International Rugby

[PaulWinch again]

I think we will improve. Ball carrying and quick ball is the key.

[cheltenhamlion]

Playing Robson would be a start.

[PaulWinch again]

I think any scrum half would have struggled on Saturday.

[nigel]

No George Kruis, injury?

Backs: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Danny Care (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

Forwards: Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs).

[paul_e]

No George Kruis, injury?

Backs: Mike Brown (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Danny Care (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

Forwards: Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs).

I think it's just that there's 4 top class locks in the squad and you have to leave 1 out so it's his turn this week.  He didn't have a great game either which won't have helped.  Lozowski is pretty unlucky to be sent back though, he improved us last week.

I agree with Chelts on Robson, I've said in plenty of times but I think Youngs is a weak link in this squad.  He can have moments of brilliance but too often he's flat footed, indecisive and ponderous when there isn't a gap for him to hit, it's like his brain works quickly when there's a chance for him to be the star but if he can't spot that gap he's just happy to keep it slow and steady.  That's why we look much more fluid when Care comes on because Ford is suddenly getting ball with time to pick options.

[Dante Lavelli]

shouldn't the familiarity of Young > Ford be worth building on?  It's one relationship that should already exist and not, therefore, need to be developed during England training camps?

When there's a gnat's breath between the that and the alternative I'd suggest that is a plus/justification.

[UK Redsox]

France to host 2023 RWC

[cheltenhamlion]

France to host 2023 RWC

Are they hosting it all over Europe again?

[paul_e]

France to host 2023 RWC

Are they hosting it all over Europe again?

From the final proposal yes, all 9 venues are in France - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Rugby_World_Cup#France

As it says there were 19 in the original list and I think that included a couple of Italian cities but they were quickly removed because they decided to focus on 'brand France' as their draw for it.

SA are aggrieved over the whole thing having come marginally ahead on the recommendation but I suspect that the withdrawal of the Durban commonwealth games has played a big part in that decision.

[nigel]

France to host 2023 RWC

Are they hosting it all over Europe again?

From the final proposal yes, all 9 venues are in France - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Rugby_World_Cup#France

As it says there were 19 in the original list and I think that included a couple of Italian cities but they were quickly removed because they decided to focus on 'brand France' as their draw for it.

SA are aggrieved over the whole thing having come marginally ahead on the recommendation but I suspect that the withdrawal of the Durban commonwealth games has played a big part in that decision.

Quite right, too, imo.

What's this a bout Durban? Must have missed that

[UK Redsox]

Assuming that the 2027 RWC goes to the southern hemisphere, I suspect that 2031 will be USA/Canada.

After that, maybe Ireland could anchor a pan-European bid with games also in Scotland, Italy, Georgia and Romania

[paul_e]

France to host 2023 RWC

Are they hosting it all over Europe again?

From the final proposal yes, all 9 venues are in France - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Rugby_World_Cup#France

As it says there were 19 in the original list and I think that included a couple of Italian cities but they were quickly removed because they decided to focus on 'brand France' as their draw for it.

SA are aggrieved over the whole thing having come marginally ahead on the recommendation but I suspect that the withdrawal of the Durban commonwealth games has played a big part in that decision.

Quite right, too, imo.

What's this a bout Durban? Must have missed that

http://www.espn.co.uk/athletics/story/_/id/18903981/durban-stripped-2022-commonwealth-games

I can't believe that something like that won't have been in the minds of the board when it came to the vote but it is only a guess.

[PaulWinch again]

Itoje on the bench? really?!

[paul_e]

I think there's 2 sides to that.  First is that Jones doesn't want to over use him (and he's said as much today) but the other is that the direct replacement for him in the team is Lawes, who's the form player in English rugby right now (in my opinion).  I still think that Robshaw is the one who will be really worried because Jones clearly rates Lawes and Itoje massively but wants a bit of extra bulk in the 2nd row early on.  Give Lauchbury or Kruis an hour at 4 with Itoje at 6 then move him forward for a back rower.  It means you can have Hughes and Simmonds/Clifford as your bench (assuming Vunipola starts) to bring on 2 destructive ball carriers which fits the whole 'finishers' approach.  Robshaw's real trump card is his work rate, but Lawes and Itoje easily match him on that and bring so much more threat with ball in hand, both in terms of power and technical skills.  I think once that change happens we'll be seeing the pack that he takes to the world cup.  The only question mark left is at Hooker but whilst Hartley and George are both playing well there's not much reason to change things around, especially with Hartley doing a great job as captain.

[Dante Lavelli]

I think once that change happens we'll be seeing the pack that he takes to the world cup.  The only question mark left is at Hooker but whilst Hartley and George are both playing well there's not much reason to change things around, especially with Hartley doing a great job as captain.

I saw something last week that said, from Wednesday, Jones hands over training to the captain and 9 and ten(s) [presumably including Farrell too].  Nothing was divulged about what that means in practice but it does emphasise the significance of having a captain that he trusts and possibly why Hartley gets selected ahead of George.