6 Nations 2013

[PaulWinch again]

I think it's quite a statement to discard Ashton, I still rate him highly he's just not in great form.

[paul_e]

it's a tough one.  If we play the right way Ashton will be great again, if we have 10, 12 and 13 of Farrell, Barritt and Manu he's a spare part.

Ashton's brilliance is based on getting on the shoulder of the man and finishing the chance but he times his arrival in a way the doesn't often work with Manu and Barritt as the centres.  If they can't sort that out between them then we'll be better served by having a broken field runner in there, hence the 3 young guys I mentioned, who are all excellent at that part of the game.  It's a huge shame and is the main reason I'd prefer to see Twelvetrees in there.  We are looking to build an offloading game and Ashton should be a deadly weapon in the environment but we're not getting the ball to him when he breaks so he can't contribute.

As an aside, I'm seeing far too many people putting together their lions squads on various blogs and not including Tom Wood.  This was always my worry with him being moved to 8, it'll be ridiculous if he doesn't get picked.

[PaulWinch again]

Agreed an offloading game if done correctly is perfect for Ashton and we need to utilise him. Wood should also be in the Lions starting team.

[PaulWinch again]

I'd like to see Foden back in the team, I think Goode and Brown are a bit one paced. I don't know if I want him on the wing or full back, but I think he should be starting.

[lovejoy]

Brown is a great full back but there are better full backs at the moment. both England wingers need dropping, Brown isn't a natural winger and Ashton has not peformed in the last year. Nobody should get their place on reputation alone.

[PaulWinch again]

I still think Foden is our best full back.

[paul_e]

I agree with both of you.

Foden is our best and should be favourite for the lions but he's had a shit 12months with injuries.

As mentioned Brown is very 1 dimensional.  He does well against weaker sides because he does run good straight lines but against teams that work him out he provides no threat.  He's very much a player who looks good on paper as his ball carrying statistics are very good, but he never does it in the areas where he can hurt a team.  Ashton is the exact opposite, he's pretty much non-existant when he he can't get the ball in sight of the line, but his finishing instincts are immense.

Goode is a really tough one, he's been very solid this year but hasn't actually provided anything in an attacking sense.  I don't think he deserves to be dropped though.  Of the squad we can pick from without injuries I'd like to see 36 and Manu in the centres, Foden and Joseph on the wings and Goode at FB.  With Ashton and Burns on the bench you then cover all positions as Joseph and Burns cover the centre and Foden can move to FB if needed.  It's a touch harsh on Barritt and Brown to leave them out completely but I don't think our backs are capitalising on the good work from our forwards at the minute.

[Dave Summers]

I was like a lot of you with Brown but I have slowly changed my opinion of him.  Not sure if it is because I have seen him live and can see all the off the ball stuff that he does, but he has definitely grown on me.

I thought he and Goode were stunning defensively over in Dublin and contributed a great deal to our win.  I agree though I do wish we would see more of them in an attacking sense.  I suspect it maybe due to the poor passing abilities of our centres?.

As I have said before, it's all a learning curve and we need to try out and find the best combinations for the World Cup. 

[paul_e]

I was like a lot of you with Brown but I have slowly changed my opinion of him.  Not sure if it is because I have seen him live and can see all the off the ball stuff that he does, but he has definitely grown on me.

I thought he and Goode were stunning defensively over in Dublin and contributed a great deal to our win.  I agree though I do wish we would see more of them in an attacking sense.  I suspect it maybe due to the poor passing abilities of our centres?.

As I have said before, it's all a learning curve and we need to try out and find the best combinations for the World Cup. 

The off the ball stuff is what i mean by running good lines, he does make himself available well but his only real 'trick' is breaking through on that running line, which just doesn't work in dangerous areas against the top international sides.  He's an excellent club player and has worked very hard to make himself competitive and at any other era for England (or pretty much any northern hemisphere side) he'd be rightly starting, but we have some younger guys who we need to look at, I have the same issue with Strettle as well.  If both of them were very experienced internationals I could see the point in keeping them around but they're almost as 'raw' (in international terms) as the likes of May and Yarde anyway.

[Dave Summers]

Latest from the England camp :
Corbs, Joseph, Croft, Clark, Johnson are all out of the remaining games.

Ben Morgan is making progress but won't play against Italy but will be available for Wales.

Billy Vunipola will be available v Italy

Owen Farrell is 50/50 for Italy with the problem being his kicking.  If not fit, won't be risked.

My wishlist is to see Freddie Burns in the 23 for next Sunday and get at least 30 mins from the bench.  I would also like to see Billy Vunipola start at 8 and Wood move back to 6.  Haskell can come on in the 2nd half.

Injuries are allowing Lancaster to try out some new players here, so could work well for us in the long run

[paul_e]

Latest from the England camp :
Corbs, Joseph, Croft, Clark, Johnson are all out of the remaining games.

Ben Morgan is making progress but won't play against Italy but will be available for Wales.

Billy Vunipola will be available v Italy

Owen Farrell is 50/50 for Italy with the problem being his kicking.  If not fit, won't be risked.

My wishlist is to see Freddie Burns in the 23 for next Sunday and get at least 30 mins from the bench.  I would also like to see Billy Vunipola start at 8 and Wood move back to 6.  Haskell can come on in the 2nd half.

Injuries are allowing Lancaster to try out some new players here, so could work well for us in the long run

Interesting - 4 back row forwards out injured and we can still have a team and bench full of top class back rowers.

Burns needs to be in the 23 regardless of whether flood makes it or not.

Billy Vunipola needs to have at least 20-30minutes.

Corbs is probably out of contention for the lions now which is a great shame; if they could fix his fitness issues he'd be a guaranteed starter.  I'm getting a bit worried that he may end up filed with JSD and Olly Morgan as just too big an injury risk

[lovejoy]

I couldn't give a toss if Burns plays for England as long as he's available for Glos.

[Dave Summers]

Chris Foy suggesting today that there will be 5 changes for Sunday v Italy.  Care and Flood half backs.  Mako V and Youngs in the front row and Haskell back in the back for Lawes. 

I guess 5 changes is plenty, but I am a little disappointed that he hasn't thrown Twelvetrees in and given Barritt a rest for Wales.

I don't know the bench as yet but am really hoping that Burns and Twelvetrees are both on and get a decent amount of time.  Am also hoping the same for Billy Vunipola, but I am thinking that Croft may cover the back row.

I'm going for my 5th game out of the 7 home ones this season, so very fortunate and just want a dry day so they can play some attractive rugby

[paul_e]

I'll be really disappointed in Billy Vunipola and Burns don't get at least half an hour each.

The team Chris Foy suggests is exactly what I'm expecting, I wish he'd be a bit braver 11-15 though (particuarly when Farrell is 10), only Manu and Ashton are picked for their attack, and one of those is having his place questioned because he's not providing anything in a team setup to be defensively sound as priority.  I've said it before, he has too much focus on what the outside backs don't bring and ignores the good things they provide.  With our pack we need to start picking people outside to hurt other teams once we rumble into good positions.

[PaulWinch again]

I'm a bit gutted that 36, Billy and Burns don't get a chance, but it is good to see Croft back in the squad as I really rate him.