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Author Topic: International Rugby  (Read 381759 times)

Offline nigel

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #2415 on: September 20, 2018, 12:39:59 PM »
Yes, thought that was odd. Eddie said he only wanted two in this session.
Interesting squad.

Offline paul_e

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #2416 on: September 20, 2018, 09:37:43 PM »
Interesting squad but leaving Cipriani out (and suggesting he's 3rd or 4th choice) is as baffling as his continued reluctance to select Robson was.

Aside from that I see little point in recalling Ashton and, for me, Schonert and Rhodes are bizarre selections, the former is an average prop in a poor team who's started the season badly and the latter is a 30 year old who could barely get a start for his club side until about 6 months ago and hasn't bene anything special since then. I don't think Lozowski or Earle have earned their spots either. He's starting to piss me off now with this and I'm expecting a pretty poor run this autumn. I'd hoped the 6N was the kick up the arse he and the squad needed but he's gone straight back to making the same mistakes again after starting to see the problem in SA.

At it's most basic we're not good enough in open play defence, kick chase and turning the ball over so why pick 9s and 10s who kick the ball away so much?

Offline DaveD

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #2417 on: September 21, 2018, 12:29:35 AM »
To give the Saracens angle, Lozowski was very good against Newcastle in week 1, and was forced to play in four different positions against Bristol due to multiple injuries in the back line. He didn't start against Northampton, which I assume was an injury but may have been McCall having half an eye on the Autumn internationals. Rhodes missed most of last season with injury, having been an absolute stalwart in the back-to-back European wins. Whether that's enough for either to get a spot in this squad is indeed debatable, but I would definitely have Loz in. Rhodes, on age grounds, not so much.

Outside of the parochial, I am disappointed about Cipriani, whom I rate over Ford, pleased Robson is finally getting a look, surprised at the missing Exeter contingent, and mortified about the lack of breakdown specialists. I share your frustration Paul - he must know where the problem is, I don't understand why he thinks the same group of players can fix it despite all evidence to the contrary.

Offline paul_e

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #2418 on: September 21, 2018, 01:23:39 AM »
To give the Saracens angle, Lozowski was very good against Newcastle in week 1, and was forced to play in four different positions against Bristol due to multiple injuries in the back line. He didn't start against Northampton, which I assume was an injury but may have been McCall having half an eye on the Autumn internationals. Rhodes missed most of last season with injury, having been an absolute stalwart in the back-to-back European wins. Whether that's enough for either to get a spot in this squad is indeed debatable, but I would definitely have Loz in. Rhodes, on age grounds, not so much.

Outside of the parochial, I am disappointed about Cipriani, whom I rate over Ford, pleased Robson is finally getting a look, surprised at the missing Exeter contingent, and mortified about the lack of breakdown specialists. I share your frustration Paul - he must know where the problem is, I don't understand why he thinks the same group of players can fix it despite all evidence to the contrary.

Rhodes, I just don't think is any better than 5-6 blindsides in the league, solid club player but just doesn't look international standard to me. At the very simplest I'd pick Simmonds, Kvesic and Armand all ahead of him and that's just looking at 1 club (I'd definitely have Ludlow ahead of him as well).

Lozowski is different, he has loads of potential but I think he's too hit and miss to be picked ahead of someone like Marchant or Trinder. More importantly I don't think he's picked a single decent 12 so he's quite clearly banking on Farrell there again which raises a major concern for me that we'll end up with a lot of backs who's main job is to manage territory and chase kicks, Robson, Manu, T'eo and the wingers are the only players who aren't there on the back of their kicking ability as much as anything else and that worries me.  He's said a number of times that he wants to play a way that suits English players and I'm worried his current plan is the go to largely playing a forwards game and focus heavily on the set-piece.  I hope not but that's what the squad looks like to me.

Offline DaveD

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #2419 on: September 21, 2018, 10:19:20 AM »
Rhodes, I just don't think is any better than 5-6 blindsides in the league, solid club player but just doesn't look international standard to me. At the very simplest I'd pick Simmonds, Kvesic and Armand all ahead of him and that's just looking at 1 club (I'd definitely have Ludlow ahead of him as well).

100% agree. That Exeter back row is monster, I don't understand why they're not getting a look in.

Offline cheltenhamlion

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #2420 on: September 21, 2018, 05:17:13 PM »
I am baffled that Cipriani and Ludlow have been overlooked. Both have been superb this season for Gloucester.

Offline UK Redsox

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #2421 on: September 22, 2018, 01:42:29 PM »
I am baffled that Cipriani and Ludlow have been overlooked. Both have been superb this season for Gloucester.

Still the same anti-West Country bias in place that stopped John Morris, Paul Howell and Julian Davis being the England scrum half in the 60s, 70s and 90s


Offline paul_e

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #2423 on: October 05, 2018, 09:40:11 AM »
Sam Simmonds out.
Big loss

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/rugby/sam-simmonds-injury-england-forward-ruled-out-of-autumn-internationals-and-six-nations/ar-BBNTH7D?ocid=spartandhp

Agree, he's a player we should be building around, incredible talent.

In slightly related news is it just me or did premiership rugby troll Jones with their player of the month? Cipriani's form wasn't good enough to make the England squad but did make him the best player the league in September.

Offline nigel

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #2424 on: October 15, 2018, 04:18:56 PM »
FFS
Billy V out
AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!

Offline taylorsworkrate

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #2425 on: October 15, 2018, 04:29:42 PM »
I for one am stunned.

Billy Vunipola out with a long term injury???!!!!


Offline UK Redsox

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #2426 on: October 15, 2018, 04:41:48 PM »
A return for Ben Morgan ?

Offline cheltenhamlion

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #2427 on: October 15, 2018, 05:22:28 PM »
Morgan has been alright for us this season but he wouldn't be near the international set up if it weren't for injuries.

Offline nigel

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #2428 on: October 15, 2018, 05:31:08 PM »
A return for Ben Morgan ?

Got to be.
Playing very well for Gloucester apparently

Offline Jon Crofts

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Re: International Rugby
« Reply #2429 on: October 15, 2018, 06:26:30 PM »
Joe Launchbury’s out as well.

 


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