The Official English Rugby Thread

[Slick]

A cunning tactical move by Sweeney would be to appoint Clive Woodward on a 10-month secondment to oversea the England team in the build-up to the RWC.

Eddie could resign and forfeit his contract of course.

I was wondering whether Sweeny could insert a coaching and management team around (and ideally above) Jones must to make his position ultimately untenable.

Lord Bald would be an excellent candidate. As would Rob Andrew.

Jonny Wilkinson chanting soothing chakras from above would do his head in as well.

[JM2K6]

Did I dream it, or was someone (in the Times? The BBC?) raising the possibility of the RFU insisting on Jones changing his coaching team?

I really hoped we'd seen the back of that nonsense... if you don't trust the head coach / manager / whatever-you-call-them to put the right coaching team in place you don't trust them to do their job, so sack them.

I read the same thing in one of the many articles written by cowards who were all waiting for someone better than them to risk Eddie's wrath before writing properly critical articles.

It's madness for two reasons. The reason you gave, plus the fact that Eddie goes through coaches at a rate of knots and treats them like shit anyway so it's just a proposal for even more chaos and misery.

[Tichtheid]

If I may...

The only lock at six that seems to have worked is Lawes, until he's fit again pick specialist backrowers. Ben Earl might not be six foot seven but he's a terrific player, it seems symptomatic of England selection that he's not getting a game whilst the back row is rather large but cumbersome.
When England had Launchbury, Kruis and Itoje as options in the second row they looked fearsome, they are less so at the moment.

I don't know the England options in the centre but I there must be a better pairing than an off-colour Farrell and Tuilagi who left a yard or two behind several injuries ago.
Farrell, Ford (injured, I believe?) and Smith are all great options for ten, but whatever The Plan is, it's not really suiting any of them. Farrell seems to play first receiver a lot, so have the courage of the conviction and pick him at ten, he's mentally tough as fuck.

For me the Vunipolae are not all that, Malherbe did a number on Mako, an aerial shot I saw had the big South African boring right in on the hooker, a prop will never say anything to the ref about that, but the captain should.

I asked an England fan, a mate, who he'd rather have at fullback, Steward or Capuozzo, his answer was Steward because he's really secure under the high ball.

That seems bizarre to me, yeah defence is really important, and it will squeak you a win, but where is the joy, the panache, the attacking mindset coming from?
No one is going to defend their way to the World Cup next year.

[Tichtheid]

Did I dream it, or was someone (in the Times? The BBC?) raising the possibility of the RFU insisting on Jones changing his coaching team?

I really hoped we'd seen the back of that nonsense... if you don't trust the head coach / manager / whatever-you-call-them to put the right coaching team in place you don't trust them to do their job, so sack them.

I read the same thing in one of the many articles written by cowards who were all waiting for someone better than them to risk Eddie's wrath before writing properly critical articles.

It's madness for two reasons. The reason you gave, plus the fact that Eddie goes through coaches at a rate of knots and treats them like shit anyway so it's just a proposal for even more chaos and misery.

How are Eddie and Cockerill getting on?

I suppose we'd have heard if Cockers had nutted him by now.

btw, this is not me crowing, far from it, the stories that came out after Cockerill left Edinburgh told of a dinosaur with appalling man-management skills that had everyone in the dressing room really pissed off.

[inactionman]

If I may...

The only lock at six that seems to have worked is Lawes, until he's fit again pick specialist backrowers. Ben Earl might not be six foot seven but he's a terrific player, it seems symptomatic of England selection that he's not getting a game whilst the back row is rather large but cumbersome.
When England had Launchbury, Kruis and Itoje as options in the second row they looked fearsome, they are less so at the moment.

I don't know the England options in the centre but I there must be a better pairing than an off-colour Farrell and Tuilagi who left a yard or two behind several injuries ago.
Farrell, Ford (injured, I believe?) and Smith are all great options for ten, but whatever The Plan is, it's not really suiting any of them. Farrell seems to play first receiver a lot, so have the courage of the conviction and pick him at ten, he's mentally tough as fuck.

For me the Vunipolae are not all that, Malherbe did a number on Mako, an aerial shot I saw had the big South African boring right in on the hooker, a prop will never say anything to the ref about that, but the captain should.

I asked an England fan, a mate, who he'd rather have at fullback, Steward or Capuozzo, his answer was Steward because he's really secure under the high ball.

That seems bizarre to me, yeah defence is really important, and it will squeak you a win, but where is the joy, the panache, the attacking mindset coming from?
No one is going to defend their way to the World Cup next year.

For some reason Jones never favoured Anthony Watson at 15, he played mainly wing (to be fair, the B&I Lions also played him on the wing), but was a 15 for Bath where he was utterly electric. He'll probably be 14 again for Leicester outside of international windows given the England incumbent 15 is also a Tiger.

[Tichtheid]

For some reason Jones never favoured Anthony Watson at 15, he played mainly wing (to be fair, the B&I Lions also played him on the wing), but was a 15 for Bath where he was utterly electric. He'll probably be 14 again for Leicester outside of international windows given the England incumbent 15 is also a Tiger.

I really like Watson, but doesn't he break quite often?

[sockwithaticket]

I asked an England fan, a mate, who he'd rather have at fullback, Steward or Capuozzo, his answer was Steward because he's really secure under the high ball.

That seems bizarre to me, yeah defence is really important, and it will squeak you a win, but where is the joy, the panache, the attacking mindset coming from?
No one is going to defend their way to the World Cup next year.

What, you mean a decidedly out of form May and Nowell on the wings don't thrill you?

In fairness to Steward, he's more than just high ball security and has already scored a fair few tries, but a balanced back three has him alongside players like Murley, Freeman, Radwan Arundell etc. Much like Mike Brown was best alongside prime May and Watson.

[Paddington Bear]

If I may...

The only lock at six that seems to have worked is Lawes, until he's fit again pick specialist backrowers. Ben Earl might not be six foot seven but he's a terrific player, it seems symptomatic of England selection that he's not getting a game whilst the back row is rather large but cumbersome.
When England had Launchbury, Kruis and Itoje as options in the second row they looked fearsome, they are less so at the moment.

I don't know the England options in the centre but I there must be a better pairing than an off-colour Farrell and Tuilagi who left a yard or two behind several injuries ago.
Farrell, Ford (injured, I believe?) and Smith are all great options for ten, but whatever The Plan is, it's not really suiting any of them. Farrell seems to play first receiver a lot, so have the courage of the conviction and pick him at ten, he's mentally tough as fuck.

For me the Vunipolae are not all that, Malherbe did a number on Mako, an aerial shot I saw had the big South African boring right in on the hooker, a prop will never say anything to the ref about that, but the captain should.

I asked an England fan, a mate, who he'd rather have at fullback, Steward or Capuozzo, his answer was Steward because he's really secure under the high ball.

That seems bizarre to me, yeah defence is really important, and it will squeak you a win, but where is the joy, the panache, the attacking mindset coming from?
No one is going to defend their way to the World Cup next year.

There's a lot in this that's fair but I'd take Steward over Capuozzo as well.

[inactionman]

For some reason Jones never favoured Anthony Watson at 15, he played mainly wing (to be fair, the B&I Lions also played him on the wing), but was a 15 for Bath where he was utterly electric. He'll probably be 14 again for Leicester outside of international windows given the England incumbent 15 is also a Tiger.

I really like Watson, but doesn't he break quite often?

Speaking as a Bath fan, mostly when he was, or was just about to, don the Blue, Black and White. He popped knee ligaments against Sarries so missed a big chunk of last season but is now fit again.

Of course, now he's at Leicester expect many years of trouble-free motoring.

[Raggs]

I'd take Steward over Capuozzo too... though maybe in a couple of seasons that'll change.

Steward, Arundell, Freeman as a back 3 seems absolutely fearsome to me. 2 genuinely pacy guys, all 3 with good physicality. Steward is a powerful carrier and can clearly use his size which is nice.

Lawes at 6 didn't work when Lawes was still playing lock a lot of the time. Lawes at 6 after several seasons of playing exclusively 6 for club and country worked a lot better. Surprising that...

[Kawazaki]

How are Eddie and Cockerill getting on?

[Cockerill is] a dinosaur with appalling man-management skills that had everyone in the dressing room really pissed off.

I reckon they probably get on very well.

[Kawazaki]

Genge sticks up for Eddie Jones. If that is the feedback from all the squad then they won't fire Jones.

“We will take onus for it. Eddie is brilliant. He takes a lot of heat off the players and says it’s his fault, he didn’t coach well enough. But personally and from a boys perspective, it is probably on us, to be honest.
“We got a lot wrong. We were prepped really well, we felt good going into the game and it’s one of those days, you find out a lot about each other. He’s the one hurting the most. He will be up for countless hours trying to figure out where we could have went better.
“We’re trying to have a player-led environment. So that’s why it falls on us, essentially. We’re all invested. And as far as I’m aware, we’re all on the same page.”

https://archive.ph/PPb24

[Tichtheid]

I asked an England fan, a mate, who he'd rather have at fullback, Steward or Capuozzo, his answer was Steward because he's really secure under the high ball.

That seems bizarre to me, yeah defence is really important, and it will squeak you a win, but where is the joy, the panache, the attacking mindset coming from?
No one is going to defend their way to the World Cup next year.

What, you mean a decidedly out of form May and Nowell on the wings don't thrill you?

In fairness to Steward, he's more than just high ball security and has already scored a fair few tries, but a balanced back three has him alongside players like Murley, Freeman, Radwan Arundell etc. Much like Mike Brown was best alongside prime May and Watson.

Arundell is sensational.

I just get the feeling that the likes of Capuozzo, Arendse & Darcy Graham wouldn't get a game for England.

Would "World Player of the Year" van der Flier get a start?

Earl is about the same size and playing really well in a dominant team, same as vdF with Leinster

It's just my hobby horse, pace and an attacking mindset.

[westport]

Ronan O’Gara is out of the running to replace Eddie Jones as England boss after he signed a new three-year contract with La Rochelle.

The legendary Ireland fly-half has not been shy with confirming his interest in the England job but is currently in an interesting position, serving a 10-week touchline ban in France.

That ban was handed down to him for “making remarks to a match official”, having already served a previous six-week suspension this season for “disrespecting the authority of a match official”.

[inactionman]

I asked an England fan, a mate, who he'd rather have at fullback, Steward or Capuozzo, his answer was Steward because he's really secure under the high ball.

That seems bizarre to me, yeah defence is really important, and it will squeak you a win, but where is the joy, the panache, the attacking mindset coming from?
No one is going to defend their way to the World Cup next year.

What, you mean a decidedly out of form May and Nowell on the wings don't thrill you?

In fairness to Steward, he's more than just high ball security and has already scored a fair few tries, but a balanced back three has him alongside players like Murley, Freeman, Radwan Arundell etc. Much like Mike Brown was best alongside prime May and Watson.

Arundell is sensational.

I just get the feeling that the likes of Capuozzo, Arendse & Darcy Graham wouldn't get a game for England.

Would "World Player of the Year" van der Flier get a start?

Earl is about the same size and playing really well in a dominant team, same as vdF with Leinster

It's just my hobby horse, pace and an attacking mindset.

I'd suggest Earl is more directly in competition with Curry than with whichever lock Eddie decides to stick on the outside arse cheek of the loosehead.

Curry is a little off the boil, but is still a fantastic player, and will take some shifting - even with Earl's great run of club form.

Of course, a backrow of Curry at 6 and Earl at 7 (would vice versa work? Probably - Earl can put in hits) wouldn't be ridiculous but there are other players who are worthy of a look-in at 6, such as Willis, especially with Underhill's continued absence and decline in form.

[Tichtheid]

What, you mean a decidedly out of form May and Nowell on the wings don't thrill you?

In fairness to Steward, he's more than just high ball security and has already scored a fair few tries, but a balanced back three has him alongside players like Murley, Freeman, Radwan Arundell etc. Much like Mike Brown was best alongside prime May and Watson.

Arundell is sensational.

I just get the feeling that the likes of Capuozzo, Arendse & Darcy Graham wouldn't get a game for England.

Would "World Player of the Year" van der Flier get a start?

Earl is about the same size and playing really well in a dominant team, same as vdF with Leinster

It's just my hobby horse, pace and an attacking mindset.

I'd suggest Earl is more directly in competition with Curry than with whichever lock Eddie decides to stick on the outside arse cheek of the loosehead.

Curry is a little off the boil, but is still a fantastic player, and will take some shifting - even with Earl's great run of club form.

Of course, a backrow of Curry at 6 and Earl at 7 (would vice versa work? Probably - Earl can put in hits) wouldn't be ridiculous but there are other players who are worthy of a look-in at 6, such as Willis, especially with Underhill's continued absence and decline in form.

I think that the roles of 6 and 7 are very much blurred these days, everyone on the park is supposed to be strong over the ball now, but Curry is the specialist, it does no harm to have an absolute flier on the other side of the scrum. The person needed to complete a back row with Earl and Curry is a number 8 who is a good lineout option and can carry, he doesn't have to weigh in at over 20 stones - Alldritt is nearly three stones lighter than Billy V.
I just haven't had the time to watch the premiership last season and this, who is that type of Number 8 for England?

[sockwithaticket]

I asked an England fan, a mate, who he'd rather have at fullback, Steward or Capuozzo, his answer was Steward because he's really secure under the high ball.

That seems bizarre to me, yeah defence is really important, and it will squeak you a win, but where is the joy, the panache, the attacking mindset coming from?
No one is going to defend their way to the World Cup next year.

What, you mean a decidedly out of form May and Nowell on the wings don't thrill you?

In fairness to Steward, he's more than just high ball security and has already scored a fair few tries, but a balanced back three has him alongside players like Murley, Freeman, Radwan Arundell etc. Much like Mike Brown was best alongside prime May and Watson.

Arundell is sensational.

I just get the feeling that the likes of Capuozzo, Arendse & Darcy Graham wouldn't get a game for England.

Would "World Player of the Year" van der Flier get a start?

Earl is about the same size and playing really well in a dominant team, same as vdF with Leinster

It's just my hobby horse, pace and an attacking mindset.

Of course they wouldn't, we have pacy, creative backs that aren't midgets who can't get ahead of the likes of Nowell and Cokanasiga for reasons only Eddie will know. Those qualities in a more diminuitive package have absolutely zero chance.

Fitness allowing, I'd love to see an all out attack backline of 9. Care 10. Ford 11. Arundell 12. Lozowski 13. Marchant 14. Radwan 15. Freeman
21. Quirke 22. Smith 23. Dingwall

And there are plenty of other 9s, centres and back three players that could be inserted as per anyone's preferences. Basically, we don't lack players with attacking capabilities.

Selection is secondary to tactics/game plan and that seems to be deliberately limited.

[ASMO]

What, you mean a decidedly out of form May and Nowell on the wings don't thrill you?

In fairness to Steward, he's more than just high ball security and has already scored a fair few tries, but a balanced back three has him alongside players like Murley, Freeman, Radwan Arundell etc. Much like Mike Brown was best alongside prime May and Watson.

Arundell is sensational.

I just get the feeling that the likes of Capuozzo, Arendse & Darcy Graham wouldn't get a game for England.

Would "World Player of the Year" van der Flier get a start?

Earl is about the same size and playing really well in a dominant team, same as vdF with Leinster

It's just my hobby horse, pace and an attacking mindset.

Of course they wouldn't, we have pacy, creative backs that aren't midgets who can't get ahead of the likes of Nowell and Cokanasiga for reasons only Eddie will know. Those qualities in a more diminuitive package have absolutely zero chance.

Fitness allowing, I'd love to see an all out attack backline of 9. Care 10. Ford 11. Arundell 12. Lozowski 13. Marchant 14. Radwan 15. Freeman
21. Quirke 22. Smith 23. Dingwall

And there are plenty of other 9s, centres and back three players that could be inserted as per anyone's preferences. Basically, we don't lack players with attacking capabilities.

Selection is secondary to tactics/game plan and that seems to be deliberately limited.

I would have Smith ahead of Ford, but Ford on the bench, I would also have Steward in front of Freeman (Radwan and Arundel have more than enough pace to compensate for Stewards lack) and Quirk and Randall in front of Care, with one of the aforementioned 2 on the bench. i love DC, but he is nowhere near the future of England. Northmore over Lozowski and Cadan Murley has to be in with a shout. Lets not forget Lynagh who before his injury was scoring tries for fun. There are so many riches in the backline for England it is hard to see how we ended up with the donkeys we have there now,

Also Freddie at FB means there is a very safe pair of hands for the inevitable high balls, which means that the wings need to worry less and can be more adventurous in attack,

Also you have quite a bit of flexibility there, Arundell can cover FB, Northmore the wing, as can Marchant, Lynagh i think could also cover FB too at a pinch.

[sockwithaticket]

Arundell is sensational.

I just get the feeling that the likes of Capuozzo, Arendse & Darcy Graham wouldn't get a game for England.

Would "World Player of the Year" van der Flier get a start?

Earl is about the same size and playing really well in a dominant team, same as vdF with Leinster

It's just my hobby horse, pace and an attacking mindset.

Of course they wouldn't, we have pacy, creative backs that aren't midgets who can't get ahead of the likes of Nowell and Cokanasiga for reasons only Eddie will know. Those qualities in a more diminuitive package have absolutely zero chance.

Fitness allowing, I'd love to see an all out attack backline of 9. Care 10. Ford 11. Arundell 12. Lozowski 13. Marchant 14. Radwan 15. Freeman
21. Quirke 22. Smith 23. Dingwall

And there are plenty of other 9s, centres and back three players that could be inserted as per anyone's preferences. Basically, we don't lack players with attacking capabilities.

Selection is secondary to tactics/game plan and that seems to be deliberately limited.

I would have Smith ahead of Ford, but Ford on the bench, I would also have Steward in front of Freeman (Radwan and Arundel have more than enough pace to compensate for Stewards lack) and Quirk and Randall in front of Care, with one of the aforementioned 2 on the bench. i love DC, but he is nowhere near the future of England. Northmore over Lozowski and Cadan Murley has to be in with a shout. Lets not forget Lynagh who before his injury was scoring tries for fun. There are so many riches in the backline for England it is hard to see how we ended up with the donkeys we have there now,

Also Freddie at FB means there is a very safe pair of hands for the inevitable high balls, which means that the wings need to worry less and can be more adventurous in attack,

Also you have quite a bit of flexibility there, Arundell can cover FB, Northmore the wing, as can Marchant, Lynagh i think could also cover FB too at a pinch.

Like I said, it's a selection based on all out attack, hence no Steward. If I was going for something a bit more balanced I'd probably pick him and maybe Murley ahead of one of the other wingers. Equally, England's future wasn't a consideration for this fantasy pick. Care is currently a better option than our promising young scrum halves. Quirke and Mitchell are rivals for second best attacking scrum half behind him. Don't rate Randall as better than Prem level tbh.

[petej]

Just no on Care. I watched over the summer. pick 2 from van poortfliet, quirke and randall. Every reason why youngs shouldn't be playing (mostly age) pretty much applies to Care.

Ford though younger than care and youngs shouldn't be selected for medium to long term reasons better to keep Smith starting.

[Raggs]

https://www.talkingrugbyunion.co.uk/geo ... /34877.htm

Wording here suggests to me Ford wouldn't be unhappy to see Eddie go. Very careful, emphasis on how the players shouldn't be responsible. If the players believed in what he was doing I'm sure ford would have heard, and the players would say they want to keep a coach.

[Hal Jordan]

If I may...

The only lock at six that seems to have worked is Lawes, until he's fit again pick specialist backrowers. Ben Earl might not be six foot seven but he's a terrific player, it seems symptomatic of England selection that he's not getting a game whilst the back row is rather large but cumbersome.
When England had Launchbury, Kruis and Itoje as options in the second row they looked fearsome, they are less so at the moment.

Just drawing on this point, when we had the unbeaten year the locks made a big difference. Kruis and Launchbury had huge engines and made a big difference to the breakdown and the tight, allowing Itoje more free rein. The likes of Ewels and Hill are a huge downgrade.

Added to that you had a backrow which worked - prime carrying Billy V allied to two flankers who had years of cunning bastardry and could make a mess of opposition ball, take slow rubbish to give a platform for clean ball and generally get about the place. You didn't need to pick a lock at 6 because Robshaw was a great back jumper, and coming off the bench you had Jack Clifford, who was looking a real prospect at the time, who added real pace to the end of games.

The props weren't fucking about pinging pop passes in the 10 channel, either, they were right at the coalface. Mako also dovetailed with his brother nicely, but he's also a shadow these days.

Now Billy V is the elephant in the room, injury has robbed him of his physicality and you still have to work around his lack of participation in the breakdown and the lineout. Curry can cover the former, but not the latter, so in the absence of Lawes, rather than adapt, Jones just goes for an ersatz version of him, meaning we don't get the breakdown support and there's no explosiveness or pace at 6 and 8.

[Margin__Walker]

Just another normal day in English rugby

[JM2K6]

. The person needed to complete a back row with Earl and Curry is a number 8 who is a good lineout option and can carry, he doesn't have to weigh in at over 20 stones - Alldritt is nearly three stones lighter than Billy V.
I just haven't had the time to watch the premiership last season and this, who is that type of Number 8 for England?

Alex Dombrandt is a big fucker with a lot of pace, an excellent lineout option, great hands, great ability over the ball, and a fantastic try scoring record. He got injured at the wrong time and is now seemingly completely out of the frame despite being the best all-round option England have. He's absolutely box office.


re: Anthony Watson at 15, he's never been good there for England. It just seems to nullify his game completely. At his best, a world class wing, but never a world class fullback. Steward is good and in the right team will be a huge asset as he continues to develop.

[sockwithaticket]

BT have 2 televised Prem games on saturday this weekend at 17:30 and 20:00, but none on Sunday (though there is a Prem Cup game).

Presumably this is, like Friday's no game, also due to football scheduling that I'm blissfully ignorant of?

[JM2K6]

BT have 2 televised Prem games on saturday this weekend at 17:30 and 20:00, but none on Sunday (though there is a Prem Cup game).

Presumably this is, like Friday's no game, also due to football scheduling that I'm blissfully ignorant of?

Yes. England were likely to be filling one of the two prime 3pm slots. As it is, it's Sunday's slot, which was the more likely of the two.

[sockwithaticket]

Ta

[Tichtheid]

. The person needed to complete a back row with Earl and Curry is a number 8 who is a good lineout option and can carry, he doesn't have to weigh in at over 20 stones - Alldritt is nearly three stones lighter than Billy V.
I just haven't had the time to watch the premiership last season and this, who is that type of Number 8 for England?

Alex Dombrandt is a big fucker with a lot of pace, an excellent lineout option, great hands, great ability over the ball, and a fantastic try scoring record. He got injured at the wrong time and is now seemingly completely out of the frame despite being the best all-round option England have. He's absolutely box office.

Speaking as a Scotland fan, for the Calcutta Cup in few months' time

Option A. Curry, Billy V, Whichever lock is picked at 6

Option B. Curry, Earl, Dombrandt.


I'll take Option A every day of the week.

'fessing up; I had forgotten Dombrandt when I asked the question, it's obvious now you mention it.

(of course, now Option A will take to field and run over the top of Scotland in February)

[inactionman]

BT have 2 televised Prem games on saturday this weekend at 17:30 and 20:00, but none on Sunday (though there is a Prem Cup game).

Presumably this is, like Friday's no game, also due to football scheduling that I'm blissfully ignorant of?

This Friday?

Bath vs Quins on BT1

Or have I misunderstood what you mean?

[sockwithaticket]

BT have 2 televised Prem games on saturday this weekend at 17:30 and 20:00, but none on Sunday (though there is a Prem Cup game).

Presumably this is, like Friday's no game, also due to football scheduling that I'm blissfully ignorant of?

This Friday?

Bath vs Quins on BT1

Or have I misunderstood what you mean?

Sorry I was referring to last Friday where they didn't show anything due to the England football game.

[inactionman]

BT have 2 televised Prem games on saturday this weekend at 17:30 and 20:00, but none on Sunday (though there is a Prem Cup game).

Presumably this is, like Friday's no game, also due to football scheduling that I'm blissfully ignorant of?

This Friday?

Bath vs Quins on BT1

Or have I misunderstood what you mean?

Sorry I was referring to last Friday where they didn't show anything due to the England football game.

Ah, gotcha.

[Kawazaki]

. The person needed to complete a back row with Earl and Curry is a number 8 who is a good lineout option and can carry, he doesn't have to weigh in at over 20 stones - Alldritt is nearly three stones lighter than Billy V.
I just haven't had the time to watch the premiership last season and this, who is that type of Number 8 for England?

Alex Dombrandt is a big fucker with a lot of pace, an excellent lineout option, great hands, great ability over the ball, and a fantastic try scoring record. He got injured at the wrong time and is now seemingly completely out of the frame despite being the best all-round option England have. He's absolutely box office.

Speaking as a Scotland fan, for the Calcutta Cup in few months' time

Option A. Curry, Billy V, Whichever lock is picked at 6

Option B. Curry, Earl, Dombrandt.


I'll take Option A every day of the week.

'fessing up; I had forgotten Dombrandt when I asked the question, it's obvious now you mention it.

(of course, now Option A will take to field and run over the top of Scotland in February)

Willis should be groomed to play 6. Get Earl at 7 and Dombrandt or Mercer at 8.

[Tichtheid]

Alex Dombrandt is a big fucker with a lot of pace, an excellent lineout option, great hands, great ability over the ball, and a fantastic try scoring record. He got injured at the wrong time and is now seemingly completely out of the frame despite being the best all-round option England have. He's absolutely box office.

Speaking as a Scotland fan, for the Calcutta Cup in few months' time

Option A. Curry, Billy V, Whichever lock is picked at 6

Option B. Curry, Earl, Dombrandt.


I'll take Option A every day of the week.

'fessing up; I had forgotten Dombrandt when I asked the question, it's obvious now you mention it.

(of course, now Option A will take to field and run over the top of Scotland in February)

Willis should be groomed to play 6. Get Earl at 7 and Dombrandt or Mercer at 8.

I had to look this up because I hadn't heard where Willis had pitched up, he's with Toulouse.

There isn't that ban on England players playing abroad still is there?

[sockwithaticket]

Alex Dombrandt is a big fucker with a lot of pace, an excellent lineout option, great hands, great ability over the ball, and a fantastic try scoring record. He got injured at the wrong time and is now seemingly completely out of the frame despite being the best all-round option England have. He's absolutely box office.

Speaking as a Scotland fan, for the Calcutta Cup in few months' time

Option A. Curry, Billy V, Whichever lock is picked at 6

Option B. Curry, Earl, Dombrandt.


I'll take Option A every day of the week.

'fessing up; I had forgotten Dombrandt when I asked the question, it's obvious now you mention it.

(of course, now Option A will take to field and run over the top of Scotland in February)

Willis should be groomed to play 6. Get Earl at 7 and Dombrandt or Mercer at 8.

It's where he played most of his club rugby until Thomas Young left.

[sockwithaticket]

Speaking as a Scotland fan, for the Calcutta Cup in few months' time

Option A. Curry, Billy V, Whichever lock is picked at 6

Option B. Curry, Earl, Dombrandt.


I'll take Option A every day of the week.

'fessing up; I had forgotten Dombrandt when I asked the question, it's obvious now you mention it.

(of course, now Option A will take to field and run over the top of Scotland in February)

Willis should be groomed to play 6. Get Earl at 7 and Dombrandt or Mercer at 8.

I had to look this up because I hadn't heard where Willis had pitched up, he's with Toulouse.

There isn't that ban on England players playing abroad still is there?

Worcester and Wasps players who've ended up abroad have been confirmed as available for England selection until after the world cup thanks to the exceptional circumstances clause of the EPS agreement.

Players like Robson and the Willis brothers are only signing with French clubs for the remainder of the current season. Presumably hoping to be back in the Prem for 23-24.

[Raggs]

Speaking as a Scotland fan, for the Calcutta Cup in few months' time

Option A. Curry, Billy V, Whichever lock is picked at 6

Option B. Curry, Earl, Dombrandt.


I'll take Option A every day of the week.

'fessing up; I had forgotten Dombrandt when I asked the question, it's obvious now you mention it.

(of course, now Option A will take to field and run over the top of Scotland in February)

Willis should be groomed to play 6. Get Earl at 7 and Dombrandt or Mercer at 8.

It's where he played most of his club rugby until Thomas Young left.

Unless he's referring to Tom, I'd be intrigued as to what exactly the difference between 6/7 is these days. What "grooming" would need to be done? What exactly does the number 6 being on the back of the shirt, force the player into doing that the number 7 doesn't etc?

[Kawazaki]

Willis should be groomed to play 6. Get Earl at 7 and Dombrandt or Mercer at 8.

It's where he played most of his club rugby until Thomas Young left.

Unless he's referring to Tom, I'd be intrigued as to what exactly the difference between 6/7 is these days. What "grooming" would need to be done? What exactly does the number 6 being on the back of the shirt, force the player into doing that the number 7 doesn't etc?

You're right, the 6 can be anything nowadays. They can play like an openside or like an 8. Look at McFarland at Saracens, he's writing a new chapter on what a 6 does. I've no doubt that a backrow needs balance but it's far easier to find balance if you pick the best players in the first place. Top players tend to find top performances.

Eddiot has said Willis is a 7 and that's it, end of conversation. Dickhead.

[sockwithaticket]

Francois Hougaard signs a 3 month deal with Sarries.

[Kawazaki]

Francois Hougaard signs a 3 month deal with Sarries.

I hope Van Zyl hasn't got injured.

[inactionman]

Eddie's future will be settled on Tuesday, apparently.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/ ... ugby-union

What's the betting he'll come out of it with a pay rise.