International Rugby

[Villa in Denmark]

It was prize pillock Austin Healy who made the comment about how much he'd enjoy a good punch-up.

Thanks. I missed the first 10 minutes so was unsure. He did come across as a bit of a narcissist.

[paul_e]

Obviously I don’t know him, but I get the impression Healy has great admiration for himself and would be pretty unpleasant.

I've met him a few times, he's every bit the twat you'd expect. 2nd only to Haskell in the list of wankers I've met through rugby.

[UK Redsox]

What do you expect from a bloke who's basically called 'Ford Prefect'

[Drummond]

I once knew a guy who'd played with him at Orrell, and he was an utter twat even then apparently.

[paul_e]

Side looks more balanced in the backs this time. If Dingwall and Lawrence can build an understanding I think they could be a good pairing.

[dcdavecollett]

Is there a reason Seb Atkinson isn't currently on the scene? He seemed to do well in Argentina for the second/third XV.

[paul_e]

Is there a reason Seb Atkinson isn't currently on the scene? He seemed to do well in Argentina for the second/third XV.

He's injured, I think he'd have been on the edge of the squad anyway though.

[dcdavecollett]

Ta.

I thought he only got his chance because of all the absentees, but did well anyway in a position where England have several options -and that's before they shove Ben Earl there!

[paul_e]

We have a few decent options in the centres but it's definitely a weaker area, along with fullback.

I like Atkinson and Ojomoh though as the next 2 behind the pairing today and I reckon that between those 4 we should be able to make a good pair, so long as Borthwick backs away from some of the sillier ideas.

[PaulWinch again]

Arundell’s pace is something else

[dcdavecollett]

Isn't it just? a foot-race between him and the French lad with the red skull-cap would be interesting.

Does anyone know when Firbank is likely to play again?

[paul_e]

Arundel - that's exactly why I wanted him on the bench. I don't think he's technically good enough to be starting ahead of Freeman and Feyi-Waboso but that pace off the bench against tiring defenders is a cheat code.

More broadly I thought there were signs of why that backline should be kept for a while and where it didn't work was mostly them needing to play together more (Lawrence and F-W mostly).

Furbank is due back any time soon but he's stuck in that cycle of injuries that sometimes happens after a bad one where just getting through a run of games is tough. He's been in full training for a few weeks now though.

Once he is fit the only other problems we need to fix in the backs are getting Quirke ahead of Spencer and getting back to a 5-3 bench.

[dcdavecollett]

Ta.

In other news, Chessum and Freeman are doubts for Saturday.

[paul_e]

Ta.

In other news, Chessum and Freeman are doubts for Saturday.

Not worried about Chessum, Coles is more than capable of stepping up, Freeman would be a huge loss.

[dcdavecollett]

I'll take your word on Coles.

Whatever happened to Martin? He seems to be English Rugby's answer to Andres Garcia -injured for so long he seems to have been completely forgotten.