The Rugby Thread
- Thread starter tototoner
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England: Mike Brown; Jack Nowell, Luther Burrell, Billy Twelvetrees, Jonny May; Owen Farrell, Danny Care; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Tom Youngs, Mako Vunipola, Henry Thomas, Dave Attwood, Ben Morgan, Lee Dickson, Brad Barritt, Alex Goode.
Jack, I'd like you to meet Luther; Luther this is Jack. Oh, Jonny, you haven't met either ...
Big ask against France first up. Good luck guys.
Replacements: Tom Youngs, Mako Vunipola, Henry Thomas, Dave Attwood, Ben Morgan, Lee Dickson, Brad Barritt, Alex Goode.
Jack, I'd like you to meet Luther; Luther this is Jack. Oh, Jonny, you haven't met either ...
Big ask against France first up. Good luck guys.
A very open and potentially exciting tournament this year.
As tototoner said it could be anyone apart from Scotland and Italy.
I believe that it could be our year again but is three in a row too much of an ask?
Guscott (on bbc website) reckons stability, consistency and strength in depth are the key factors that will give us that third title. However Ireland will be more fired up than ever against Wales (and in particular Gatland) after the Lions tour, England have some talented players and did far better than Wales in the Autumn and then France are just France - could smash everyone in their path or could implode.
Massively looking forward to it whatever happens.
As tototoner said it could be anyone apart from Scotland and Italy.
I believe that it could be our year again but is three in a row too much of an ask?
Guscott (on bbc website) reckons stability, consistency and strength in depth are the key factors that will give us that third title. However Ireland will be more fired up than ever against Wales (and in particular Gatland) after the Lions tour, England have some talented players and did far better than Wales in the Autumn and then France are just France - could smash everyone in their path or could implode.
Massively looking forward to it whatever happens.
There's going to be a lot of expectation and pressure on Farrell and Care with such an inexperienced back line. Care's often played in fits and starts, hopefully he can show some of the invention he has like he did against Clermont a couple of weeks ago.
Perhaps surprising Ashton or Youngs don't even make the bench, although Ashton's needed to be dropped for a while. Hopefully it'll be the kick up the backside he needs. Barritt's a solid but uninspiring centre. But by and large the other options are kids or other kids.
The French are going with an uncapped 22 year old fly half ahead of Trin-Duc, so it'll be an interesting game. Difficult to call. Is it going to rain in Paris on Saturday?
Perhaps surprising Ashton or Youngs don't even make the bench, although Ashton's needed to be dropped for a while. Hopefully it'll be the kick up the backside he needs. Barritt's a solid but uninspiring centre. But by and large the other options are kids or other kids.
The French are going with an uncapped 22 year old fly half ahead of Trin-Duc, so it'll be an interesting game. Difficult to call. Is it going to rain in Paris on Saturday?
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Care really needs to step up for England. At club level he's been far and away the best English scrum half for a few years now but never quite shows that on the international stage.
I'm not 100% convinced that him and Farrell are a good match, but I think they are the two best options in those positions so it makes sense.
Big calls with the rest of the backs (other than super Mikey Brown of course). Not quite sure what Nowell has done to deserve a call up (he hasn't even scored a Premiership try has he?) but people seem to rate him so we shall see. May isn't particularly exciting either but he's scored tries this year so again probably a fair choice.
As for Burrell I can't say I've seen much of him, but I'm assuming he's going to be the muscle to 36s flair.
In other news, I'm delighted Quins have signed Yarde as he looks a quality prospect, but also keep an eye out for Charlie Walker (already at Quins having come through the yoof system). He's rapid and starting to look like a very good finisher.
I'm not 100% convinced that him and Farrell are a good match, but I think they are the two best options in those positions so it makes sense.
Big calls with the rest of the backs (other than super Mikey Brown of course). Not quite sure what Nowell has done to deserve a call up (he hasn't even scored a Premiership try has he?) but people seem to rate him so we shall see. May isn't particularly exciting either but he's scored tries this year so again probably a fair choice.
As for Burrell I can't say I've seen much of him, but I'm assuming he's going to be the muscle to 36s flair.
In other news, I'm delighted Quins have signed Yarde as he looks a quality prospect, but also keep an eye out for Charlie Walker (already at Quins having come through the yoof system). He's rapid and starting to look like a very good finisher.
Didn't May get his debut against New Zealand? It would be a bit harsh to cast him aside after that one game where I don't remember him really having any kind of chances. Besides, with Wade and Yarde injured we're really down to the bare bones on the wing. At least Lancaster hasn't been tempted to put Mike Brown back there.
I've not seen Burrell either, but at 6'3" and over 16 stone I suspect you're right. Possibly in the team to counteract Matthew Bastard? Who I still think is massively overrated, by the way.
Yeah, Yarde's a great signing for Quins. They've got a lot of players coming through their academy, Luke Wallace looks promising.
I've not seen Burrell either, but at 6'3" and over 16 stone I suspect you're right. Possibly in the team to counteract Matthew Bastard? Who I still think is massively overrated, by the way.
Yeah, Yarde's a great signing for Quins. They've got a lot of players coming through their academy, Luke Wallace looks promising.
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I'm not sure where to begin with this post....but I'll go for "May isn't particularly exciting"
Really? Have you seen the guy? I can only assume you're a quins fan, so what about that try he scored against you about 18 months ago - you know, probably one of the best individual tries seen in the premiership in the last 5 years!
Really? Have you seen the guy? I can only assume you're a quins fan, so what about that try he scored against you about 18 months ago - you know, probably one of the best individual tries seen in the premiership in the last 5 years!
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No, he didn't. It was against Argentina last summer with the second(ish) string. He did OK, but needs time - he's a mercurial talent
Yup, though Watson could have played there. Awesome prospect. I'd have played him instead of Nowell who I don't see as a winger long term
He's actually a very good passer, but he's a natural 12 IMO, and a very good one. Positionally his defence has flaws IMO, but he's improving. I'd like to see him at 12 and Manu at 13.
Nope, we'd have played Barritt (which may have been the right choice IMO) if we were worried about that. Bastareud can be very good. He's too fat now, but don't underestimate him. On his day he's exceptional.
Yarde has World Class potential. Awesome player. Wallace is good, but had a mare for the Saxons the other day. Charlie Walker has huge promise, but is injured at the moment, unfortunately. Quins have some good forwards as well - Matthews will be class, and they've got 2 tight heads with a lot of promise (Sinkler and Collier)
Yup, though Watson could have played there. Awesome prospect. I'd have played him instead of Nowell who I don't see as a winger long term
He's actually a very good passer, but he's a natural 12 IMO, and a very good one. Positionally his defence has flaws IMO, but he's improving. I'd like to see him at 12 and Manu at 13.
Nope, we'd have played Barritt (which may have been the right choice IMO) if we were worried about that. Bastareud can be very good. He's too fat now, but don't underestimate him. On his day he's exceptional.
Yarde has World Class potential. Awesome player. Wallace is good, but had a mare for the Saxons the other day. Charlie Walker has huge promise, but is injured at the moment, unfortunately. Quins have some good forwards as well - Matthews will be class, and they've got 2 tight heads with a lot of promise (Sinkler and Collier)
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It will be interesting to see how the two wing selections go. May and Nowell are both quite elusive runners but, and especially May here, may find things trickier against an International defence and mustn't run sideways. Add them to Brown and we have three players who will battle and be hard to put down but lacks a real out and out flyer which would be nice, although with Watson not ready yet and Wade/Yarde injured we were a bit limited in that regard.
Big games are needed from Care, Farrell and Twelvetrees. Farrell needs to boss the game whilst the other two need to make the step up this time, because it doesn't always happen.
Big games are needed from Care, Farrell and Twelvetrees. Farrell needs to boss the game whilst the other two need to make the step up this time, because it doesn't always happen.