Soldato
- Joined
- 13 May 2003
- Posts
- 8,939
Obviously anyone reading this thread will have noticed the new England squad has been announced.
Backs:
Mike Brown (Harlequins),
Alex Goode (Saracens),
Chris Ashton (Saracens),
Jack Nowell (Exeter),
Anthony Watson (Bath),
Marland Yarde (Harlequins),
Elliot Daly (Wasps),
Ollie Devoto (Bath) (injury replacement for Manu Tuilagi, Leicester),
Jonathan Joseph (Bath),
Sam Hill (Exeter) (injury replacement for Henry Slade, Exeter)
Owen Farrell (Saracens),
George Ford (Bath),
Danny Care (Harlequins),
Ben Youngs (Leicester)
Forwards:
Dan Cole (Leicester),
Paul Hill (Northampton),
Matt Mullan (Wasps),
Joe Marler (Harlequins),
Henry Thomas (Bath) (injury replacement for Kieran Brookes,
Northampton), Mako Vunipola (Saracens),
Luke Cowan Dickie (Exeter),
Jamie George (Saracens),
Dylan Hartley,
Maro Itoje (Saracens),
George Kruis (Saracens),
Joe Launchbury (Wasps),
Courtney Lawes (Northampton),
Josh Beaumont (Sale),
Jack Clifford (Harlequins),
James Haskell (Wasps),
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins),
Matt Kvesic (Gloucester) (injury replacement for Dave Ewers, Exeter),
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Not a bad squad in general. I don’t watch a lot of Premiership Rugby mostly the highlights and what I pick up in the newspapers, so I’m no expert.
A few surprises for me, Hartley in but T Youngs out. Many commentators are saying Youngs is in fantastic form and often makes the team of the week, Hartley has barely played and hasn’t shown much in either offering added to which he is a liability.
Cole appears to be living off reputation, he is a good all round tighhead but gives too many penalties away and he is not destructive at the scrum to offset that.
I’ve yet to rate Marlon Yarde looks good going forward but inept in defence and not a kick chaser.
I don’t know enough about the new back row changes, but Josh Beaumont has caught the eye and Clifford and Kvesic seem to be making waves so no arguments there.
I’m surprised there is no third scrum half think this position is far too critical to enter the 6 nations with only one. Cipriani’s omission is no surprise. He’ll come in as injury cover , I’d like to see him get a chance and show if his recent promise of the last 2 seasons can translate. I think it will but he requires an opportunity which he has been denied thus far.
I’m looking forward to the other nations squads but France aside I expect less surprises, although I’m not sure how Ireland will respond to their regions recent poor performances.
Backs:
Mike Brown (Harlequins),
Alex Goode (Saracens),
Chris Ashton (Saracens),
Jack Nowell (Exeter),
Anthony Watson (Bath),
Marland Yarde (Harlequins),
Elliot Daly (Wasps),
Ollie Devoto (Bath) (injury replacement for Manu Tuilagi, Leicester),
Jonathan Joseph (Bath),
Sam Hill (Exeter) (injury replacement for Henry Slade, Exeter)
Owen Farrell (Saracens),
George Ford (Bath),
Danny Care (Harlequins),
Ben Youngs (Leicester)
Forwards:
Dan Cole (Leicester),
Paul Hill (Northampton),
Matt Mullan (Wasps),
Joe Marler (Harlequins),
Henry Thomas (Bath) (injury replacement for Kieran Brookes,
Northampton), Mako Vunipola (Saracens),
Luke Cowan Dickie (Exeter),
Jamie George (Saracens),
Dylan Hartley,
Maro Itoje (Saracens),
George Kruis (Saracens),
Joe Launchbury (Wasps),
Courtney Lawes (Northampton),
Josh Beaumont (Sale),
Jack Clifford (Harlequins),
James Haskell (Wasps),
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins),
Matt Kvesic (Gloucester) (injury replacement for Dave Ewers, Exeter),
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Not a bad squad in general. I don’t watch a lot of Premiership Rugby mostly the highlights and what I pick up in the newspapers, so I’m no expert.
A few surprises for me, Hartley in but T Youngs out. Many commentators are saying Youngs is in fantastic form and often makes the team of the week, Hartley has barely played and hasn’t shown much in either offering added to which he is a liability.
Cole appears to be living off reputation, he is a good all round tighhead but gives too many penalties away and he is not destructive at the scrum to offset that.
I’ve yet to rate Marlon Yarde looks good going forward but inept in defence and not a kick chaser.
I don’t know enough about the new back row changes, but Josh Beaumont has caught the eye and Clifford and Kvesic seem to be making waves so no arguments there.
I’m surprised there is no third scrum half think this position is far too critical to enter the 6 nations with only one. Cipriani’s omission is no surprise. He’ll come in as injury cover , I’d like to see him get a chance and show if his recent promise of the last 2 seasons can translate. I think it will but he requires an opportunity which he has been denied thus far.
I’m looking forward to the other nations squads but France aside I expect less surprises, although I’m not sure how Ireland will respond to their regions recent poor performances.
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