International Rugby

[Dante Lavelli]

I’m there too.  God knows how long since my last international.  To be honest I can only afford it when invited through work associations, …and plan to fill my boots.

Odd how Freeman can play centre for England but isn’t ready for Saints.

[PaulWinch again]

Didn’t he play at the weekend for Saints?

[Dante Lavelli]

Didn’t he play at the weekend for Saints?

Possibly. Missed the game.  Last I saw was an interview saying he was playing there in training.

Sorry misread your comment - He definitely plays, but saint play him on the wing or 15.  I don’t think Saints think he is ready to play centre.

[PaulWinch again]

He scored 4 tries looking at it!

[paul_e]

He was exceptional at the weekend, one of the best performances you'll ever see from a winger. But it was a wingers performance, not a centres. I think he can be a very good 13 but we risk giving up a generational talent on the wing to get that.

Personally I'd be starting Dingwall and Lawrence and if that doesn't work for the autumn I'd give Ojomoh a go. Only after that would I look at Freeman, and I'd be keeping an eye on a few others in the meantime.

[PaulWinch again]

England have some serious talent on the wing.

[paul_e]

England have some serious talent on the wing.

We do but right now we have 1 genuinely world class winger and then 5-6 more with the potential to be nearly as good. If Feyi-Waboso, Roebuck and Arundell in particular were all a little more experienced and 'ready' I'd be happier with moving Freeman but for this weekend I'm concerned. I'd also be more comfortable if we'd got some more spark on the bench. I get why he's gone 6-2 because we have a lot of incredible back row options but we also have fantastic depth in the back 3 and have completely abandoned it. Not having Arundell to bring on against tired legs is just a really poor decision. Given Coles plays 6 nearly as much as he plays lock (and Chessum can do both as well) I don't think we needed Coles, Pollock and Curry all on the bench, feels to me like he wanted to reward Pepper and Underhill for their form, knows he has to include Pollock but couldn't imagine not picking Earl and Curry.

[PaulWinch again]

Comfortable enough, but didn’t think the side was right. Need to kick on now and think about selection balance.

[Villa in Denmark]

Viapkay over here have started showing the Rugby with UK commentators.

Assuming it's the same as you get, who was the commentator at the end, when it all got a bit handbags, who was saying let them fight and he'd pay good money to see Genge fill someone in?

[paul_e]

Comfortable enough, but didn’t think the side was right. Need to kick on now and think about selection balance.

The pack were excellent, both starters and subs. The backs were a mess, Ford was the wrong choice at 10, Freeman looked like a winger playing out of position and Steward is just a very average player.

I hope Borthwick realises that you can't have a disfunctional backline if you want to beat the top sides.

[Tony Daleys Shorts]

Good sign though, that we won comfortably with a dogs breakfast of a back division.

[PaulWinch again]

I think it’s overly harsh to call Steward “very average”, he’s much better than that. But he doesn’t have that spark in attack, so when Furbank is fully back I’d have him in.

[paul_e]

I think it’s overly harsh to call Steward “very average”, he’s much better than that. But he doesn’t have that spark in attack, so when Furbank is fully back I’d have him in.

He's exceptional under the high ball but his positioning, attack and defence are poor by international standards.

Furbank is miles ahead but even without him I don't think Steward should be making the 23.