EPS Watch / Player Form Thread

[Epaminondas Pules]

The incidence of injuries with England does seem to be unnaturally high.
Injuries can and will happen at any time of course, but it does look like the casualty rate in England camp needs looking at.
I cannot recall many injuries while Burt or Jonno were in charge.

Not sure its Eddie per se, we just flog our players- Eddie is just the cherry on top, as it were. Redpath and Willis were injured with their clubs.

Redpath was in training at Sale when he did his ACL. It happens and yes the level of flogging raises the risk.

[Banquo]

The incidence of injuries with England does seem to be unnaturally high.
Injuries can and will happen at any time of course, but it does look like the casualty rate in England camp needs looking at.
I cannot recall many injuries while Burt or Jonno were in charge.

Not sure its Eddie per se, we just flog our players- Eddie is just the cherry on top, as it were. Redpath and Willis were injured with their clubs.

Redpath was in training at Sale when he did his ACL. It happens and yes the level of flogging raises the risk.

Indeed

[Puja]

All the candidates for the defence coach position are English. According to Jones anyway. So, expect an Aussie to be appointed.

I've heard Joe Worsley's name being bandied about the rumour mill. Anyone know how he's been getting on in France?

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Very well thought of, would probably be my first choice TBH; if we're limiting it to Englishmen.
If we want someone who's going to encourage co letting at the breakdown, then we need someone from outside the Prem, whilst Worsle is out there in France building himself a good reputation from what I can tell.

[Mellsblue]

Hepburn called up to replace Genge and, possibly and worryingly, Mako.

[Renniks]

Hepburn called up to replace Genge and, possibly and worryingly, Mako.

Mako heading home for personal reasons - supppposedly agreed before the tour…

[fivepointer]

Billy going home too. Refractured his arm yesterday.

[Puja]

Any news on Simmonds injury?

Puja

[Banquo]

Billy going home too. Refractured his arm yesterday.

crap. He might take a long time to sort that out- nearly ended Gronkowski's career in the NFL.

[Oakboy]

Billy going home too. Refractured his arm yesterday.

crap. He might take a long time to sort that out- nearly ended Gronkowski's career in the NFL.

Any re-fracture is down to insufficient healing, surely? Properly healed the area should be stronger as I understand it. Of course, it might not be broken on the original fracture line but 're-fracture' (as reported) makes it sound like it is.

[Timbo]

My understanding is that once an area has broken/fractured it’ll always be an area of weakness. Quite common for contact sport athletes to break the same arm in the same place more than once.

Mike Williams broke the same forearm 3 times, Ben Te’o has done his forearm 3 times over his career. Just bad luck.

[pandion]

My understanding is that once an area has broken/fractured it’ll always be an area of weakness. Quite common for contact sport athletes to break the same arm in the same place more than once.

Mike Williams broke the same forearm 3 times, Ben Te’o has done his forearm 3 times over his career. Just bad luck.

Is there a reason they can't plate it?

[Timbo]

My understanding is that once an area has broken/fractured it’ll always be an area of weakness. Quite common for contact sport athletes to break the same arm in the same place more than once.

Mike Williams broke the same forearm 3 times, Ben Te’o has done his forearm 3 times over his career. Just bad luck.

Is there a reason they can't plate it?

Not sure. Different surgeons have different techniques possibly? Maybe first time they like to let it heal naturally?

I would imagine there are pro’s and cons to plate/non plate.

[Oakboy]

My understanding is that once an area has broken/fractured it’ll always be an area of weakness. Quite common for contact sport athletes to break the same arm in the same place more than once.

Mike Williams broke the same forearm 3 times, Ben Te’o has done his forearm 3 times over his career. Just bad luck.

Happy to stand corrected. Thanks for the info.

[Mellsblue]

Mr and Mrs Vunipola have had a baby boy. See you all here in 22 years to discuss how Jacob Vunipola is playing on the 2040 summer tour.

As an aside, Mako is punching well above his weight.

[Stom]

Mr and Mrs Vunipola have had a baby boy. See you all here in 22 years to discuss how Jacob Vunipola is playing on the 2040 summer tour.

As an aside, Mako is punching well above his weight.

Maybe make him a hooker?

Mulipola, Vunipola, Mulipola?

[Raggs]

Why are so many people excited about Ashton in terms of England? He's not any better than he was, I'd be fairly sure of that. He can get on the end of linebreaks to run in tries, but England create very few breaks, and half of them come from the wingers anyway. As for fullback, he's had some nightmares there I believe, and his defence isn't going to have improved in France.

[Stom]

Why are so many people excited about Ashton in terms of England? He's not any better than he was, I'd be fairly sure of that. He can get on the end of linebreaks to run in tries, but England create very few breaks, and half of them come from the wingers anyway. As for fullback, he's had some nightmares there I believe, and his defence isn't going to have improved in France.

Who's excited about Ashton? The press? The same press who think Farrell is the messiah and not a naughty boy?

[Raggs]

Why are so many people excited about Ashton in terms of England? He's not any better than he was, I'd be fairly sure of that. He can get on the end of linebreaks to run in tries, but England create very few breaks, and half of them come from the wingers anyway. As for fullback, he's had some nightmares there I believe, and his defence isn't going to have improved in France.

Who's excited about Ashton? The press? The same press who think Farrell is the messiah and not a naughty boy?

Not just the press, a number of posters on other forums. This forum (at least in my mind) seems to make smarter decisions, or at least it's more of an echo chamber for me, but those same people I'm sure were happy to see the back of Ashton in an England shirt.

[Stom]

Why are so many people excited about Ashton in terms of England? He's not any better than he was, I'd be fairly sure of that. He can get on the end of linebreaks to run in tries, but England create very few breaks, and half of them come from the wingers anyway. As for fullback, he's had some nightmares there I believe, and his defence isn't going to have improved in France.

Who's excited about Ashton? The press? The same press who think Farrell is the messiah and not a naughty boy?

Not just the press, a number of posters on other forums. This forum (at least in my mind) seems to make smarter decisions, or at least it's more of an echo chamber for me, but those same people I'm sure were happy to see the back of Ashton in an England shirt.

People can be blind to all-round games. They see he's scoring tries and they see he scored a hattrick against England, and they hear Stuart Barnes saying how well he's done in France...and they think he's great again.

Of course, the truth is that he's probably just a slower, fatter Drunkie Denny.

[Which Tyler]

I still have a great deal of respect for Ashton for keeping his fists down, and his head up when Manu was throwing haymakers at him - great discipline there

[Mikey Brown]

Aye. I always thought that was impressive too. There's a lot of valid reasons to take the piss out of him, but he actually seems a really decent guy when you hear him speak. He just has moments where his panic (in defence) or showboating (in attack) make him look like a real dick.

I probably wouldn't pick look at him for England again though.

[Mr Mwenda]

I always thought Ashton often irritated people because he was northern and had the temerity to show he was enjoying himself through his swan dive.

I've also not seen anyone getting excited at his return but it surely can't be a bad thing to have eligible for selection again. England have better these days but who knows about the vagaries of form and injury.

[Beasties]

I'd be properly surprised if he was considered for Eng selection again, mainly due to the fact that he can no longer outpace George Ford, which I'd have thought would be an absolute min starting point for a school winger never mind an international. I never considered him rapid, his point of difference has always been his ability to be in the right place at the right time in attack. His partnership with Foden for Sale and (too briefly) Eng was terrific to watch til they parted ways to both their detriment. He still has that sniffing ability, but at reduced pace it's not much use given his other flaws. We've moved on haven't we?

[Which Tyler]

TBH - If Ashton can learn FB play; he could be a decent option there - he's always been at his best tracking play and inserting himself at the right place at the right time - which he can do far better from FB.
However, he's always been at his worse in head-on tackling, defensive positioning and line-clearing with the boot - which are all rather important aspects of FB play...

Besides, Sale's first XV look dangerous; but any opposition is going to love the idea of attacking Solomona&Ashton at wing&FB (and dread the idea of defending them)