5 has no real bearing on where they actually scrummage; usually it's more down to their lineout roles than anything.

Etzebeth always wears 4 for SA but almost always scrummages behind the TH.
 
I'd say the 2 tend to go hand in hand. Not always but bigger is very often better in the set piece. People can point out juggernauts getting tired out and this is constantly said to be a tactic against SA but when was the last time anyone saw an SA team that looked dead on their feet by the end of the game? It really doesn't happen.
Isnt this more to do with their depth though? Their starting front five frequently comes out early and is replaced by players who are just as big and dynamic, so there is no drop in intensity. England is currently struggling to put a solid set piece in front of five players, let alone being two deep in those roles.
 
Ribbons is a great player but he plays at LH lock, as does hill at sale it seems.

Where o where art though TH locks.

I did really like Chessum, so would be good to see him develop but never understood Tizzard signing for sarries with Itoje and Isiekwe.
On Chessum didnt he put some bulk on?

And not on an England front yet ofcourse but isnt his brother coming through who is an even bigger unit?
 
On Chessum didnt he put some bulk on?

And not on an England front yet ofcourse but isnt his brother coming through who is an even bigger unit?
Chessum does look a chunk bigger this season - very excited to see how he progresses,

Have heard his brother hasn't been great out on loan but he's barely out of nappies so doesn't really mean anything
 
Chessum does look a chunk bigger this season - very excited to see how he progresses,

Have heard his brother hasn't been great out on loan but he's barely out of nappies so doesn't really mean anything
Martin looks a good chunk bigger too, particularly in his upper body.
 

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