Half expecting to see something like:
6. Hughes
7. Itoje
8. B. Vunipola
12. Te'o
13. Tuilagi
Subtle.
It'll be a shame if Slade misses out IMO. Tuilagi and Te'o pretty much cuts the supply line off phase ball to May and the other winger (Daily, Nowell I don't know).
I think it will be Farrell-Te'o-Slade again. Centres/midfield still has massive question marks about it, and i do think at some point he's going to go for the two big lumps, but it's one of the more obvious selections considering the front row (who knows?), second row (probably Launchbury to bench as the other two are better lineout options), back row (dependent on injuries), back three (Brown must surely be coming back in to face the aerial bombardment) are all facing being changed.
1. Mako 2. George 3. Sinckler 4. Itoje 5. Lawes 6. Wilson 7. Curry 8. Billy 9. Youngs 10. Farrell 11. May 12. Te'o 13. Slade 14. Nowell 15. Brown
16. LCD 17. Moon/Genge 18. Cole 19. Launchbury 20. Hughes 21. Robson 22. Ford 23. Tuilagi
Is what I would predict.
I think Underhill is a big, big miss for us on this one. The breakdown is going to be carnage and he'd be in his element.
"If you're good enough, the referee doesn't matter."Ohh, good news for England, Owens is the ref for your game.
"If you're good enough, the referee doesn't matter."
Jock Stein
I'm nowhere near being an expert, but I can't see past Ireland, regardless of who the officials are.
First england training camp injury. Clifford returns to quins with concussion. My bold prediction is that he won't be the last.
Ireland will smash england who ever the ref. They might not appreciate the comparison but they remind me of the 2003 england team. In every position they have a specialist who knows exactly what their job is and what is required of them. Completely settled with strength in depth to cover injuries. Their whole season is building up to this with fresh 100% fit players.
To be fair, you’re not the most optimistic are you? Depends on how you define smash but I’ll be amazed if they put more than 20 points on you. You’re making out that they’re NZ and you’re Tonga.
I think I'm just realistic. Look at what leinster are doing and look at our previous results. They are clearly the better side by a mile.