I see Bath have signed Burgess or England have or something. I saw some stats recently and if he plays 12 he’ll be bigger than Roberts 😯

6kg and 3cm difference if you believe Wikipedia (which we’ve discussed the accuracy of in the past!). 13cm taller but 4kg lighter than Bastereaud if you believe Wiki. Proof that being a big lump doesn’t necessarily translate to destructiveness at Centre 😉

SBW isn’t far off any of these guys as far as the numbers go either yet you don’t tend to think of him as a big guy due to his agileness and offloads. Lots of variety in how a big lump can play Centre! 😆

Our Gav doesn’t seem to get much of a look in as Bath seem to have a lot of good centres as well as flyhalves (Daddy isn’t going to drop George Ford anytime soon!) Can’t imagine he’ll still be there next season.

Burgess looks to be a complete monster. Decent step, good pass and even a bit of pace from the highlight reels on you tube. If he can convert, then having Tuilagi and Burgess running at you is going to give you a hell of a headache, however it’s a big if, not many league players have made the really successful switch and I’m not holding my breath, although obviously there’s some hope!

Well its fairly clear that he wants to compare himself to SBW and even he took about 3 years to really get a grasp of Union. I can’t help but think Sam has left it a little late, he doesn’t come over until October, so he’s not going to be ready for the AI’s. 6 nations are going to be a huge push, and then he’s only got til the summer really to make his mark. Having said that, I think Lancaster will have him in the EPS for all of that just so he can see how he’s developing first hand.

As said above though the prospect of Sam breaking the line and then offloading to Tuilagi running at a scrambling defence is going to cause some defensive headaches for opponents.

On the other hand I think SL has learnt his lesson recently that having two crash and bash centres doesn’t offer as much as a ball handling 12. So it could be him and Tuilagi fighting for one place. Not a bad dilemma to have as not many weary defences would want to see either one of them taking off their tracksuit and warming up.

Francis is an utter ****, always has been always will be
Nigel Owens ?@Nigelrefowens 8h
Disappointing to read Neil Francis comments. There are loads of gay people in sport. Most are just not out. Wish they wd stop stereotyping

Nigel Owens ?@Nigelrefowens 6m
Sport is for all. No matter who you are or where your from. Many gay people play sport at all levels. Just most have chosen not to come out

Why’s that DanW?

So Davies not recovered and Beck knackered too added to Scott Williams, Cory Allan and Owen Williams all crocked Wales have a serious problem at 13. Between Hook or North I’d say. I’d go Hook 13 and keep North on the wing, so no doubt North will go to 13 and Liam Williams will go to wing. Williams is a trier but not international class. Could put Hook to 15, 1/2p to wing and have North to 13.

Good news is that Charteris is fit.

Burgess has got to get in at centre for Bath first, they aren’t short of a decent centre at the moment – Eastmond, JJ and Devoto are all young and very good prospects.

@tinybits – not surprising he gets booed given his history of anti-English remarks, he’s generally seen as an all round knob by many (quote from Bath fan friend of mine). He even upset the French by having a pop at Wilkinson when he was, very briefly, at Toulon.

and yet if you go on a bath fan forum even the skeptics seem to be impressed with how he has handled himself this season and hasnt let them down when asked to play 10, 12, 13 or 15 or kick goals. He has also been thoroughly committed playing for the seconds too.
http://www.rugbynetwork.net/boards/read/s105.htm?1469,14575409

Mr Burgess…………………not many of the league fans I work with are impressed by him, be intresting to see how he goes on…………what position?

He was quite brilliant on occasions for welsh last year but got broken a lot. Has been solid this season but hasnt ever been really given a run of games in one position. Most likely off to the Dregs with Matt Morgan next season.

On a positive note Seymour looks handy!

Swinson is totally better than Hamilton, no questions about that.

Ha ha dwarf,he is broken more than that car that started top gear on Sunday! Wee Gray was bloody good against Cardiff,suspect Hamilton got the nod because of his experience and bulk. To beat Italy we will have to nullify their pack. Brown at 6 would’ve been better than Wilson,but Johnston has to appear to be pursuing some tactical masterplan that only knows about.

I’d have had Cusiter in for Laidlaw, Evans for Lamont, both Gray brothers, back row of Fusaro, Denton and Beattie.

It’s the stand off position that is really worrying. Sadly, Weir may be the best we’ve got!

Looks like Mr Johnson has a secret plan that only he knows! I suspect he won’t eve tell the players about either.

Kelly Brown will probably never play for Scotland again.

He’ll hav to learn how to.tackl properly judging by som o the “hits” I’ve seen on ewetube

Tackling should be ok. League banned the shoulder charge a season or two back.

Hmmm. Even with his current not so great form, Cole will be missed against Ireland. This means England really don’t have ANYONE playing anywhere near like a 7 at all. I see turnovers being won by Ireland, England going backward, England bashing forward. I think England will win by a small margin.