EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
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- Oakboy
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
Even Eddie can't omit Armand now. I don't give a toss what numbers they wear. Pick Robshaw, Armand and one other. I'd probably start Simmonds with Underhill on the bench.
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
You can add sherry ( a dry one) to advocaat in making a snowball, also swap out the lemonade for a dryish sparkling wine. So that's the good news, crap news however about BillyMellsblue wrote:Not to mention the complaints about the temperature of his sherry.....Banquo wrote:Diggers is in danger of that, with his snowball habitMellsblue wrote: This, this and this.
Having said that, there’s still one more match (I think) until the EPS boys disappear in to camp.
- Oakboy
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
I'd like to say a broken arm doesn't count. For England and Billy's sake I really hope that is the case. However, I still look at him and Tuilagi with trepidation. Can their skeletal frameworks support the body mass? It just does not look natural.Banquo wrote:cue inevitable Dors Billy V injury prone comments (which does have a tad of validity, tho this one is just one of them things)Mellsblue wrote:Uh oh. Billy injured.
Whatever I think in terms of injury-related availability for rugby, the greatet fear has to be their health in later life. I hope somebody is doing the research and preparation.
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
blimeyDigby wrote:You can add sherry ( a dry one) to advocaat in making a snowball, also swap out the lemonade for a dryish sparkling wine. So that's the good news, crap news however about BillyMellsblue wrote:Not to mention the complaints about the temperature of his sherry.....Banquo wrote: Diggers is in danger of that, with his snowball habit
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
Agreed. That’s what I meant when I said I was happy it wasn’t his shoulder or knee.Oakboy wrote:I'd like to say a broken arm doesn't count. For England and Billy's sake I really hope that is the case. However, I still look at him and Tuilagi with trepidation. Can their skeletal frameworks support the body mass? It just does not look natural.Banquo wrote:cue inevitable Dors Billy V injury prone comments (which does have a tad of validity, tho this one is just one of them things)Mellsblue wrote:Uh oh. Billy injured.
Whatever I think in terms of injury-related availability for rugby, the greatet fear has to be their health in later life. I hope somebody is doing the research and preparation.
While a fracture isn’t good news, it’s a lot better than a more serious recurring injury. It’s not like the situation with Tuilagi’s groin etc.
- Mellsblue
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
You didn’t make Joe Ford’s pre-match drink, did you?!?!?Digby wrote:You can add sherry ( a dry one) to advocaat in making a snowball, also swap out the lemonade for a dryish sparkling wine. So that's the good news, crap news however about BillyMellsblue wrote:Not to mention the complaints about the temperature of his sherry.....Banquo wrote: Diggers is in danger of that, with his snowball habit
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
I don't believe Snowballs are drunk by hard men from up north, Kahlua might be more the sceneMellsblue wrote:You didn’t make Joe Ford’s pre-match drink, did you?!?!?Digby wrote:You can add sherry ( a dry one) to advocaat in making a snowball, also swap out the lemonade for a dryish sparkling wine. So that's the good news, crap news however about BillyMellsblue wrote: Not to mention the complaints about the temperature of his sherry.....
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
Radio this morning mentioned James Chisholm as being "on Englands radar" I confess he's not someone who i had thought of, but he is in good form.
- Puja
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
He looked mustard at U20s and has looked very good inbetween injuries for Quins. I would be far from unhappy with that, although still wondering what the hell else Armand had to do.fivepointer wrote:Radio this morning mentioned James Chisholm as being "on Englands radar" I confess he's not someone who i had thought of, but he is in good form.
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Backist Monk
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
Armand went to Argentina right? It's not like Eddie hasn't had any one to one contact with him.
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
Armand may be the form 6 in the prem and playing well in europe but let's be honest he's no gary graham.
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
I figured Jones has just been very strict with himself about how good any new/inexperienced player over a certain age (Cipriani, Robson, Roko) has to be to be worth getting involved, with a mind to leaving Baxter (or whoever) something to work with. Possibly with Armand also not being a specialist in any particular area he just doesn't think it's worth it try and find him a spot?
I'd be a bit surprised if Chisholm got the call but I really rate him. He's not Vunipola but if we need someone who can work in heavy traffic he can really trundle with the best of them.
I'd be a bit surprised if Chisholm got the call but I really rate him. He's not Vunipola but if we need someone who can work in heavy traffic he can really trundle with the best of them.
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
Thing is, Robson is only 25... He's easily going to be around for 2023.
- Mellsblue
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
The Robson thing is just strange but then so is the whole no 3rd choice scrumhalf.
I think Mikey might have a point about the age of players. Jones likes to mould players and once you’re at a certain age the capacity to do that is more limited.
Armand strikes me as a 7/8 out 10 player across the board, much like Robshaw and Wilson, without a standout element to his game and I’m not sure that is what Jones really wants in a backrow player. See his previous criticism of Robshaw. He’s obviously come to rate Robshaw but I think that is begrudging and I’m not sure a player in that mould will be picked otherwise.
I think Mikey might have a point about the age of players. Jones likes to mould players and once you’re at a certain age the capacity to do that is more limited.
Armand strikes me as a 7/8 out 10 player across the board, much like Robshaw and Wilson, without a standout element to his game and I’m not sure that is what Jones really wants in a backrow player. See his previous criticism of Robshaw. He’s obviously come to rate Robshaw but I think that is begrudging and I’m not sure a player in that mould will be picked otherwise.
- Oakboy
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
True, but in a crisis such as this, where picking two young pretenders at once just might implode, ask yourself whether you'd rather see Wood recalled or introduce a more mature beginner in Armand. If Armand is 7.5/10, what's Wood - 4.5??Mellsblue wrote:The Robson thing is just strange but then so is the whole no 3rd choice scrumhalf.
I think Mikey might have a point about the age of players. Jones likes to mould players and once you’re at a certain age the capacity to do that is more limited.
Armand strikes me as a 7/8 out 10 player across the board, much like Robshaw and Wilson, without a standout element to his game and I’m not sure that is what Jones really wants in a backrow player. See his previous criticism of Robshaw. He’s obviously come to rate Robshaw but I think that is begrudging and I’m not sure a player in that mould will be picked otherwise.
A back-row of Robshaw, Underhill and Simmonds, say, against Ireland or Wales would be a brave selection in terms of pure physicality. The alternative, which many would hate (rather than selecting Armand), is to play Lawes at 6 and move Robshaw to 7.
I'd play Armand against Italy and go from there.
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
Crisis?Oakboy wrote:True, but in a crisis such as this, where picking two young pretenders at once just might implode, ask yourself whether you'd rather see Wood recalled or introduce a more mature beginner in Armand. If Armand is 7.5/10, what's Wood - 4.5??Mellsblue wrote:The Robson thing is just strange but then so is the whole no 3rd choice scrumhalf.
I think Mikey might have a point about the age of players. Jones likes to mould players and once you’re at a certain age the capacity to do that is more limited.
Armand strikes me as a 7/8 out 10 player across the board, much like Robshaw and Wilson, without a standout element to his game and I’m not sure that is what Jones really wants in a backrow player. See his previous criticism of Robshaw. He’s obviously come to rate Robshaw but I think that is begrudging and I’m not sure a player in that mould will be picked otherwise.
A back-row of Robshaw, Underhill and Simmonds, say, against Ireland or Wales would be a brave selection in terms of pure physicality. The alternative, which many would hate (rather than selecting Armand), is to play Lawes at 6 and move Robshaw to 7.
I'd play Armand against Italy and go from there.
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
If we had a backrow of Robshaw, Underhill and Simmonds then ignoring I'm still not sold on Underhill what that should do rather than prompt calls to play Lawes at 6 is put Hartley and Cole under still more pressure for selecion
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
quite, I think its an opportunity to round out a balanced pack selection.Digby wrote:If we had a backrow of Robshaw, Underhill and Simmonds then ignoring I'm still not sold on Underhill what that should do rather than prompt calls to play Lawes at 6 is put Hartley and Cole under still more pressure for selecion
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
Great interview with Cips, talks a fair bit about England, Eddie and Cips previous experiences etc. https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/ ... ugby-union
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
I can't see him getting another chance, might as well take what money he can. That France game before the WC when he was brilliant and still got cut still stands as a stark contrast to Burgess who for all the nonsense spouted never even looked decent for Bath and did get selected will damn Burt for a long time.
- Which Tyler
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
I still feel that he's just the 1 injury away from playing for England. Eddie has Smith around the squad, learning the ropes, but if Ford/Farrell picked up a knock, I'm pretty sure Cip.s goes to the bench (or even straight in to the starting shirt if Te'o's unavailable) ahead of him, and would currently would go to a RWC ahead of Smith if it came to that. In 18 months time however, that may well be different
- Puja
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
I suspect Slade and Lozowski would be bench cover in that scenario; I don't think Eddie wants Cipriani in camp as a sub or a back-up.Which Tyler wrote:I still feel that he's just the 1 injury away from playing for England. Eddie has Smith around the squad, learning the ropes, but if Ford/Farrell picked up a knock, I'm pretty sure Cip.s goes to the bench (or even straight in to the starting shirt) ahead of him, and would currently would go to a RWC ahead of Smith if it came to that. In 18 months time however, that may well be different
Should both Ford and Farrell go down injured, then I think Cipriani would jump the queue and start at 10.
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- Which Tyler
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
Loz might for a match or so, but I don't think he would for a series, whilst I can't see Slade being anything but 3rd choice FH on any given match day.
Last edited by Which Tyler on Mon Jan 15, 2018 8:02 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- Mellsblue
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
I think WT is correct. However, would Cips, on his last contract, take less money and not live on the Med just in case F&F get injured and Smith doesn’t progress. I wouldn’t.
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Re: EPS Watch / Player Form Thread
two injuries away from Wiggy and Danny, according to Diggers and WTersMellsblue wrote:I think WT is correct. However, would Cips, on his last contract, take less money and not live on the Med just in case F&F get injured and Smith doesn’t progress. I wouldn’t.