EPS Watch / Player Form Thread

[Puja]

TCurry has broken a bone in his wrist and is out for the whole autumn and possibly even the start of the 6N, which is a bloody shame.

Given that BCurry was previously the favoured twin for Eddie before he selfishly got injured and was thus dropped entirely from the EPS, I wonder if Eddie will swap their positions round for the next international window.

Puja

[Timbo]

I would imagine that opens a door for any of; Haskell, Armand or BCurry....possibly Clifford, but I have no idea how bad his shoulder injury turned out to be?

[Puja]

I would imagine that opens a door for any of; Haskell, Armand or BCurry....possibly Clifford, but I have no idea how bad his shoulder injury turned out to be?

I'm not sure Eddie will call anyone for this test window - the squad's still got ample back row cover, especially if you include Mercer who's been involved in all the training.

Puja

[Banquo]

I would imagine that opens a door for any of; Haskell, Armand or BCurry....possibly Clifford, but I have no idea how bad his shoulder injury turned out to be?

If the hask is called up, I will weep

[Scrumhead]

I would imagine that opens a door for any of; Haskell, Armand or BCurry....possibly Clifford, but I have no idea how bad his shoulder injury turned out to be?

I'm not sure Eddie will call anyone for this test window - the squad's still got ample back row cover, especially if you include Mercer who's been involved in all the training.

Puja

I would have thought Armand or Wilson are next cab off the rank?

[Puja]

I would imagine that opens a door for any of; Haskell, Armand or BCurry....possibly Clifford, but I have no idea how bad his shoulder injury turned out to be?

I'm not sure Eddie will call anyone for this test window - the squad's still got ample back row cover, especially if you include Mercer who's been involved in all the training.

Puja

I would have thought Armand or Wilson are next cab off the rank?

True, but I don't know Eddie will go outside those he's been training with unless forced to - I see him as preferring to leave Armand, BCurry, and Wilson to work on whatever issues he believes them to have, rather than rewarding them before they've improved.

Mind, I guess he didn't do that for Roko. So maybe I'm talking out my a*se?

Puja

[Scrumhead]

I was thinking about how little debate there’s been about this squad. Discounting the obvious absentees (injuries and bans), there aren’t too many players putting pressure on the squad IMO.

To put it in to perspective, I tried thinking about a Saxons squad now and it’s pretty hard!

1. Rapava-Ruskin / Hepburn
2. Walker / Singleton
3. Collier / P. Hill
4. J. Hill
5. Ribbans / Rowlands
6. Wilson
7. B. Curry
8. Armand / Morgan
9. Robson / Maunder
10. F. Burns
11. Woodburn / Collins
12. Mallinder / Devoto
13. Marchant / Trinder
14. Wade
15. Woodward / Haley

I can’t think of too many I’ve left out and I’d say there’s only a handful of players in that squad with any chance of breaking in to the real thing.

[Banquo]

I was thinking about how little debate there’s been about this squad. Discounting the obvious absentees (injuries and bans), there aren’t too many players putting pressure on the squad IMO.

To put it in to perspective, I tried thinking about a Saxons squad now and it’s pretty hard!

1. Rapava-Ruskin / Hepburn
2. Walker / Singleton
3. Collier / P. Hill
4. J. Hill
5. Ribbans / Rowlands
6. Wilson
7. B. Curry
8. Armand / Morgan
9. Robson / Maunder
10. F. Burns
11. Woodburn / Collins
12. Mallinder / Devoto
13. Marchant / Trinder
14. Wade
15. Woodward / Haley

I can’t think of too many I’ve left out and I’d say there’s only a handful of players in that squad with any chance of breaking in to the real thing.

Mallinder? at 12?

[fivepointer]

Eddie is largely picking our best players. There might be one or two marginal calls at wing and back row but its not as if there's been some selections that have you wondering how the heck did they get selected.
The real debate is going to start once everyone is fit and available.
If you look at the current 32, then add in the missing players you begin to see that there is going to be some very hard decisions to be made.

[Puja]

I think that's partly due to the number of injuries and suspensions. A few fewer injuries and suspensions and you could easily have the likes of Mullan, LCD, Taylor, Williams, Solomona, Rokoduguni, Te'o. Plus if there were England A games, then no doubt the likes of Ewels, Isiekwe, Mercer and Smith would be allowed to go play.

Puja

[Banquo]

50+/ish credible candidates for the EPS is not a bad place, frankly. Though very light at 9.

[Scrumhead]

True - if we were looking at injured/banned players, there are a number of several who are either shoo-ins or at least strong contenders.

Billy, Marler, Nowell and Te’o would almost certainly be in. Most probably Tuilagi too and one of Cowan-Dickie or Taylor.

Clifford, Mullan, Sinckler would be there or thereabouts. Williams I’m less convinced on.

[Digby]

50+/ish credible candidates for the EPS is not a bad place, frankly. Though very light at 9.

It'd be a nice change if we could refer to Youngs as light

[Mellsblue]

So, B Rolipola has a new column in The Times. Very entertaining and informative.......I assume someone has helped him write it.
The big points are the belief Jones has instilled in the players and that B Youngs still eats too much crap.

On the Kruis debate - either on this thread or the Argentina game one - Jones has said he’s the best scrummager and we all know he’s thought as the best exponent in the lineout. With the emphasis Jones has put in set piece it’s no suprise he’s seemingly first choice.

[Timbo]

Article linked that Brad Shields has rejected an All Black call up to sign for Wasps and attempt to play for England...I can see a situation this time next year where our two front line 6’s are Shields and Michael Rhodes. That’ll go down well.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/ ... s-england/

[Mellsblue]

I’ll believe it when I see it but I’ll pissed off if it happens. It’s one thing Ireland and Scotland having project players and targeting qualified players but they’re picking from a small pool with limited resources. We’re loaded with money, academies and player base and should produce our own. Leave the poaching to the Kiwis....

[Timbo]

I’ll believe it when I see it but I’ll pissed off if it happens. It’s one thing Ireland and Scotland having project players and targeting qualified players but they’re picking from a small pool with limited resources. We’re loaded with money, academies and player base and should produce our own. Leave the poaching to the Kiwis....

I don’t disagree...BUT Shields does have English parent(s) I believe, and on that basis I can’t think of a reasonable way to exclude him from playing for England. It’s not like the RFU have identified him as a ‘project player / potentially eligible player’ either, this seems to be driven entirely by his desire to play test rugby.

Anyway, he’s a brilliant player. I could easily see Eddie fast tracking him into the squad.

[Scrumhead]

I’ll believe it when I see it but I’ll pissed off if it happens. It’s one thing Ireland and Scotland having project players and targeting qualified players but they’re picking from a small pool with limited resources. We’re loaded with money, academies and player base and should produce our own. Leave the poaching to the Kiwis....

I don’t disagree...BUT Shields does have English parent(s) I believe, and on that basis I can’t think of a reasonable way to exclude him from playing for England. It’s not like the RFU have identified him as a ‘project player / potentially eligible player’ either, this seems to be driven entirely by his desire to play test rugby.

Anyway, he’s a brilliant player. I could easily see Eddie fast tracking him into the squad.

Yeah. I’m never in favour of imports when we’re perfectly capable of producing our own test calibre players, but if both Shields’ parents are English it feels a little less dirty,

[Mellsblue]

I’ll believe it when I see it but I’ll pissed off if it happens. It’s one thing Ireland and Scotland having project players and targeting qualified players but they’re picking from a small pool with limited resources. We’re loaded with money, academies and player base and should produce our own. Leave the poaching to the Kiwis....

I don’t disagree...BUT Shields does have English parent(s) I believe, and on that basis I can’t think of a reasonable way to exclude him from playing for England. It’s not like the RFU have identified him as a ‘project player / potentially eligible player’ either, this seems to be driven entirely by his desire to play test rugby.

Anyway, he’s a brilliant player. I could easily see Eddie fast tracking him into the squad.

Yeh, he’s absolutely eligible to play for England, and I’d hope there’s no inducement at this end, but I would’ve preferred a bit more loyalty than the most lucrative contract in rugby. Regardless, we’re not as bad as the Kiwis....

[Digby]

Spiritual guardians us

[TheNomad]

How good is he? While there seem to be plenty of good 6s around, we’re not awash with genuinely top quality ones really so I could see Eddie being supportive

[Raggs]

His parents apparently live in England too.

I'd guess that means Hask is off from Wasps.

[Banquo]

I’ll believe it when I see it but I’ll pissed off if it happens. It’s one thing Ireland and Scotland having project players and targeting qualified players but they’re picking from a small pool with limited resources. We’re loaded with money, academies and player base and should produce our own. Leave the poaching to the Kiwis....

I don’t disagree...BUT Shields does have English parent(s) I believe, and on that basis I can’t think of a reasonable way to exclude him from playing for England. It’s not like the RFU have identified him as a ‘project player / potentially eligible player’ either, this seems to be driven entirely by his desire to play test rugby.

Anyway, he’s a brilliant player. I could easily see Eddie fast tracking him into the squad.

Yeh, he’s absolutely eligible to play for England, and I’d hope there’s no inducement at this end, but I would’ve preferred a bit more loyalty than the most lucrative contract in rugby. Regardless, we’re not as bad as the Kiwis....

need to up your baiting game young Mells

[Mellsblue]

I don’t disagree...BUT Shields does have English parent(s) I believe, and on that basis I can’t think of a reasonable way to exclude him from playing for England. It’s not like the RFU have identified him as a ‘project player / potentially eligible player’ either, this seems to be driven entirely by his desire to play test rugby.

Anyway, he’s a brilliant player. I could easily see Eddie fast tracking him into the squad.

Yeh, he’s absolutely eligible to play for England, and I’d hope there’s no inducement at this end, but I would’ve preferred a bit more loyalty than the most lucrative contract in rugby. Regardless, we’re not as bad as the Kiwis....

need to up your baiting game young Mells

I know. Jones has me over training in readiness for the baiting World Cup.

[Digby]

I know. Jones has me over training in readiness for the baiting World Cup.

I head him say you get knocked off topic more easily than Kvesic gets counter rucked