England side for the Barbarians game

[Digby]

You could get that by having the RFU own a club and sign players to it, though there are drawbacks to that system, or to having the reduced number of clubs we see in other countries.

What I might opt for if I could would be to have more continuity/similarity in coaching and playing styles across our senior setup, something much more akin to NZ than the more varied approach we undertake.

[Which Tyler]

Less clubs, so more combos together outside of the international season. It'd perhaps make it easier for people to break through, as people would be less likely to be penalised for being the only one coming from club.

You could get that by having the RFU own a club and sign players to it, though there are drawbacks to that system, or to having the reduced number of clubs we see in other countries.

That'd only work if the RFU bought 6-8 clubs

[Digby]

The RFU could buy 6-8 clubs for the price of 1 right now I suppose. But they wouldn't need to, they'd only need to agree a funding model that involved their 1 club.

And any which way the number of clubs/player combos isn't as impactful as the variance in style

[Which Tyler]

But the RFU's 1 club would have no-one to play against

[Digby]

I'd have agreed before Covid, but every other club being willing to quit in the name of solidarity isn't what I'd expect. Not that I'd expect the RFU to want even 1 club either, just it'd be a solution to those wanting to really reduce player combos, even if it's a poor solution to the wrong problem imo

[Puja]

Barbarians squad updated:

FORWARDS
Haereiti Hetet (Bay of Plenty, NZ), Samu Tawake (Rugby United New York, US), Tevita Ikanivere (Suva, FI), Tom Woolstencroft (Saracens), Joel Kpoku (Saracens), Tim Swinson (Saracens), Rusiate Nasove (Nadroga, FI), Manueli Ratuniyarawa (Nadroga, FI), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Jackson Wray (Saracens)

BACKS
Simione Kuruvoli (Tailevu, FI), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Manu Vunipola (Saracens), Dom Morris (Saracens), Juan Pablo Socino (Saracens), Alex Lewington (Saracens), Sean Maitland (Saracens), Serupepeli Vularika (Suva, FI)

On the bright side, we now have some players who aren't just the Saracens 2nd XV + Special Guest Star Chris Robshaw. On the flip side, only 1 on the Fijian drafted in has any international caps and it looks like Cotter's testing out his fringe players before Fiji play in the Autumn Nations Cup/letting some of his home-based players have an audition for European contracts.

Only nineteen players in the squad, so four more "big" names to come.

Puja

[Mellsblue]

If we don’t win this at a canter......
Surprised there’s no Saffas. Do SA have a match this weekend?
Looking forward to seeing the RUNY socks at HQ. I wonder if he’ll bring Foden with him.

[Mikey Brown]

Tim Swinson and Richard Wigglesworth in a Barbarians shirt almost makes Robshaw look like an exciting selection. Throwing in some Fijians might well help with at least being less predictable though.

[Puja]

If we don’t win this at a canter......
Surprised there’s no Saffas. Do SA have a match this weekend?
Looking forward to seeing the RUNY socks at HQ. I wonder if he’ll bring Foden with him.

Tawake's not turned out for RUNY yet, so it's more than likely he'll be in Manawatu socks (although if I were RUNY, I'd be shipping him a pair pronto).

On the Saffers, it's not so much the game as it is the quarantine. Anybody who's in the country already probably has a Prem contract (and thus is barred from this game cause player welfare and new season starting soon, etc, etc) and anyone outside of it won't be able to come in in time (and would they really want to lose 4 weeks of their life to quarantine in and out just to get thumped by England in an empty Twickenham?).

Puja

[Which Tyler]

I'd have agreed before Covid, but every other club being willing to quit in the name of solidarity isn't what I'd expect. Not that I'd expect the RFU to want even 1 club either, just it'd be a solution to those wanting to really reduce player combos, even if it's a poor solution to the wrong problem imo

I'd say it'd be pretty ideal for the other clubs - solves the problem of fitting 13 clubs into a 12 team premiership (remember, PRL is the clubs, not RFU; and there's a legal agreement in place that the RFU can't do what you suggested).

If the RFU club wanted anyone to play against, they'd at least need enough teams to ask ProX to join, or set up an competition of their own.

Quite honestly, I'd be broadly in favour of the RFU running the game, as PRL have proven that they can't do it properly - despite my distrust of RFU's competence.

[Banquo]

If we don’t win this at a canter......
Surprised there’s no Saffas. Do SA have a match this weekend?
Looking forward to seeing the RUNY socks at HQ. I wonder if he’ll bring Foden with him.

Tawake's not turned out for RUNY yet, so it's more than likely he'll be in Manawatu socks (although if I were RUNY, I'd be shipping him a pair pronto).

On the Saffers, it's not so much the game as it is the quarantine. Anybody who's in the country already probably has a Prem contract (and thus is barred from this game cause player welfare and new season starting soon, etc, etc) and anyone outside of it won't be able to come in in time (and would they really want to lose 4 weeks of their life to quarantine in and out just to get thumped by England in an empty Twickenham?).

Puja

Haven’t they got a super rugby tournament on anyway?

[fivepointer]

Kerrod and de Glanville added to the squad........the Barbarians squad.

[Puja]

Kerrod and de Glanville added to the squad........the Barbarians squad.

Ha! Outstanding! Presumably they're exempt from the player welfare rule on the basis that they're in the extended EPS?

Actually, come to think of it, I wouldn't've minded seeing a few more of the England players go across. How good would it've been to see Dombrandt playing against BillyV, Mitchell stating his case against Youngs, Marchant against Lawrence?

Puja

[Oakboy]

Kerrod and de Glanville added to the squad........the Barbarians squad.

Ha! Outstanding! Presumably they're exempt from the player welfare rule on the basis that they're in the extended EPS?

Actually, come to think of it, I wouldn't've minded seeing a few more of the England players go across. How good would it've been to see Dombrandt playing against BillyV, Mitchell stating his case against Youngs, Marchant against Lawrence?

Puja

Are you suggesting that this game is of true international standard? If not why are the heads-to-heads any more meaningful than those in club games? (sorry, can't remember if you were one who dismissed my club head-to-head claims in the props debate).

[Which Tyler]

Ahhh... The good old days of blaggong a couple of players off the hosts in order to put a team out...
Memories

[Puja]

Kerrod and de Glanville added to the squad........the Barbarians squad.

Ha! Outstanding! Presumably they're exempt from the player welfare rule on the basis that they're in the extended EPS?

Actually, come to think of it, I wouldn't've minded seeing a few more of the England players go across. How good would it've been to see Dombrandt playing against BillyV, Mitchell stating his case against Youngs, Marchant against Lawrence?

Puja

Are you suggesting that this game is of true international standard? If not why are the heads-to-heads any more meaningful than those in club games? (sorry, can't remember if you were one who dismissed my club head-to-head claims in the props debate).

It wasn't me, but I appreciate the effort that you put into the comeback anyway .

This game is going to be a waste of time every which way - I don't see any way in which it's going to be competitive or that anyone will learn anything about anyone. Full marks to the BaaBaas for somehow managing to scrape together a side given all the restrictions put upon them though.

Puja

[Puja]

Ahhh... The good old days of blaggong a couple of players off the hosts in order to put a team out...
Memories

They're still one short (Fergus McFadden putting off retirement for one last game to make it 22) - they might be nicking another after we name our match day squad.

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

Earl, Malins and Sinckler added to squad

George Ford withdraws with achilles issue

[Puja]

Earl, Malins and Sinckler added to squad

George Ford withdraws with achilles issue

Well that's interesting - I had assumed that the Brizzle players wouldn't come in till next week. Maybe they're in to get up to speed and won't actually be considered until next week. Or do we think Malins will come straight in at 15 as a Daly-like replacement, allowing Watson to stay on the wing?

No Ford and no Slade means that we either go with Francis at 12 or we abandon the two midfield playmakers thing we've been going with for ages. More than likely the former, unless we want to try and repurpose Lawrence as a 12. I have to say it's a disappointment not to have Redpath in the squad for this situation.

No Randall though.

Puja

[TheNomad]

Pleased for Malins - well earned

[Stom]

Ooh, Malins would be good in that lineup. Would love to see him start at 15, a great little player.

[Puja]

Haven’t they got a super rugby tournament on anyway?

That's a mildly reasonable point, I suppose.

Puja

[FKAS]

Earl, Malins and Sinckler added to squad

George Ford withdraws with achilles issue

Well that's interesting - I had assumed that the Brizzle players wouldn't come in till next week. Maybe they're in to get up to speed and won't actually be considered until next week. Or do we think Malins will come straight in at 15 as a Daly-like replacement, allowing Watson to stay on the wing?

No Ford and no Slade means that we either go with Francis at 12 or we abandon the two midfield playmakers thing we've been going with for ages. More than likely the former, unless we want to try and repurpose Lawrence as a 12. I have to say it's a disappointment not to have Redpath in the squad for this situation.

No Randall though.

Puja

Malins could go in at 10? Keep Farrell out of the firing line, give him a second half run out just as a fitness top up?

9. Mitchell
10. Malins
11. Thorley
12. Lawrence
13. Marchant
14. Crossdale
15. Watson

21. Youngs 22. Farrell 23. Dingwall

Plenty of excitement in the starting line up with some stability on the bench it we need it. I suppose Furbank could come in at 15 but I don't think he really deserves to be there so hopefully not.

[fivepointer]

Malins straight in at 10. I dont see that, not with Farrell still in the squad. I'm convinced he will start as he needs some game time with Italy the following week. Malins could well find himself a spot on the bench.
Hope Sinckler is rested (he'll be back for Italy) and there are plenty of other back row options so there's no need to rush Earl into the side.

[Shiny]

Eddie will go full Eddie and do the exact opposite of what we all expect.