Rugby Winter International Squads

rotters

rotters

rotters

Soldato
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Location
Hayle, Cornwall
So its been announced. what are your thoughts?

England Senior Squad (33)

Loose-head props
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Matt Mullan (Wasps)

Tight-head props
Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)

Hookers
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Rob Webber (Bath Rugby)

Locks
Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)

Back rows
Calum Clark (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, captain)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)

Scrum halves
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Fly halves
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Stephen Myler (Northampton Saints)

Centres
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints)
Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)

Back threes
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby)
Marland Yarde (Harlequins)

The following players will not be available for the 2014 QBE Internationals: Alex Corbisiero (shoulder), Dan Cole (neck), Tom Croft (knee), Tom Johnson (neck), Geoff Parling (concussion), Chris Pennell (groin), Ed Slater (knee), Mako Vunipola (knee), Tom Youngs (shoulder).


im really surprised that billy twelvetrees has been included and that foden has been left out. wouldnt have brought in goode either. Roko on the wing will be a blast.


rotters
 
As a Welshman I'm having nightmares about Phillips and Preistland Starting the first game but you never really know with Gatland. As a (not so) neutral, I say pack the backs with Bath Players, much rather see Ford at 10 to Farrell.
 
By and large I think the England squad is good no real upsets, I haven't seen any of the others yet.
I would have chosen Cipriani over Myler who is capable but not international standard for me.
Yarde is in but I think he is a flat track bully, looks good going forward but a liability everywhere else, I think May and Nowell are far more rounded and capable players.
I would like to have seen Foden included, he is in blistering form and a proven international, Goode is included to cover Farrell and Barrit's percieved weaknesses which is a funny premise for me. I have a feeling Brown should be dropped if his form doesnt recover not least to keep the squad competitive.
 
Twelvetrees has been atrocious for Glaws this season and shouldn't be in the squad, Cips really should be there instead of Myler, Foden instead of Goode and wtf does Wade have to do to get in :mad:

Starting Centres need to be Eastmond & Burrell or at a push Joseph instead of Burrell (for the team understanding). I really hope Corbs is fit for the World Cup because loosehead looks extremely weak of options right now.
 
Commentary isn't much better either.

It would help new fans understand what's going on if they had a commentator who actually knew what was going on...
 
Just watched the first half, unsurprising that the AB's cut through the Eagles but otherwise the US fronted up well. For most of those players it will be the only truly first class game they ever play. I think it is good for them to occasionally be exposed to those standards.
 
England team: Brown; Rokoduguni, Barritt, Eastmond, May; Farrell, Care; Marler, Hartley, Wilson, Attwood, Lawes, Wood, Robshaw, Vunipola.

Replacements: Webber, Mullan, Brookes, Kruis, Morgan, B Youngs, Ford, Watson.

New Zealand team: I Dagg; B Smith, C Smith, S B Williams, J Savea; A Cruden, A Smith; W Crockett, D Coles, O Franks, B Retallick, S Whitelock, J Kaino, R McCaw (capt), K Read.

Replacements: K Mealamu, B Franks, C Faumuina, P Tuiipulotu, L Messam, T J Perenara, B Barrett, R Crotty.

lots of hype for this game, Im really looking forward to it.
 
I can't wait for this game! I really like the look of the England team, it'll be really interesting to see what Kyle Eastmond does in the centres and how Rokoduguni is on the wing.

The front row is a weak spot I feel, but hopefully Corbisiero, Vunipola and Cole will be fit again for 2015. Much as it pains me to say this as a Quins fan, I think Marler will struggle against the All Blacks, but I'll be rooting for him all the same.

Farrell is the really interesting choice here, he's barely had any game time, and must have been on incredible form in training to oust Ford who has been playing out of his skin for Bath.
 
Read Austin Healey's match up on Telegraph website and he reckoned Dave Atwood was a match for Brodie Retallick. One is a fringe England player the other has won 30 caps in 2 years for the Worlds best team. Healey can't watch much Kiwi rugby.

I'm off to Twickers tomorrow so hoping for a good game but wouldn't bet money on an England win.
 
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