😀
Plenty to discuss:
Farrel to help munster
Corbisero doing a Henson (can he dance)
Cipperiani set to miss out
Gatland fav for next Lions coach
[b]Forwards[/b]
Josh Beaumont (Sale Sharks)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Jack Clifford (Harlequins)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Paul Hill (Northampton Saints)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Matt Kvesic (Gloucester Rugby) *injury replacement for Dave Ewers (Exeter Chiefs)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Matt Mullan (Wasps)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Henry Thomas (Bath Rugby) *injury replacement for Kieran Brookes (Northampton Saints)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
[b]Backs[/b]
Chris Ashton (Saracens)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby) *injury replacement for Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs) *injury replacement for Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Marland Yarde (Harlequins)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Pretty happy with that overall. Shame we don't get to see Slade or Ewers but there are some positive selections there.
Notable omissions; Tom Youngs, Joe Simpson, Luther Burrell.
Devoto is a very odd call. Talented young player but not good enough to break into the bath team proper.
Happy to see Sam Hill in there and some of the young forwards.
Nice to see a bit of boldness!
Certainly the most interesting selection England have seen for a long time. Should be interesting to see how they go
Sam Hill is the best specialist inside centre in the squad and on form, Daly is the pick of the outsides.
I'll have head in hands if he selects Farrell at 12!!!!
I thought Tuilagi played this w/e.
I told you Tom Youngs was shit!
Tom Youngs is shit. And so is Dan Cole! I don't know how a player goes from brilliant to rubbish in such a short space of time.
Ashton I am no fan of. At least he's left Cipriani out. I suspect the starting team might look quite familiar. Semi "open" training session end of Jan at Twickenham
Scotland away is definitely a tricky match if Scots can muster their RWC form. I'd rather see us build a style than try and win games this 6N or next
Scotland away is definitely a tricky match
Swap you for Ireland away!
Only one Gloucester player, having seen Gloucester quite a few times I am surprised that Sharples hasn't got more chances for england, he has always been solid when I have seen him, knows where the line is.
Tuilagi is recovering from injury, not fully fit yet. Picking Tuilagi, then putting in an injury replacement allows him to be recalled to the squad later.
Delighted to see the omission of Barritt (finally) and Tom Youngs.
Why is Haskell still there? Why is Kvesic only there as an injury replacement?
Disappointed to see Cips left out and surprised by Devoto's inclusion, decent player though he is/will be - he doesn't make the Bath starting XV.
No Joe Simpson? When you consider how often Care and Youngs have failed to shine despite all their abilities you'd think he'd get a chance.
I can't see the continued selection of Alex Goode especially when you hear Jones talking about how England want to play. Great club player he may be but he's pedestrian at international level - they might as well pick Andy Goode!
I wonder how many picks are limited by the restrictive rules on changing the EPS squad? Did EJ select a Saxons squad too? I know they have no fixtures but I thought a squad is still required.
Anyway, a bit more conservative than I'd have liked but looking forward to seeing how they go. 🙂
Trouble is, I'd select every other back row in the squad before Kvesic, and it seems Eddie Jones agrees.
I imagine Cockerill is delighted that both O'Connor & McCaffrey stayed off Eddie Jones radar.
Ok, turns out I know less about hookers than most. Still can't see how Tom Youngs is now no higher than 4th best hooker in the premiership, and a non playing kiwi biter is ahead!
Anyway, I also know nothing of the Sale 8 other than his name, but he's just keeping the shirt warm for Nathan Hughes
Tuilagi is only 30 mins playing back from a year+ out, so fully understandable to keep with a replacement. Just surprised at Devoto. Always rated him for Bath, but England? Thats a surprise.
Suspect that there will be full 10 changes next time he's allowed to as well. Haskell is only there because he ran out of people he can swap. He's not utterly awful however I'm certain he won't make the next cut.
Didn't know Yard was playing well again, I always thought he'd be good, but have seen nothing recently. Damn shame that Exeter centre is injured, he'd be playing 12 without any doubt.
dantsw13 - MemberI imagine Cockerill is delighted that both O'Connor & McCaffrey stayed off Eddie Jones radar.
Posted 34 minutes ago #Report-Post
Irish and Scottish,not eligible.
Kiwi and Aussie actually but both are eligible.
or Kiwi and Aussi, either way.....
As a Tigers supporter, I don't know what to think, we're actually going to have a really good squad in the 6 nations, I'm used to writing off that 2 months. What excuse shall I use?
What's Burrell done to upset everyone? Not long since it was a travesty that he was overlooked in favour of Burgess, now he can't even get a look in!
I think Eddie ran out of changes to make to be honest, hence the inclusion of Haskell and non-inclusion of Simpson. But overall I'm pretty happy with the squad, certainly a team that fits with the idea of wanting to play a fast paced game. That back row has the potential to be the complete opposite of the WC back row, Beaumont, Clifford, Kvesic, Itoje are all capable of being getting about the park and playing at speed.
A little surprised at the inclusion of Devoto, but we've not got 12's coming out of our ears and Devoto looks like a good candidate on paper, big, skillful and can play a bit but sometimes lacking in confidence and decision making. I assume Eddie has seen him as something he can work with.
Surprised at Tom Youngs omission to be honest but again, Eddie must have seen something he can work with in LCD.
Don't think Cipriani can be too put out, only picking 2 fly halves was always going to mean he was left out, he'll know he's next cab off the rank if injuries happen to either of the incumbents.
Still think we'll see a 10-12 of Ford Farrell against Scotland though.
Interestingly the average age of this squad is something like 23/24! On paper this has the potential to be an awesome squad but for inexperience alone I'm not expecting too much from this 6 Nations to be honest. Would be happy with third and a notable step in the right direction. With France now under Guy Noves and Scotland's resurgence I think we could see one of the closest 6 Nations in a while!
Don't think Cipriani can be too put out, only picking 2 fly halves was always going to mean he was left out, he'll know he's next cab off the rank if injuries happen to either of the in
Speaking of cab ranks we don't know the status of his potential drink driving charge. Could well have been a factor and symptomatic of his main negative issue.
Also, given that the 6N is just a four year training competition for England's next RWC bid, they've got to consider Cip's fitness when he'll be 32.
Only one Gloucester player, having seen Gloucester quite a few times I am surprised that Sharples hasn't got more chances for england, he has always been solid when I have seen him, knows where the line is.
When was the last time a try scoring winger was selected for England? 🙂 I guess it comes down to the same thing as Wade etc recently... perceived defensive liability (albeit not Wade-sized)?
Why is Haskell still there?
As much as we love to hate him he hasn't been that awful in the last year or so.
I can't see the continued selection of Alex Goode especially when you hear Jones talking about how England want to play
Me neither but he'll always be a potential for versatile bench cover unfortunatley
Well Ashton is the second highest try scorer this season, and 4th highest since it began. 23 more and he'll be level top. With a few more seasons, he could well get it. Sharples has played a season more, and scored 25 tries less. Not an ideal comparison as Sarries are a considerably better team but it's Impossible to normalise.
Lewington has 12 so far this year, and he plays for a worse team than either!!
I am dining with Jason Leonard tomorrow night. Obviously with a 169 other knuckle-draggers from the Herefordshire mud, but still, I get to heckle the funbus if I have the balls.
Any tips?
Ashton is the second highest try scorer this season
that's only coz we (Wuss) gave him a hatfull for free 🙄
@Stoner, he's much more trim that when he was playing, used to see him in the Punch Bowl in Mayfair quite a bit and he usually had a soft drink. Still RFU president I think ?
only just got RFU pres late last year.
It's why this dinner was postponed until tonight - he got made up to pres around the time of the post-WC naval gazing and our December dinner date was going to clash with some press stuff.
OK, I thought he was president during the RWC. My old head of PE/sports at Bristol Uni Bob Reeves was the President before him I thought, perhaps not.
Have fun, it should be a cracking evening
quite right, June 2015.
Well Ashton is the second highest try scorer this season, and 4th highest since it began.
Bit further back behind Cueto, Varndell, Hanley, Sackey, Voyce and Simpson-Daniel?? Not many caps in there for whatever reason. The Tri-Nations/ Rugby Championship leaderboard is chock full of international legends... no idea what it all means but just a curious observation
O'Connor and McCaffrey
Irish and Scottish,not eligible.
I got the gag Duckman, even if this lot didn't.
Must be the repeated concussions.
😀
Not many caps in there for whatever reason.
Cueto alone has 55!
I'd struggle to justify the inclusion of the others over the likes of Josh Lewsey.
naval gazing
Hello, sailor.
Cueto alone has 55!
I'd struggle to justify the inclusion of the others over the likes of Josh Lewsey.
Very true- I typed the lack of caps thing having double checked the Premiership site and missed the glaringly huge photo of Cueto at the top of the list only to ninja edit later! What a mess 😀
Nevertheless, Super Rugby reads: Howlett, Ralph, Roff, Cullen, Habana, Mortlock, Nonu, Umaga, Vidiri, Macdonald, Sivivatu. The top try scorers in the Premiership don't tend to feature in the England set up too much. I think the different style of rugby has something to do with it and on the same thread it is interesting to see so many forwards in the Super Rugby top try scorers list! I think Neil Back is the only one in the Premiership top 10 that isn't a wing or full back????
Who knew Maitland holds the record (with several others) for most tries in a Super Rugby match at 4? 😀
[b]Super Rugby[/b] reads
Slightly different thing! SR is an elite league made up of the best teams from 3 nations. Most of them are superstars!
Isn't the Premiership supposed to be full of super stars and the Pro 12 made up of multiple nations.... 😀 Ok, not the same thing at all
Even if you look at the European Cup, it is still full of backs, albeit slightly more capped players than the premiership leaderboard. Bloody Ashton is third on that list too so whatever point I was trying to make has been well and truly screwed 😀
The superdooper 16 or whatever its called now, doesnt run doing international windows either
Great win for Ospreys tonight. That Underhill lad needs a Wales cap ASAP 😉
Was about to post the same!
He's very very good. Can't we just keep him?
Can't we just keep him?
NO FAIR!
You have Tipuric and Warburton. We have....erm.......
😆
Great win he is only 19? Is that true?
To be fair wrecker he was 6 last night and does look like thats what he'll be when he grows up!