The Official English Rugby Thread

[Margin__Walker]

Mako missing out is interesting. Thought he may get a reprieve like George.

He had an odd game at the weekend. Scored a nice try, but was also responsible for getting his team marched back 20 metres for repeated back chat, taking a kick into range and costing Sarries 3 points. Was a proper WTF moment from an experienced international.

[SaintK]

Bevan Rodd called up to squad in place of Marler

Mako definitely not wanted then!!!

If not now, you'd have to wonder if it'll happen again. He's had a few propping performances in an England shirt where we've not come out well which won't have escaped Jones' eye.

Seems to be a pretty youthful selection at prop - the inclusion of Trevor Davidson had slipped past me, although I know he's utility cover for both 1 and 3 and suspect he'll be holding the tackle bags for a bit yet.

Yes indeed
I've been impressed with Davidson when I've seen him for Falcons and Blamire as well. Deano obviously has a good eye for spotting the potential in young forwards

[Margin__Walker]

Manu on the wing Toga. Christmas come early for you

[Ovals]

[Kawazaki]

Manu on the wing Toga. Christmas come early for you

I'd rather have Radwan playing tbh. It's a crowbar selection to keep Farrell in the starting XV.

England starting XV:

15. Freddie Steward (Leicester)
14. Manu Tuilagi (Sale)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter)
12. Owen Farrell (capt, Saracens)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester)
1. Ellis Genge (Leicester)
2. Jamie George (Saracens)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens)
5. Jonny Hill (Exeter)
6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath)
8. Tom Curry (Sale)

Replacements: Jamie Blamire (Newcastle), Bevan Rodd (Sale), Will Stuart (Bath), Charlie Ewels (Bath), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Sam Simmonds (Exeter), Raffi Quirke (Sale), Max Malins (Saracens).


The bench is far far weaker than it should be. I'm well past the stage where I don't care what Jones does anymore. He reminds me of that Simpson's episode where Homer's long lost brother is the CEO of a car company and asks Homer to design the next car.

[Paddington Bear]

Manu on the wing is almost amusing.

[sockwithaticket]

Unbalanced midfield with 3 distributors and no strike runner. That's worked so well before.

Persisting with an unbalanced back row rather than just sticking Lawes and Itoje together at lock.

6 - 2 split Did he not learn the last fucking time?!

Manu's positioning for defending kicks worries me.

[Brazil]

Dear Eddie,

You are not as clever as you think you are.

Love,

Everyone else on Earth.

[inactionman]

2 eights on the bench and a 7 starting at 8?

Is Eddie using the BBC team picker to choose his sides?

[inactionman]

Unbalanced midfield with 3 distributors and no strike runner. That's worked so well before.

Persisting with an unbalanced back row rather than just sticking Lawes and Itoje together at lock.

6 - 2 split Did he not learn the last fucking time?!

Manu's positioning for defending kicks worries me.

What a good time to do it, now we have the 50-22 rule.

[sockwithaticket]

Unbalanced midfield with 3 distributors and no strike runner. That's worked so well before.

Persisting with an unbalanced back row rather than just sticking Lawes and Itoje together at lock.

6 - 2 split Did he not learn the last fucking time?!

Manu's positioning for defending kicks worries me.

What a good time to do it, now we have the 50-22 rule.

In all likelihood Manu will be up in the defensive line while someone else more qualified drops back to deal with the aerial bombardment, but that won't be as manageable in turnover situations when teams are most able to exploit and thus likely to go for the 50-22.

[Paddington Bear]

Have to say I can't fully see how we're going to set up, I assume Manu will float all over the pitch.

[Brazil]

Have to say I can't fully see how we're going to set up, I assume Manu will float all over the pitch.

In exactly the same way that bricks don't.

[petej]

Arghh. Feel sorry for Smith and Manu.
If we are losing Smith to be subbed at about 60 mins with Farrell moved to 10?

[sockwithaticket]

Have to say I can't fully see how we're going to set up, I assume Manu will float all over the pitch.

In exactly the same way that bricks don't.

[Brazil]

Arghh. Feel sorry for Smith and Manu.
If we are losing Smith to be subbed at about 60 mins with Farrell moved to 10?

Yep, with Quirke coming on to be hamstrung by Captain Fantastic, before being dropped for doing something flashy like, I dunno, not double-pumping every single pass, or ambling across the defensive line with all the urgency of a striking slug.

[sockwithaticket]

In all the what the fuckery, I didn't notice that Mitchell's ended up vanishing from the 23. Same with Furbank.

[PCPhil]

Manu on the wing is almost amusing.

Jaysus. Why not try him at scrum half?

[JM2K6]

Quirke & Malins fit enough for the bench, Rodd going straight onto the bench, Smith starting. Excellent! All the other major calls: for fuck's sake.

[Torquemada 1420]

Thought this was interesting by BCM in the Torygraph
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... h-england/

Henry Slade’s man-of-the-match performance saw him in his best form for some time, but with this came a problem for Eddie Jones and also for fans of Marcus Smith.

We know that Manu Tuilagi is always going to play in a Jones team if fit, and so is Owen Farrell, because he is his captain. There are only three slots at 10, 12 and 13 and if Slade continues in this sort of form, it makes it more difficult for Jones to start Smith at outside-half. I fear that Smith from the bench is likely to be the norm after this game...

Question is whether BCM is right and Farrell is still Jones' automatic choice. For those of us who want to watch rugby, we hope not. For those of us who want to see Eng lose, we hope BCM is correct. I feel curiously torn.

Well that answered that!!! Moved Tuilagi to the wing. Good luck with that Eng.

{EDIT} PS. It's Aus so I want Eng to win!

[Kawazaki]

In all the what the fuckery, I didn't notice that Mitchell's ended up vanishing from the 23. Same with Furbank.

And Radwan.

[Kawazaki]

Ewels on the bench as well. I mean, just why?

[ASMO]

Jones can go suck a fart out of my arse. Manu on the wing when you have far better options available? 2 numbers 8's on the bench and a 7 starting at 8...fuck right off

[Hal Jordan]

In all the what the fuckery, I didn't notice that Mitchell's ended up vanishing from the 23. Same with Furbank.

And Radwan.

I think he has an ankle injury.

[Hal Jordan]

I assume Jones views Simmonds as a hybrid back/forward substitute given that he's not a massive breeze block 8.

Smith-Tuilagi makes far more sense than shoving Captain Covid back in there, it's not even like Slade is a JJ type of runner outside per the Grand Slam configuration.

[Torquemada 1420]

Have to say I can't fully see how we're going to set up, I assume Manu will float all over the pitch.

I will be watching carefully to see how he runs his support lines.

[PCPhil]

We may be missing something here. Jones sees teams and player positions in a way that no other international coach, club coach, ex player or rugby enthusiast can see. He also plans for the future as clearly in the case of Manu he will be our winger for many future tournaments as he develops and reaches his peak speed and elusiveness.

[JM2K6]

Alternatively he doesn't want to drop Farrell and wants lots of bosh all over the place, bosh bosh bosh, so Manu on the wing, a lock at 6, and two 8s on the bench

[Margin__Walker]

And Australia. Ollie Hoskins set for a fairly miraculous debut from the bench after being called up late as injury cover.

1. Angus Bell (14 Tests)
2. Folau Fainga’a (23 Tests)
3. James Slipper (112 Tests)
4. Rory Arnold (27 Tests)
5. Izack Rodda (32 Tests)
6. Rob Leota (4 Tests)
7. Michael Hooper (c) (117 Tests)
8. Rob Valetini (16 Tests)
9. Nic White (45 Tests)
10. James O’Connor (59 Tests)
11. Tom Wright (8 Tests)
12. Hunter Paisami (13 Tests)
13. Len Ikitau (11 Tests)
14. Andrew Kellaway (11 Tests)
15. Kurtley Beale (93 Tests)

Replacements

16. Tolu Latu (19 Tests)
17. Tom Robertson (26 Tests)
18. Oliver Hoskins*
19. Will Skelton (19 Tests)
20. Pete Samu (17 Tests)
21. Tate McDermott (13 Tests)
22. Noah Lolesio (8 Tests)
23. Izaia Perese (1 Test)

[JM2K6]

It's such a callow team with some real weaknesses up front. It'll be humiliating if we lose to them at home. Surely not...?

[Kawazaki]

Good to see Will Skelton back involved.

[Oxbow]

Manu on the wing eh, doomed to fail without Burrell inside him.

But really, fuck's sake Eddie.

[Torquemada 1420]

Good to see Will Skelton back involved.

He's disappeared since that Euro semi last season. Done nothing really at LaR since.

[Kawazaki]

Good to see Will Skelton back involved.

He's disappeared since that Euro semi last season. Done nothing really at LaR since.

Happens to many ex-Saracens when they leave the club. It's almost as if money doesn't buy leagues.

[Torquemada 1420]

Good to see Will Skelton back involved.

He's disappeared since that Euro semi last season. Done nothing really at LaR since.

Happens to many ex-Saracens when they leave the club. It's almost as if money doesn't buy leagues.

In all seriousness, I think it's a fitness difference between Prem and T14. Both in terms of conditioning and playing time.

[Paddington Bear]

Skelton came off the bench Sunday and the Aussie scrum then absolutely monstered the Scots, having been manshamed for the rest of the day.

[inactionman]

Good to see Will Skelton back involved.

He's disappeared since that Euro semi last season. Done nothing really at LaR since.

Happens to many ex-Saracens when they leave the club. It's almost as if money doesn't buy leagues.

So you're saying it's the drugs?

[Torquemada 1420]

Skelton came off the bench Sunday and the Aussie scrum then absolutely monstered the Scots, having been manshamed for the rest of the day.

Yes. And I pointed out then his bulk would make a diff there but he's done little around the park other than get carded or pinged and can't play more than 50 mins.

[Kawazaki]

He's disappeared since that Euro semi last season. Done nothing really at LaR since.

Happens to many ex-Saracens when they leave the club. It's almost as if money doesn't buy leagues.

So you're saying it's the drugs?

Owen Farrell

[inactionman]

Happens to many ex-Saracens when they leave the club. It's almost as if money doesn't buy leagues.

So you're saying it's the drugs?

Owen Farrell

He looks a little bit too scrawny to be on the juice.