The Official English Rugby Thread

[sockwithaticket]

Is he resting Exeter players? Only Slade in and No LCD, Nowell, either Simmons or any of the front row who have been in and around the squad for the last couple of years.

Edit. Missed Williams. But point still stands.

Nowell is injured. Hepburn's always been about 5th/6th choice. Eddie clearly decided a while back that he doesn't want Sam Simmonds while Joe would appear to be behind Marcus Smith and Jacob Umaga given those two have been called up to previous squads.

[Monk]

WTF is Singleton doing there ahead of LC-D

weird stuff indeed.

[Hal Jordan]

I think they might be doing a two stage thing, finish the 6N then move to the AIs squad (hopefully shit canning Youngs). I don't Simmons S is Jones' idea of a no 8 (nor is Dombrandt).

Nice to see Ted Hill included, he is far better than Ludlam who is bang average. Umaga's on tackle bag duty.

[duke]

I think they might be doing a two stage thing, finish the 6N then move to the AIs squad (hopefully shit canning Youngs). I don't Simmons S is Jones' idea of a no 8 (nor is Dombrandt).

Nice to see Ted Hill included, he is far better than Ludlam who is bang average. Umaga's on tackle bag duty.

Who else is there in the squad to play fly half, Malins? I'd have thought Umaga is more likely to be the back up at 10

[Raggs]

Whilst he doesn't always judge well enough when to use it, Umaga has a very good kicking game with a huge boot. If he can play more conservatively than he does for wasps, i can see him replicating Ford quite well. Probably just have Farrell at 10 though.

[sockwithaticket]

A bit more detail now

Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ali Crossdale, Courtney Lawes, Jack Nowell, Manu Tuilagi and Mark Wilson are unavailable due to injury. Elliot Daly, George Ford and Joe Marler will join up with the squad for reconditioning.

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... nouncement

Real shame for LCD, he's been immense.

[ASMO]

A bit more detail now

Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ali Crossdale, Courtney Lawes, Jack Nowell, Manu Tuilagi and Mark Wilson are unavailable due to injury. Elliot Daly, George Ford and Joe Marler will join up with the squad for reconditioning.

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... nouncement

Real shame for LCD, he's been immense.

So Youngs, Heinz retained, as has Furbank, i am certain now Eddie is just doing it to piss his critics off, it absolutely cannot be based on anything sensible like form, or ability as none of these would ever make it into the squad if those were selection criteria.

[SaintK]

A bit more detail now

Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ali Crossdale, Courtney Lawes, Jack Nowell, Manu Tuilagi and Mark Wilson are unavailable due to injury. Elliot Daly, George Ford and Joe Marler will join up with the squad for reconditioning.

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... nouncement

Real shame for LCD, he's been immense.

Yep!!! Must have picked up the injury on Saturday, though can't say I noticed it

[sockwithaticket]

A bit more detail now

Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ali Crossdale, Courtney Lawes, Jack Nowell, Manu Tuilagi and Mark Wilson are unavailable due to injury. Elliot Daly, George Ford and Joe Marler will join up with the squad for reconditioning.

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... nouncement

Real shame for LCD, he's been immense.

So Youngs, Heinz retained, as has Furbank, i am certain now Eddie is just doing it to piss his critics off, it absolutely cannot be based on anything sensible like form, or ability as none of these would ever make it into the squad if those were selection criteria.

Youngs was always staying put, but Heinz being retained ahead of either Spencer or Mitchell or even an outside bet like Maunder is pants on head stuff.

[Ali Cadoo]

Absolutely made up for Jack Willis, his dad must be the proudest guy in the country right now.

[Hal Jordan]

A bit more detail now

Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ali Crossdale, Courtney Lawes, Jack Nowell, Manu Tuilagi and Mark Wilson are unavailable due to injury. Elliot Daly, George Ford and Joe Marler will join up with the squad for reconditioning.

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... nouncement

Real shame for LCD, he's been immense.

Reconditioning? What on earth are they doing to them? Sandblasting followed by rust cut out and a respray, plus bore a few thou out the cylinders?

[Kawazaki]

Does Tony Rowe know what irony is?

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... executive/

Before the 2021 Six Nations, currently scheduled in its traditional slot between February and March, Eddie Jones’ regulars are to be given a two-week break under the new Elite Player Squad agreement. That means that Chiefs could be without individuals such as Slade and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie for large chunks of their Premiership defence.

Rowe offered some stinging criticism of that development, saying that clubs are not given enough money by the Rugby Football Union for developing players to international standard.

He believes that, in times of financial difficulty with supporters still not allowed into stadiums due to Covid-19 protocols, the situation could drive clubs to breaking point.

“All this stuff coming down about more international games – I am totally against that,” Rowe said. “We employ the players, they are our club players.

“Being forced to release them for so many international games is not good. We don’t get compensated enough. The reality is that we bred these guys for ourselves, we didn’t breed them for England.

“England can get too greedy. They are very quick to run the other way when we want money. At the moment we are desperate for money in the Premiership to stay alive.

“We are one of the wealthier clubs and we will see it through, but there are some clubs that are really struggling and we should be able to turn to the RFU for financial support because they turn to us when they want our players.”

Wait until he gets 10 or 11 players picked for home nations countries and then has to put out a squad for a league fixture. Might stress the salary cap a tad.

[Niegs]

A tad defensive when asked about the Simmonds bros.?

[Hal Jordan]

How long do we think Jones has left? I reckon he is getting to the "taken them as far as he can" stage. And then, who do we replace him with? Is Jake White available?

[ASMO]

I would happily go for a Mark McCall, Rob Baxter management team, both proven winners and both know the English players very well.

[sockwithaticket]

How long do we think Jones has left? I reckon he is getting to the "taken them as far as he can" stage. And then, who do we replace him with? Is Jake White available?

Time's up with Eddie when we start losing more matches and the performances are no longer there either,

I wouldn't touch Jake White with a 10 foot pole. He hasn't been near international rugby in 13 years and what I've seen of his club sides in that time isn't what I want for our national team, we're so much better than that.

There aren't many stand out, proven international coaches around so we might have to take a punt on someone new when the time comes. Who knows, perhaps someone like Pat Lam will have shown himself worthy of taking that shot or maybe Dave Rennie will have resurrected Australia and we can tempt him with sufficient cash?

I'll be surprised if Baxter ever wants the job, I think he's very wise to the difference between Prem DoR and national head coach.

[Hal Jordan]

Jake White was a joke, people.

[Saint]

Heinz injured, Mitchell called up. And Eddie's been talking Furbank up as a 10 option

[sockwithaticket]

Heinz injured, Mitchell called up. And Eddie's been talking Furbank up as a 10 option

Oh no, what a shame.

Furbank at 10 sounds like Nowell at 7, something Eddie says to amuse himself at how many column inches it'll drive.

[Margin__Walker]

Heinz injured, Mitchell called up. And Eddie's been talking Furbank up as a 10 option

Oh no, what a shame.

Furbank at 10 sounds like Nowell at 7, something Eddie says to amuse himself at how many column inches it'll drive.

Yep. Played there in a training match last week that the squad had. Presumably because Ford and Francis all sat the session out.

Don't think we'll be seeing him there any time soon in anything resembling a real game

[Double]

How long do we think Jones has left? I reckon he is getting to the "taken them as far as he can" stage. And then, who do we replace him with? Is Jake White available?

Time's up with Eddie when we start losing more matches and the performances are no longer there either,

I wouldn't touch Jake White with a 10 foot pole. He hasn't been near international rugby in 13 years and what I've seen of his club sides in that time isn't what I want for our national team, we're so much better than that.

There aren't many stand out, proven international coaches around so we might have to take a punt on someone new when the time comes. Who knows, perhaps someone like Pat Lam will have shown himself worthy of taking that shot or maybe Dave Rennie will have resurrected Australia and we can tempt him with sufficient cash?

I'll be surprised if Baxter ever wants the job, I think he's very wise to the difference between Prem DoR and national head coach.

I think people might just need to accept that every international coach has 'blind spots', stubbornness and some players that they just won't drop. How long did Lancaster persist with Mouritz Botha or Brad Barritt? How long did Martin Johnson pick that godawful pairing of Hape and Tindall? The less said about Brian Ashton's selections the better.

At least under Jones, England have played some attractive rugby once or twice and won a couple of trophies.

[duke]

Heinz injured, Mitchell called up. And Eddie's been talking Furbank up as a 10 option

I'd be interested to know how far Ben Spencer has slipped down the pecking order in Eddie's mind and why given his recent form.

[Saint]

Heinz injured, Mitchell called up. And Eddie's been talking Furbank up as a 10 option

Oh no, what a shame.

Furbank at 10 sounds like Nowell at 7, something Eddie says to amuse himself at how many column inches it'll drive.

Furbank has at least started at 10 for Saints

[SaintK]

Heinz injured, Mitchell called up. And Eddie's been talking Furbank up as a 10 option

Well at least that means one of the Prem form scrum halves, Robson, will get some game time

[Kawazaki]

Heinz injured, Mitchell called up. And Eddie's been talking Furbank up as a 10 option

Where does that mean Jones ranks Spencer then?

Youngs
Heinz
Robson
Mitchell
Care
Jack Nowell
A Curry brother
James Haskell
You
His dog


Daylight


Ben Spencer

[sockwithaticket]

Fuck knows.

While he doesn't owe anybody an explanation, for such a high profile omission like Spencer, I think it'd be nice for Eddie to directly address it and give those of us who care some semblance of a clue as to why an ostensibly excellent player can't be involved. Even if we think it's bollocks at least we'd know and be more likely to shut up about it (maybe).

[sockwithaticket]

Heinz injured, Mitchell called up. And Eddie's been talking Furbank up as a 10 option

Well at least that means one of the Prem form scrum halves, Robson, will get some game time

I hope you're right, but I vividly remember Robson picking up splinters during the 2019 6N even in games we'd won. Think he had 30 minutes across the whole tournament, maybe less.

[Kawazaki]

Fuck knows.

While he doesn't owe anybody an explanation, for such a high profile omission like Spencer, I think it'd be nice for Eddie to directly address it and give those of us who care some semblance of a clue as to why an ostensibly excellent player can't be involved. Even if we think it's bollocks at least we'd know and be more likely to shut up about it (maybe).

Has any player that he says he's 'had a few words with' who hasn't been picked ever gone public on the type of crap he tells them?

"Hey Spencie, it's me Eddie. Listen maaaate, you didn't make it this time, your not doing what I want my halfback to do. You need to get to rucks much slower and dither more when you get there. Then when you pick up the ball run slowly across then throw the ball above and behind the bloke your aiming for, geddit maaate? And try to lose a few more yards a pace will you cobber, you're too quick"

[Raggs]

Given age profiles it may be he decided to only bother with one of Robson/Spencer.

Don't see any point in talking about replacing Eddie yet. But definitely wouldn't want someone with 0 international experience.

[Glaston]

Could the RFU afford to replace Jones?

The amount they would have to fork out to pay off his contract would not be cheap.

Cost of bringing in new coach mid RWC cycle would not be cheap especially if they wanted to bring in their own underlings.

All told it would cost multi millions, which RFU doesnt have.




England have lost 1 game since a a RWC final , its a bit early to be talking of a replacement.

[Paddington Bear]

I really don't get the obsession with replacing Eddie. We've been consistently pretty strong under him and his main foible - some odd selections - has been a foible of every England coach I can think of (as outlined above).
Moreover, who is out there who'll do better? I don't like the thought of us chewing up Baxter, if he even wanted the job.
There's a good chance we'll win the 6N Saturday to follow up being world cup finalists, he's doing a good job.

[sockwithaticket]

Fuck knows.

While he doesn't owe anybody an explanation, for such a high profile omission like Spencer, I think it'd be nice for Eddie to directly address it and give those of us who care some semblance of a clue as to why an ostensibly excellent player can't be involved. Even if we think it's bollocks at least we'd know and be more likely to shut up about it (maybe).

Has any player that he says he's 'had a few words with' who hasn't been picked ever gone public on the type of crap he tells them?

"Hey Spencie, it's me Eddie. Listen maaaate, you didn't make it this time, your not doing what I want my halfback to do. You need to get to rucks much slower and dither more when you get there. Then when you pick up the ball run slowly across then throw the ball above and behind the bloke your aiming for, geddit maaate? And try to lose a few more yards a pace will you cobber, you're too quick"

The only one I can recall is Tom Youngs saying Eddie told him to work on his carrying which, given that it's one of the few things that particular Youngs had over his competition (for a time anyway), sounds like Eddie just didn't want him around and couldn't be fucked with that conversation.

[ASMO]

Well here is the team

[ASMO]

Hill gets first cap, Youngs in to stink the place out, and Furbank in despite being so far off form its a joke, Slade will provide all the defensive frailties we need in the midfield.

[Lobby]

Hill gets first cap, Youngs in to stink the place out, and Furbank in despite being so far off form its a joke, Slade will provide all the defensive frailties we need in the midfield.

its a proper back row though, with the Curry and Underhill restored to their most effective positions.

[sockwithaticket]

I wanted to see Willis, Underhill and Curry in the same back row, but I knew that Billy would play. A little surprised Willis isn't in the 23.

Slade at 12 is interesting. Looking at his physique and skillset, it really should be a good position for him, but there's a reason Exeter have basically used him exclusively at 13 for a while.

Thought Ewels would start alongside Itoje as he's a lineout caller isn't he?

We can only hope Furbank was tearing it up in training otherwise 11. May 14. Thorley. 15. Watson would have been the better call.


Very excited to see an England game again after so many months.

[Ovals]

How on earth does Willis not make the 23 - unbelievable.

Furbank

[SaintK]

I wanted to see Willis, Underhill and Curry in the same back row, but I knew that Billy would play. A little surprised Willis isn't in the 23.

Slade at 12 is interesting. Looking at his physique and skillset, it really should be a good position for him, but there's a reason Exeter have basically used him exclusively at 13 for a while.

Thought Ewels would start alongside Itoje as he's a lineout caller isn't he?

We can only hope Furbank was tearing it up in training otherwise 11. May 14. Thorley. 15. Watson would have been the better call.


Very excited to see an England game again after so many months.

I'm sure you will at some stage this Autumn
Furbank's selection is as almost surprising as Spencer's non selection

[ASMO]

I want to see Thorley get a run, Furbank gets pulled early for being shite, drop Watson to FB and bring Thorley on.

[Random1]

So, Jonny Hill. He going to be a good partner for Maro?

What does he bring to the party?

Haven’t watched much rugby in the last 18 months due to work and a new baby eating all my fucking time - so I’m out of the loop on him.