EPS Watch / Player Form Thread

[Scrumhead]

Chisholm is a good player but I’m not sure he’s a better option than Morgan.

With noting Eddie was at the Gloucester game last week so will have seen Morgan playing well. Surely without Billy, Hughes and Simmonds he’s at least worth a squad place at least.

I suspect Eddie will be tempted to go with players he knows but a specialist always beats a player out of position IMO so as much as I like Wilson, I hope he’s considered as a 6 rather than a makeshift 8.

TBH, I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see Shields at 8.

[Digby]

The AP refs are currently closest to the IRB's clarifications and declarations on the laws. Without wishing to sound like Jacob Rees-Mogg, it's the foreigners who need to change to match what we're doing.

Puja

Our position is akin to the Moggy telling the EU they could change to match us, yes they could, but they aren't and we're hurting ourselves in the process

Not really - in this one, we're following what the IRB are saying and doing as we're told.

Puja

Similar in that we're expecting others will shift towards us when they've little incentive, or ignoring if they don't it hurts us. I agree we're closer to the laws and stated interpretations

[Digby]

Given how Eddie has set us up so far Rhodes is nailed on

[Beasties]

Moon is a real option at LH. I'd also add in Catt. Both are dependable scrummagers. Ideally VRR will get a call but you never know with Eddie.
Mercer should be next in line based on the previous squad but Morgan would offer some experience. The only other 8 who might get a call is Chisholm.
These are all good players but we would be down to 4/5 choices in 2 key positions.

It's not that long ago we were all agreeing that we had ridiculous strength in depth at LH. We're gonna find out now.

[Scrumhead]

This is true. Unfortunately, very few of those mentioned actually have caps.

In a way, we’ve been fairly lucky to have had such a long run in which we’ve pretty much always had two of Mako, Marler and Genge available.

The downside of that is that the alternatives have very few caps between them.

Mullan has a few caps but has been injured for a while and isn’t really someone I’d expect to be challenging for the World Cup squad. Hepburn has a couple of substitute appearances and then none of the others have any at all.

Catt and Moon have plenty of overall experience and are probably more direct replacements for Marler, but VRR is a strong scrummager who offers more outside of the set piece in terms of carrying and breakdown work.

[Danno]

It's pretty nuclear for us to have had 2 LHs (Genge being out for some time) and 2/3 no. 8s to have gone down in what, three weeks? I hold very little hope for the AIs and just a smidgen of faith that the extension of the losing habit that I now expect to continue , won't continue to haunt us into 2019

To echo others, Morgan has to come back, with Mercer, surely. But then again Robshaw has covered there for the odd half and Tom Wood, Haskell and a couple of former, barely tested, kiwis are fit.

None of the LH options are especially appealing tbh given how long Mako and Marler have held court there.

Wtf happens at lock? A broken nose (Itoje) could be 5 weeks if it's aggravated enough, so no Launch, Lawes, Itoje and Kruis has only been 'solid' to me - which is fine and even welcome, but needs... Something.

Another concern is that the enforced changes will reduce wriggle room elsewhere, so we can look forward to Hartley, Cole, Haskell, Brown regaining/solidifying their grasps.

Think I might see if being Irish suits for a couple of years.

[Scrumhead]

Lawes’ injury isn’t serious AFAIK. A back spasm IIRC? Hopefully Itoje and George’s broken noses aren’t overly serious.

I don’t think Cole is likely to be selected.

Who knows what Eddie will do?

If the outcome is recalls for the likes of Morgan and Attwood and first caps for VRR, there could be some form of silver lining.

[Danno]

That's quite soothing. Maybe you should force the RFU to employ you as EJs spokesman for the next year+5 weeks

[Puja]

It's pretty nuclear for us to have had 2 LHs (Genge being out for some time) and 2/3 no. 8s to have gone down in what, three weeks? I hold very little hope for the AIs and just a smidgen of faith that the extension of the losing habit that I now expect to continue , won't continue to haunt us into 2019

To echo others, Morgan has to come back, with Mercer, surely. But then again Robshaw has covered there for the odd half and Tom Wood, Haskell and a couple of former, barely tested, kiwis are fit.

None of the LH options are especially appealing tbh given how long Mako and Marler have held court there.

Wtf happens at lock? A broken nose (Itoje) could be 5 weeks if it's aggravated enough, so no Launch, Lawes, Itoje and Kruis has only been 'solid' to me - which is fine and even welcome, but needs... Something.

Another concern is that the enforced changes will reduce wriggle room elsewhere, so we can look forward to Hartley, Cole, Haskell, Brown regaining/solidifying their grasps.

Think I might see if being Irish suits for a couple of years.

If you listen to Andrew Bridgen, you can become Irish on the spur of the moment.

Puja

[Adam_P]

Lawes reckons he'll be back next week, it's a minor back spasm

[Scrumhead]

That's quite soothing. Maybe you should force the RFU to employ you as EJs spokesman for the next year+5 weeks

I’ll take the job, provided I’m allowed to pick the side too. I’ll even open it up to the window of Rugby Rebels’ panel of selectors. Where do I apply?

[Beasties]

I'd like to VRR and Hepburn getting some gametime but I'm not sure Eddie rates VRR to start with. Also I haven't actually seen VRR play yet this season so it's guesswork on my part. I'm also not sure Cole's been written off by Eddie yet, especially considering what's happening at LH.

[Mellsblue]

That's quite soothing. Maybe you should force the RFU to employ you as EJs spokesman for the next year+5 weeks

Where do I apply?

Just pop down to The Priory and explain what you’d like to do.

[Digby]

If we're to recall a Glaws player we haven't seen for a while is Morgan the one to focus on, or should that actually be Twelvetrees?

[Timbo]

If we're to recall a Glaws player we haven't seen for a while is Morgan the one to focus on, or should that actually be Twelvetrees?

Not for me. His performance against Saracens was a big red flag. Looked seriously intimidated by the lack of time an space in that game.

Jonny Williams would be in my squad as one of the 12 options though. Massive talent.

[Digby]

If we're to recall a Glaws player we haven't seen for a while is Morgan the one to focus on, or should that actually be Twelvetrees?

Not for me. His performance against Saracens was a big red flag. Looked seriously intimidated by the lack of time an space in that game.

Jonny Williams would be in my squad as one of the 12 options though. Massive talent.

Fair enough, it's a bit of a brutal standard though where you're out if you look flustered against Sarries, likely we couldn't name 20 never mind 30

[fivepointer]

Unfortunately looking flustered has been Billy's default position in his international appearances. He simply lacks the composure to play effectively at the highest level. great pity as he has all the skills.
The more i see of Williams, the more i think he is a realistic international prospect.

[Puja]

If we're to recall a Glaws player we haven't seen for a while is Morgan the one to focus on, or should that actually be Twelvetrees?

Not for me. His performance against Saracens was a big red flag. Looked seriously intimidated by the lack of time an space in that game.

Jonny Williams would be in my squad as one of the 12 options though. Massive talent.

Fair enough, it's a bit of a brutal standard though where you're out if you look flustered against Sarries, likely we couldn't name 20 never mind 30

He didn't look too clever against Lyon either.

The difference between the two is that Morgan has previously been the business at international level and has shown that he has quality sufficient to manage the step up. Twelvetrees has always flattered to deceive and has never looked a convincing international.

Plus we aren't suffering an injury crisis at centre - we can still call on Fazlet, Slade, Lozowski, Williams, and Manu (for now) at 12.

Puja

[Digby]

I'm flat out not interested in Farrell at 12, and I'd happily contend Twelvetrees has shown more at 12 at test level than both Farrell, Manu and Slade

[Puja]

I'm flat out not interested in Farrell at 12, and I'd happily contend Twelvetrees has shown more at 12 at test level than both Farrell, Manu and Slade

I know you're not a Farrell fan, but that's strikingly unfair.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

I'd like to VRR and Hepburn getting some gametime but I'm not sure Eddie rates VRR to start with. Also I haven't actually seen VRR play yet this season so it's guesswork on my part. I'm also not sure Cole's been written off by Eddie yet, especially considering what's happening at LH.

VRR picked up a shoulder injury and missed a couple of weeks, but was back on the bench last week.

He was excellent at the beginning of the season and was apparently in line for a call-up (heavily rumoured) until the shoulder injury. I think he would have been in instead of Moon had he been available. We’ll find out in a couple of days.

I see what you’re saying about Cole. An inexperienced loosehead would benefit from his experience on the other side of the scrum. However, I think Williams is in the box seat to retain his place with Sinckler offering more as an impact sub.

[Mikey Brown]

I'm flat out not interested in Farrell at 12, and I'd happily contend Twelvetrees has shown more at 12 at test level than both Farrell, Manu and Slade

I know you're not a Farrell fan, but that's strikingly unfair.

Puja

Is it? 12T had some great games, but I don't disagree his temperament had a lot to be desired.

Did you see Farrell hit the floor with 3 passes in about 5 minutes on Sunday? If Twelvetrees did that people would be calling for a lifetime ban, but nobody even mentioned it when Farrell did it.

[Puja]

I'm flat out not interested in Farrell at 12, and I'd happily contend Twelvetrees has shown more at 12 at test level than both Farrell, Manu and Slade

I know you're not a Farrell fan, but that's strikingly unfair.

Puja

Is it? 12T had some great games, but I don't disagree his temperament had a lot to be desired.

Did you see Farrell hit the floor with 3 passes in about 5 minutes on Sunday? If Twelvetrees did that people would be calling for a lifetime ban, but nobody even mentioned it when Farrell did it.

I did see that, all three of them killing promising Saracens attacks. Kinda hoping his knee knock keeps him out of the AIs.

However, that's still not asking a question to which 12T is the answer. If we're going to ditch our 12 who occasionally throws great passes and occasionally passes to the ground, I'd rather not replace him with another. I'm hoping the Glasgow game is a blip, rather than a full blown reversion to 2014 form - Farrell has been playing much better than that over the last year.

Puja

[Digby]

Farrell has improved at 10 but not at 12

[Digby]

I'm flat out not interested in Farrell at 12, and I'd happily contend Twelvetrees has shown more at 12 at test level than both Farrell, Manu and Slade

I know you're not a Farrell fan, but that's strikingly unfair.

Puja

Why?

Both can pass well, but both make mistakes, with the caveat a large number of Billy's mistakes came late in games where we were playing catchup and he was getting little to no help from attacking talent either side of him such as Farrell and Barritt , and our back row selections were as now limited in supplying fast ball

Both have excellent work rates

Better decision maker is Farrell, but that relates more to the stand off role

Better carrier is Billy

Better tackler is Billy

Better breakdown work comes from Billy

Better kicker is Farrell