Rugby Union (was 2014-15, now an ongoing thread)

[PaulWinch again]

Obviously we're struggling with injuries, but we should now been nailing down our World Cup team where possible. I like Burrell in the centre because I think he runs lines that other players don't.

[PaulWinch again]

Also I'd like Cipriani in the squad, I think we need that bit of an x factor in and around the squad.

[paul_e]

sigh Barritt, Haskell and Goode, will he ever learn, oh and no place for Kvesic, Wade, Cipriani or Watson.

[PaulWinch again]

Gutted in particular that Wade and Watson miss out. I don't really understand the selection of Goode and Barritt either. I really hope Wade forces his way in by the time the 6 nations comes round.

[peter w]

I'm actually more surprised about the exclusion of Cipriani than the others. maybe Lancaster has decided to go with a core and just wants to have a few others around the fringes. plus, didn't someone (probably Paul) say Wade hadn't started the season that well? if so you can see why Wade is been omitted as from paul's posts there seem to any number of wingers that are there or thereabouts.

[paul_e]

Wade has been suffering to get back to his best after injury but like Watson and Nowell he's such a special talent that he should be with the squad and in the international environment as much as possible.  Personally I'd have Dan Robson there as well he'll surpass Care and Youngs over the next 2 years, Dickson is the one who offers something different and should be part of the squad for a few years until we get another 9 with that level of game management (which Robson will develop in my opinion, he's a very clever player).

[peter w]

I'm not a particular fan of Youngs. i think he was one of those players that were at the start of the Lancaster regime who were good enough to stop our 'rot' but not good enough to consistently take the game by the scruff of the neck when needed most. To be honest despite improvements I feel the same way about farrell.

[paul_e]

I'm not a particular fan of Youngs. i think he was one of those players that were at the start of the Lancaster regime who were good enough to stop our 'rot' but not good enough to consistently take the game by the scruff of the neck when needed most. To be honest despite improvements I feel the same way about farrell.

I agree on both, Ford is well ahead of Farrell now for me.  A big part of it is that Farrell can't get into the sarries side as a 10 very often, so he's just not developing.

[PaulWinch again]

I'd like to see a centre partnership of Eastmond and Burrell, I think that'd have a good balance to it.

[PaulWinch again]

"To be the best it's not about the flash stuff, it's actually about skill execution and everything done at a very high level''

I agree with this statement from Lancaster to an extent for a Fly Half, but they also need to have the flair to expose an opposition defence. Dan Carter is the perfect example of this. Ford should be in front of Farrell now. I like Farrell, but if he can't start as a number 10 for his club side he shouldn't be starting for England.

[paul_e]

To me that's a rather blinkered view, being able to see a gap and have the pace and footwork to get through it is part of the game management of a 10, if there's no real running threat at 10 you automatically drift wider to reduce the space for the outside backs and let the 7, 8 and 9 handle the fly-half.  Teams have done that to England a few times and they'r the games we end up scoring almost entirely from kicks and the forwards, it's classic 10man rugby.  The odd thing is, he's gone the other way at 9, which is the back position that I think is most suitable to a 'do all the basics well' player to be a regular.  Care is ok at the basics and probably deserves to be the first choice but the inclusion of Youngs and regular checks on Joe Simpson suggest that he sees a running game as the primary requirement for the position.

[Dave Summers]

I am okay with the squad apart from I would have picked Watson and Wade ahead of May and Nowell.  Think Jack can come again but much to my surprise and disappointment May didn't set the 6N alight and I feel he may be just slightly lacking at the top level.  Both Watson and Wade bring that x factor that most wings don't, Wade's try at the RDS on Sunday being a perfect case in point.

Myler over Cipriani I can't fathom.  They both went to NZ and Cips started the Crusaders game ahead of Myler and was sublime.  He has started at least as well this season as Myler and yet now he is behind him?  Funny that no one has mentioned the complete hash Myler made of the last minute conversion at Racing last weekend under severe pressure?  If he can't handle that then how will he handle 82k at Twickenham v NZ?

On a brighter note, having earlier this year secured tickets to NZ and Samoa, I also got South Africa and Aus tickets this morning so will be at Twickenham 4 weeks on the bounce.  Can't wait :-)

[paul_e]

Goode ahead of Foden is equally baffling and I don't see how Barritt and Twelvetrees are both ahead of Slade right now.

As for the back row replacements I just don't see how Clark and Haskell are different enough from each other (or Robshaw) to justify picking both it should have been a selection of 1 or the other and then 1 of Armitage, Kvesic or Fraser to offer a genuine alternative to Robshaw, 2 8s, 3 6s and a 6 who plays at 7 just isn't a balanced back row.

I just hope he follows through with the comment that they intend to add to the squad after this weekend.

Most imprtant of all he needs to spread the experience around a little this autumn.  His complete over-reliance on Robshaw and Farrell is risking us having no viable alternatives if either of them miss the world cup. At 10 his hand was forced in the summer and both Cips and Burns came in and played very well but both have been dumped and he clearly doesn't fancy them for the world cup so Ford and Myler need 2-3 starts each this season and I don't see him doing that.  It's all very MON for me, he has his favourites who he's going to stick with or try to show-horn in regardless of performance of them or others. 

[PaulWinch again]

Yeah there are a few names who I'm very disappointed aren't involved. The likes of Foden, Cipriani, Wade, Watson and Kvesic should have been included.

[dekko]

haha, oh Nige...