The Official English Rugby Thread

[Happyhooker]

Gopperth off to Leicester at the end of the season.

Bollocks.

Maybe we really do have money problems

[ASMO]

Marchant out with Covid now too, its gonna be Slade and Daly in the centers.

[Raggs]

Gopperth off to Leicester at the end of the season.

Bollocks.

Maybe we really do have money problems

We're bringing in Koch, can't imagine we're completely strapped for cash.

[Lobby]

So all this hoohah about ITV showing one Prem match free to air each weekend
It's the same match as showing on BT Sport so still only one match being shown in all today
So just Sale v Tigers and no Wasps v Saracens

Even if it was the same game as BT showed, being on terrestrial tv clearly had an impact

Sunday’s Premiership game between Sale and Leicester is understood to have pulled in a peak audience of more than 700,000 on ITV.

On Monday, Sale recorded a 1,000 per cent rise in online searches for the club, compared to the previous week, alongside a surge in ticket sales.

[JM2K6]

As many as ten people searched for Sale Sharks!

[Margin__Walker]

Squad cut down to 29 today

[Happyhooker]

Quirke home as well apparently

Edit. Shit, I can't read, sorry, but that annoyed me

[Oxbow]

Does that mean Ewels will be starting

[Madness]

Eddie random selection generator activated once more

So 29 is (out of match day squad prediction)

Marler, Genge, Rodd
George, LCD, Blamire
Sinks, Stuar
Itoje, Ewels, Isiekwe, Chessum
Curry, Dombrandt, Simmonds, Ludlam

Youngs, Randall
Smith, Ford

Atkinson, Daly, Slade, Marchant (in squad still but out with COVID?)

Nowell, Steward, Malins, Furbank, Hassell-Collins,

[Margin__Walker]

Does that mean Ewels will be starting

Yep. He'll probably be made captain for shits and giggles.

[sockwithaticket]

Does that mean Ewels will be starting

He doesn't have to with Isiekwe and Chessum still there, but it does seem likely.

Christ we miss Launchbury and Kruis. Launch is probably a long way off being ready too. Blackett's trying to be good about managing the game time of players returning from injury and so only gave him 40 minutes at the weekend.

[Madness]

And the traditional unavailable/injured/once looked weirdly at Eddie 23 man squad

Vunipola
Singleton
Brookes
Launchbury
Kruis
Lawes
Willis
Billy
Robson
Farrell
Radwan
Lozowski
Manu
Watson
De Glanville

Dunn, Obano, Williams, Earl, Curry, Quirke/Care, Simmonds, May

[sockwithaticket]

And the traditional unavailable/injured/once looked weirdly at Eddie 23 man squad

Vunipola
Singleton
Brookes
Launchbury
Kruis
Lawes
Willis
Billy
Robson
Farrell
Radwan
Lozowski
Manu
Watson
De Glanville

Dunn, Obano, Williams, Earl, Curry, Quirke/Care, Simmonds, May

Swap Freeman for De Glanville.

Tasty looking back five of the pack and back line (Farrell at 10 aside).

[Kawazaki]

So once again, a player ignored and then brought in by Jones as an injury replacement is preferred to the original selection.

This grifter has been winging it for years.

[Ovals]

Shame we aren't going to see Barbeary causing havoc off the bench - but Wasps will be glad to have him back.

Edit - seems Eddie has broken him - slight hamstring issue.

[Happyhooker]

Shame we aren't going to see Barbeary causing havoc off the bench - but Wasps will be glad to have him back.

Edit - seems Eddie has broken him - slight hamstring issue.

Oh just fuck off. Really?

Now, much as I've argued with toga re eddie, his training methods suck. And wasps seem to bear more than their fair share of it.

Cunt

[sockwithaticket]

Shame we aren't going to see Barbeary causing havoc off the bench - but Wasps will be glad to have him back.

Edit - seems Eddie has broken him - slight hamstring issue.

Lee Blackett voiced this specific concern when he was called up.

Eddie obviously has his exacting training standards, but you'd think you might go a little easier on a kid who's only a couple of months back from a loooong lay off.

Would've been nice to have him back this week and not need to pad the back row out with a hooker and a lock again.

[JM2K6]

I don't think Eddie can be blamed specifically for Wasps players being made of glass and matchsticks, but it does appear that he doesn't give a shit about his meatgrinder camps and probably justifies it as "well it's better than them being injured during the game maaaaate"

[Crash669]

What's the word on Quirke, injured or has Eddie decided he can't have someone showing up his beloved Ben?

I was quite looking forward to this match but Eddie's selections and breaking players just drains my enthusiasm.

[geordie_6]

What's the word on Quirke, injured or has Eddie decided he can't have someone showing up his beloved Ben?

I was quite looking forward to this match but Eddie's selections and breaking players just drains my enthusiasm.

My thinking on Quirke was that he's been deemed 3rd choice behind Beloved Ben and Rapid Randall. Not seen any mention anywhere of an injury.

[Margin__Walker]

U20s team for Scotland on Friday night. Will be streamed on iPlayer

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... ons-opener

England Men's U20 Team

15. Henry Arundell (London Irish)
14. Deago Bailey (Bristol Bears)
13. Tom Litchfield (Northampton Saints)
12. Ethan Grayson (Northampton Saints)
11. Ollie Dawkins (Wasps)
10. Louie Johnson (Newcastle Falcons)
9. Tom Carr-Smith (Bath Rugby)
1. Mark Dormer (Newcastle Falcons)
2. John Stewart (Bath Rugby)
3. Mikey Summerfield (London Irish)
4. Alfie Bell (Wasps)
5. Tom Lockett (Northampton Saints)
6. Alex Wardell (Saracens)
7. Kofi Cripps (Wasps)
8. Toby Knight (Saracens)

Replacements

16. Jasper Spandler (Bath Rugby)
17. Will Hobson (Harlequins)
18. Robin Hardwick (Wasps)
19. Charlie Rice (Bristol Bears)
20. Gregg Fisilau (Wasps)
21. Matty Jones (Gloucester Rugby)
22. Jamie Benson (Harlequins)
23. George Hendy (Northampton Saints)

[inactionman]

U20s team for Scotland on Friday night. Will be streamed on iPlayer

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... ons-opener

England Men's U20 Team

15. Henry Arundell (London Irish)
14. Deago Bailey (Bristol Bears)
13. Tom Litchfield (Northampton Saints)
12. Ethan Grayson (Northampton Saints)
11. Ollie Dawkins (Wasps)
10. Louie Johnson (Newcastle Falcons)
9. Tom Carr-Smith (Bath Rugby)
1. Mark Dormer (Newcastle Falcons)
2. John Stewart (Bath Rugby)
3. Mikey Summerfield (London Irish)
4. Alfie Bell (Wasps)
5. Tom Lockett (Northampton Saints)
6. Alex Wardell (Saracens)
7. Kofi Cripps (Wasps)
8. Toby Knight (Saracens)

Replacements

16. Jasper Spandler (Bath Rugby)
17. Will Hobson (Harlequins)
18. Robin Hardwick (Wasps)
19. Charlie Rice (Bristol Bears)
20. Gregg Fisilau (Wasps)
21. Matty Jones (Gloucester Rugby)
22. Jamie Benson (Harlequins)
23. George Hendy (Northampton Saints)

Just because of the name, Jasper Spandler is my new favourite player.

[Margin__Walker]

Kofi Cripps a close second for me

[Happyhooker]

I don't think Eddie can be blamed specifically for Wasps players being made of glass and matchsticks, but it does appear that he doesn't give a shit about his meatgrinder camps and probably justifies it as "well it's better than them being injured during the game maaaaate"

Now now, don't be nasty

[sockwithaticket]

Not a fun name, but I'm excited to see Alfie Bell. We could do with a little more depth at lock with both Gaskell and Launch tending to miss chunks of the season and Fifita leaving.

[Oxbow]

From his relatively few outings in a Saints shirt Tom Litchfield already looks good enough to play with the big boys. Don't know too much about the other Saints lads, they've mostly been farmed out to Bedford.

[Margin__Walker]

Arundell is a lot of fun to watch, Bailey looked good last year and Johnson seems pretty highly rated as well.

Pack's mostly an unknown quantity for me though, so we'll see what happens.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

I don't think Eddie can be blamed specifically for Wasps players being made of glass and matchsticks, but it does appear that he doesn't give a shit about his meatgrinder camps and probably justifies it as "well it's better than them being injured during the game maaaaate"

Now now, don't be nasty

To Wasps or Eddie?

On the Eddie front he has little choice but to try and up the relative intensity/pace of the players in England training, physically and decision making wise. If we don't want him to do that we need to cut a chunk elsewhere from the playing schedule and give the players time to work on conditioning more outside England camps. Or just accept we'll have performance issues in test matches, and he'll have noticed people don't sing his praises when the team loses

It's still not an ideal situation in England, for club or country, it's also a lot better than it used to be as regards player access and managing their demands

[Happyhooker]

I don't think Eddie can be blamed specifically for Wasps players being made of glass and matchsticks, but it does appear that he doesn't give a shit about his meatgrinder camps and probably justifies it as "well it's better than them being injured during the game maaaaate"

Now now, don't be nasty

To Wasps or Eddie?

On the Eddie front he has little choice but to try and up the relative intensity/pace of the players in England training, physically and decision making wise. If we don't want him to do that we need to cut a chunk elsewhere from the playing schedule and give the players time to work on conditioning more outside England camps. Or just accept we'll have performance issues in test matches, and he'll have noticed people don't sing his praises when the team loses

It's still not an ideal situation in England, for club or country, it's also a lot better than it used to be as regards player access and managing their demands

Wasps, I was just reacting to JMK's dig

[JM2K6]

Now now, don't be nasty

To Wasps or Eddie?

On the Eddie front he has little choice but to try and up the relative intensity/pace of the players in England training, physically and decision making wise. If we don't want him to do that we need to cut a chunk elsewhere from the playing schedule and give the players time to work on conditioning more outside England camps. Or just accept we'll have performance issues in test matches, and he'll have noticed people don't sing his praises when the team loses

It's still not an ideal situation in England, for club or country, it's also a lot better than it used to be as regards player access and managing their demands

Wasps, I was just reacting to JMK's dig

Am I wrong tho

[JM2K6]

I don't think Eddie can be blamed specifically for Wasps players being made of glass and matchsticks, but it does appear that he doesn't give a shit about his meatgrinder camps and probably justifies it as "well it's better than them being injured during the game maaaaate"

Now now, don't be nasty

To Wasps or Eddie?

On the Eddie front he has little choice but to try and up the relative intensity/pace of the players in England training, physically and decision making wise. If we don't want him to do that we need to cut a chunk elsewhere from the playing schedule and give the players time to work on conditioning more outside England camps. Or just accept we'll have performance issues in test matches, and he'll have noticed people don't sing his praises when the team loses

It's still not an ideal situation in England, for club or country, it's also a lot better than it used to be as regards player access and managing their demands

Do you think what Eddie is doing is in line with all the other international coaches?

[Hal Jordan]

At least he gives them a trip to the seaside.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

Now now, don't be nasty

To Wasps or Eddie?

On the Eddie front he has little choice but to try and up the relative intensity/pace of the players in England training, physically and decision making wise. If we don't want him to do that we need to cut a chunk elsewhere from the playing schedule and give the players time to work on conditioning more outside England camps. Or just accept we'll have performance issues in test matches, and he'll have noticed people don't sing his praises when the team loses

It's still not an ideal situation in England, for club or country, it's also a lot better than it used to be as regards player access and managing their demands

Do you think what Eddie is doing is in line with all the other international coaches?

I think other international coaches are working from a slightly different system. The most approximate is France, they have been a little behind us on the conditioning but presently are ahead on power, and maybe with their younger squad and the influence of Galthie and Edwards they're happier working on conditioning too.

I think Eddie, or any England boss, as things stand has an issue. I don't want to say Eddie has found the best answer or he shouldn't be criticised, merely the lack of fitness in our team does get shown up on the test stage and I certainly understand why he's doing what he does.

It is I accept easier for me not to worry about the impact on the clubs given I don't support a Premiership side, still, it does rather look like if he wasn't acting as he does Eddie would instead be getting it in the neck for what would be a still more apparent lack of fitness.

[sockwithaticket]

To Wasps or Eddie?

On the Eddie front he has little choice but to try and up the relative intensity/pace of the players in England training, physically and decision making wise. If we don't want him to do that we need to cut a chunk elsewhere from the playing schedule and give the players time to work on conditioning more outside England camps. Or just accept we'll have performance issues in test matches, and he'll have noticed people don't sing his praises when the team loses

It's still not an ideal situation in England, for club or country, it's also a lot better than it used to be as regards player access and managing their demands

Do you think what Eddie is doing is in line with all the other international coaches?

I think other international coaches are working from a slightly different system. The most approximate is France, they have been a little behind us on the conditioning but presently are ahead on power, and maybe with their younger squad and the influence of Galthie and Edwards they're happier working on conditioning too.

I think Eddie, or any England boss, as things stand has an issue. I don't want to say Eddie has found the best answer or he shouldn't be criticised, merely the lack of fitness in our team does get shown up on the test stage and I certainly understand why he's doing what he does.

It is I accept easier for me not to worry about the impact on the clubs given I don't support a Premiership side, still, it does rather look like if he wasn't acting as he does Eddie would instead be getting it in the neck for what would be a still more apparent lack of fitness.

When and how?

I can't think of any time under the previous regime where we looked notably less fit than our opposition nor under Eddie when he's basically been working with scratch teams he hasn't had much time to beast in training (Baabaas game and Lions summer tour sides).

I don't think Leinster players are any fitter than, say, their Saracens or Exeter counterparts. They might be better rested due to their almost unrivalled depth , better coached and benefit from an environment with a very high concentration of test players driving standards, but fitter? No.

[Kawazaki]

I don't think Eddie can be blamed specifically for Wasps players being made of glass and matchsticks, but it does appear that he doesn't give a shit about his meatgrinder camps and probably justifies it as "well it's better than them being injured during the game maaaaate"

Now now, don't be nasty

To Wasps or Eddie?

On the Eddie front he has little choice but to try and up the relative intensity/pace of the players in England training, physically and decision making wise. If we don't want him to do that we need to cut a chunk elsewhere from the playing schedule and give the players time to work on conditioning more outside England camps. Or just accept we'll have performance issues in test matches, and he'll have noticed people don't sing his praises when the team loses

It's still not an ideal situation in England, for club or country, it's also a lot better than it used to be as regards player access and managing their demands

Eh? Do you think the Scottish and Welsh players who play in the Premiership look off the pace when they play test rugby?

[geordie_6]

15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)

14. Max Malins (Saracens, 10 caps)

13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 52 caps)

12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 43 caps)

11. Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 7 caps)

10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 5 caps)

9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 112 caps)

1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 31 caps)

2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 31 caps)

3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 47 caps)

4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 51 caps)

5. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 3 caps)

6. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)

7. Tom Curry (c) (Sale Sharks, 36 caps)

8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps)

Finishers

16. Jamie George (Saracens, 61 caps)

17. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 74 caps)

18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 15 caps)

19. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 26 caps)

20. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 4 caps)

21. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 2 caps)

22. George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 77 caps)

23. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 34 caps)

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... names-side

[sockwithaticket]

Said it in the match thread, that's a better back line selection than I'd feared.

Pack is what it is given the lock situation. I feel Ludlam's a bit lucky to be there tbh.

A sensible 5 - 3 split on the bench is a good thing.

[Crash669]

That could have been a lot worse. Obviously Youngs at 9 continues in spite of better options, but that's one of the most sensible teams Eddie's chosen.

[Paddington Bear]

Has there ever been someone with a more anonymous 26 caps than Ewels?

[ASMO]

I would argue that Englands bin juice is better than Scotlands bin juice, there is where the game will be won i think.