England Squad - 6 Nations

[Adam_P]

[Oakboy]

Mallinder????? Only two SHs.

[Oakboy]

For those, like me, who can't always open 'tweets':

England squad to face Italy
Backs
Mike Brown (Harlequins), Nathan Earle (Saracens), Harry Mallinder (Northampton), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Danny Care (Harlequins), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Leicester), Jonathan Joseph (Bath), Alex Lozowski (Saracens),Jack Nowell (Exeter), Henry Slade (Exeter), Ben Te'o (Worcester) Marcus Smith (Harlequins) **, Ben Youngs (Leicester)
Forwards
Gary Graham (Newcastle), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Launchbury (Wasps)Zach Mercer (Bath), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Sam Simmonds (Exeter), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Lewis Boyce (Harlequins), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Tom Dunn (Bath), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)

[Raggs]

Backs

Full backs
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Nathan Earle (Saracens) *
Harry Mallinder (Northampton Saints) *
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)

Inside backs
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Alex Lozowski (Saracens)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins) * **
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Forwards

Back five
Gary Graham (Newcastle Falcons) *
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Zach Mercer (Bath Rugby) *
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)

Front row
Lewis Boyce (Harlequins) *
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby) *
Jamie George (Saracens)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs) *
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)

Players unavailable
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Piers Francis (Northampton Saints)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Nathan Hughes (Wasps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Matt Mullan (Wasps)
Beno Obano (Bath Rugby)
Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby)
Will Spencer (Worcester Warriors)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)

Uncapped *
Apprentice player **


Will Spencer in the unavailable line.

Nowell in the inside backs group?

Mallinder as a fullback option.

[Gloskarlos]

How is Nowell an inside back?

No Vellacott, despite the gossip

[Banquo]

Harry Mallinder? Is he taking the pi55????

P/d will throw a wobbler, possibly correctly, over LCD

Good to see Hepburn, bad no third 9 again

[Oakboy]

Can somebody explain what the current rules are about the national squad. To what extent is Eddie committed by naming these players? Can he change, say, 8-10 names for the Wales match?

[Dasheragain]

Is Lewis Boyce any good? I know nothing about him.

[Digby]

Harry Mallinder is big for a back, LCD is not that big for a forward. Welcome to England

I don't really have any impression of Lewis Boyce

[twitchy]

Loads of bizarre calls. Oh well. Can't do any thing but trust EJ. Especially now he is here for the long term.

[fivepointer]

Boyce is a good player. Injuries have accelerated his selection but he is a player of real promise.

Mallinder has been playing a bit better for Saints but i dont see him as an international yet. Same applies to Earle, so i guess Eddie just likes to bring in some young players to see how they shape up.

Vellacott missing is a bit of surprise given the recent press.

[Puja]

Can somebody explain what the current rules are about the national squad. To what extent is Eddie committed by naming these players? Can he change, say, 8-10 names for the Wales match?

From the interviews alongside, this is a squad for the Italy game only, which suggests that Eddie is doing whatever the hell he feels like, again.

I really hope Vellacott knew this was happening, given his withdrawal from Scotland's squad.

Puja

[Warrior85]

Underwhelmed!

I think i read somewhere Malinder has one of the highest %'s for missed tackles in the Prem. Think he may be the new Billy Twelvetrees! Big back, looks ok in the Prem but completely out of depth at international.

Earle, I haven't seen anything to say he's good enough yet! Probably haven't really seen enough in general though to be fair!

Te'o isn't even the best centre at Worcester. He hasn't played for 6 months! How is he straight back in the England squad?

[TheNomad]

I mean, what the hell is going on? Some really weird calls in there.
- where is the third scrum half?
- how the hell is Graham ahead of Ben Curry?
- what has Mallinder done to deserve that?
- Kruis has been bang average
- LCD very unlucky, he just seem unfancied
- I couldn't tell you if Boyce was any good whatsoever, but there are other loose heads I could tell you are

[Raggs]

Really, still surprised at no 3rd scrum half? Eddie has never chosen a 3rd scrum half.

[Scrumhead]

I mean, what the hell is going on? Some really weird calls in there.
- where is the third scrum half?
- how the hell is Graham ahead of Ben Curry?
- what has Mallinder done to deserve that?
- Kruis has been bang average
- LCD very unlucky, he just seem unfancied
- I couldn't tell you if Boyce was any good whatsoever, but there are other loose heads I could tell you are

I agree on most of your points there. I’m unhappy about Graham over Ben Curry or Armand but Mallinder’s inclusion is simply a disgrace.

LCD is unlucky. I prefer him to Dunn, but at least Dunn had been in form.

As Quins season ticket holder, I can tell you that Boyce is a promising young player. However, I think he is only there as Marler is suspended and Genge and Mullan are injured. Obano is listed as unavailable too.

I would assume Hepburn would be ahead of Boyce anyway. I’m happy enough with that as Hepburn is a cracking player and but for his injury last season, I think he may well have been higher up in the loose head rankings anyway.

[Mellsblue]

Boyce has looked good the handful of appearances I’ve seen him this season. When you consider Marler, Genge, Mullan and Obanno are all unavailable it’s not that much of a wild card. Jones will always pick a youngster who he thinks could be test quality than an established player whose peak is a good domestic player.
Mallinder is a wtf choice.

[Raggs]

Only guess with Mallinder is Jones wants to see if he can get him to be aggressive and brave enough to manage it. Wouldn't surprise me if he, like many, doesn't reappear again.

[Digby]

Mallinder's selection does take any attention there might have been on Mike Brown away

[Mellsblue]

How is Nowell an inside back?

Third scrumhalf.

[Mellsblue]

Mallinder's selection does take any attention there might have been on Mike Brown away

Supposedly, Brown is struggling with an eye injury. If he doesn’t make it, and Jones won’t play Watson out of position, Mallinder may start. *shudders*

[TheNomad]

Mallinder's selection does take any attention there might have been on Mike Brown away

Supposedly, Brown is struggling with an eye injury. If he doesn’t make it, and Jones won’t play Watson out of position, Mallinder may start. *shudders*

Start in the way that Burrell did for Eddie, and possibly finish like that if he defends like he has been in the prem

I think he's such a talent, and really want him to come good, but it's not just his tackling (which is utter crap) but it's his defensive decision making as well. It's almost as he willfully makes bad choices to avoid making contact

[Puja]

Mallinder has a lot of good attributes and I can see why Eddie's interested. He's rapid, huge boot, good sense at picking a line, nice range of passes, capable of carrying a crash ball up, has the creativity to play 10, can cover any position from 10-15 from the bench - he's got an awful lot going for him. He's basically been Northampton's attacking game for large swathes of this season.

If Eddie can teach him not to be so bloody wet and not to shy away from uncontrolled contact and tackling like a scolded puppy, then he could be anreally good player. I would've thought the time to see that was in the last training camp though.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Front row
Hepburn and Boyce get the call as injuries have ruled out several others. Harrison might consider himself a bit unlucky but the 2 newbies are good players. 3 good TH's to choose from, so no complaints there. How Eddie uses them over the 6N's is going to be very interesting. LCD is very unlucky. What may have gone against him is that he's not long back from injury and hasnt played more than about 55 minutes.
Lock
Kruis is probably a bit lucky but Ewels is injured, and so too Spencer who was obviously under consideration. If not Kruis, who hasnt been in great form, then who? Calum Green is the form 2nd row but i cant see him getting a call.
Back row
4 of the 5 chosen are universally accepted i'd say. Graham is the left field selection. B Curry has been playing well, but i wonder if Grahams carrying and a bit more physical edge has won out. Armand and Wilson are very hard done but its clear that Eddie isnt interested in them.
Half back
Only 2 SH's again. This is now plain ridiculous. There is simply no good reason not to include a 3rd when you have 6 props, 5 locks AND 4 fh'S. No surprises with those selected.
Centres
Slade and JJ look set to contest the 13 shirt. Te'o isnt fit, is he? Again there isnt anyone left out demanding selection.
Back 3
Earle is a bit of a project. I dont think hes close to playing but Eddie sees something in him. Solomona is in the same category. Woodburn has made a strong claim and is s bit unlucky. Alas we have no FB putting pressure on those in the squad so Mallinder scrapes in and is very fortunate.

To sum up, LCD, Armand, Wilson, Woodburn have made a strong case for selection but have been overlooked. I'm sure LCD will get a chance. The others wont i reckon.
Those a bit lucky are Mallinder, Kruis, Earle, Solomona and Te'o, along with Hartley. He was never going to be dropped but does owe Eddie a convincing performance.

[Digby]

Eddie really didn't like that under pressure Burrell drifted. The England system is about cutting off time and space, and alongside Farrell going forwards Burrell was deemed to have exposed the team.

Eddie has said in the past Mallinder would make an interesting wing, which is in many ways more alarming than the idea of him playing 15