TheNomad wrote:Some interesting developments in the last few months really
The pack is looking pretty established now, though the there's jockeying for who starts I suppose i.e. Genge playing really well IMO
But in the backs I think Eddie could, if he wanted, shake it up a bit
Youngs playing well...but Randall looks arguably the next best
Plenty of established players not really enhancing their reputation, or at least, standing still
Smith, Simmonds still going well
Redpath improving all the time
Lawrence knocking on the door
Odogwu blasting through it
Malins looking good before injury
Given how average (whether through tactics or otherwise) the backs looked, and seeing how much lead time there is to the next world cup, I would love it if Eddie tried some new combinations. There are some excellent young players there who look ready
I would also add PCokanasiga, Steward, and Parton, probably not this immediate squad, but if there's both a Lions tour and an England tour in the summer, I'd expect them to go with England.
TheNomad wrote:Some interesting developments in the last few months really
The pack is looking pretty established now, though the there's jockeying for who starts I suppose i.e. Genge playing really well IMO
But in the backs I think Eddie could, if he wanted, shake it up a bit
Youngs playing well...but Randall looks arguably the next best
Plenty of established players not really enhancing their reputation, or at least, standing still
Smith, Simmonds still going well
Redpath improving all the time
Lawrence knocking on the door
Odogwu blasting through it
Malins looking good before injury
Given how average (whether through tactics or otherwise) the backs looked, and seeing how much lead time there is to the next world cup, I would love it if Eddie tried some new combinations. There are some excellent young players there who look ready
I would also add PCokanasiga, Steward, and Parton, probably not this immediate squad, but if there's both a Lions tour and an England tour in the summer, I'd expect them to go with England.
Puja
Has Phil Cokanasiga played a Premiership game yet this season? I know we need 12s but it would be hugely generous to get him involved at this stage.
Parton looked excellent against Quins, but context is key there ... it was his first start this season so I’d like to see him against better opposition before getting him into the England camp.
Steward - absolutely yes. He really took his chance in the second half of last season and doesn’t look at all out of place as a first choice 15 for Tigers. I’d be very happy to see him included.
I love watching Malins but he is very injury prone and with Piutau now back from his injury, he will likely drop down to second choice at Bristol. Not the ideal recipe to challenge for an England start.
TheNomad wrote:Some interesting developments in the last few months really
The pack is looking pretty established now, though the there's jockeying for who starts I suppose i.e. Genge playing really well IMO
But in the backs I think Eddie could, if he wanted, shake it up a bit
Youngs playing well...but Randall looks arguably the next best
Plenty of established players not really enhancing their reputation, or at least, standing still
Smith, Simmonds still going well
Redpath improving all the time
Lawrence knocking on the door
Odogwu blasting through it
Malins looking good before injury
Given how average (whether through tactics or otherwise) the backs looked, and seeing how much lead time there is to the next world cup, I would love it if Eddie tried some new combinations. There are some excellent young players there who look ready
I would also add PCokanasiga, Steward, and Parton, probably not this immediate squad, but if there's both a Lions tour and an England tour in the summer, I'd expect them to go with England.
Puja
Has Phil Cokanasiga played a Premiership game yet this season? I know we need 12s but it would be hugely generous to get him involved at this stage.
Parton looked excellent against Quins, but context is key there ... it was his first start this season so I’d like to see him against better opposition before getting him into the England camp.
Steward - absolutely yes. He really took his chance in the second half of last season and doesn’t look at all out of place as a first choice 15 for Tigers. I’d be very happy to see him included.
I love watching Malins but he is very injury prone and with Piutau now back from his injury, he will likely drop down to second choice at Bristol. Not the ideal recipe to challenge for an England start.
When is the squad named?
No. He started the two Euro games, but not played Prem yet.
And agree on Parton. He's played in every game, and started the last 3 (2 Euro 1 Prem), but it's a bit quick to call him in.
Puja wrote:
I would also add PCokanasiga, Steward, and Parton, probably not this immediate squad, but if there's both a Lions tour and an England tour in the summer, I'd expect them to go with England.
Puja
Has Phil Cokanasiga played a Premiership game yet this season? I know we need 12s but it would be hugely generous to get him involved at this stage.
Parton looked excellent against Quins, but context is key there ... it was his first start this season so I’d like to see him against better opposition before getting him into the England camp.
Steward - absolutely yes. He really took his chance in the second half of last season and doesn’t look at all out of place as a first choice 15 for Tigers. I’d be very happy to see him included.
I love watching Malins but he is very injury prone and with Piutau now back from his injury, he will likely drop down to second choice at Bristol. Not the ideal recipe to challenge for an England start.
When is the squad named?
No. He started the two Euro games, but not played Prem yet.
And agree on Parton. He's played in every game, and started the last 3 (2 Euro 1 Prem), but it's a bit quick to call him in.
No Prem games, but Irish have had 2 COVID cancellations and then one game where PCoka was out because of COVID himself since the Euro games.
In fairness, I did say they were for the Lions summer rather than the immediate EPS.
A thought I had this morning - who will play 18 in the first game against Scotland? Sinckler is ruled out, so presumably Stuart will play 3 and Williams is usually the next cab off the rank, but I wonder if his "amusing" views on conspiracies might make him a risk that Eddie won't want to have in a COVID bubble?
Could be a chance to dash the Welsh hopes over Joe Heyes? I don't know that he's quite ready for international level yet, but I'm not sure who the other options are and I wouldn't mind fending off another Celtic poach.
Scrumhead wrote:
Has Phil Cokanasiga played a Premiership game yet this season? I know we need 12s but it would be hugely generous to get him involved at this stage.
Parton looked excellent against Quins, but context is key there ... it was his first start this season so I’d like to see him against better opposition before getting him into the England camp.
Steward - absolutely yes. He really took his chance in the second half of last season and doesn’t look at all out of place as a first choice 15 for Tigers. I’d be very happy to see him included.
I love watching Malins but he is very injury prone and with Piutau now back from his injury, he will likely drop down to second choice at Bristol. Not the ideal recipe to challenge for an England start.
When is the squad named?
No. He started the two Euro games, but not played Prem yet.
And agree on Parton. He's played in every game, and started the last 3 (2 Euro 1 Prem), but it's a bit quick to call him in.
No Prem games, but Irish have had 2 COVID cancellations and then one game where PCoka was out because of COVID himself since the Euro games.
In fairness, I did say they were for the Lions summer rather than the immediate EPS.
Puja
Totally get that. There could well be lots of opportunities, if it goes ahead of course.
Coka's definitely one to watch out for, and exposure to the senior environment wouldn't be a bad thing, though right now clear Meakes out and nail the starting shirt and hopefully chances will come. He's got the raw talent. As with others, exposure to the top level with club is what's needed.
Parton tore up in the Champ last season. Similarly needs to nail the 15 shirt and continue top level exposure. Iron out little things like carrying in the wrong, or rather unnatural, hand, but again raw talent is there is.
Epaminondas Pules wrote:
No. He started the two Euro games, but not played Prem yet.
And agree on Parton. He's played in every game, and started the last 3 (2 Euro 1 Prem), but it's a bit quick to call him in.
No Prem games, but Irish have had 2 COVID cancellations and then one game where PCoka was out because of COVID himself since the Euro games.
In fairness, I did say they were for the Lions summer rather than the immediate EPS.
Puja
Totally get that. There could well be lots of opportunities, if it goes ahead of course.
Coka's definitely one to watch out for, and exposure to the senior environment wouldn't be a bad thing, though right now clear Meakes out and nail the starting shirt and hopefully chances will come. He's got the raw talent. As with others, exposure to the top level with club is what's needed.
Parton tore up in the Champ last season. Similarly needs to nail the 15 shirt and continue top level exposure. Iron out little things like carrying in the wrong, or rather unnatural, hand, but again raw talent is there is.
Meakes is leaving Irish in March at the very latest - he's signed a contract to join LA in MLR and their season starts March 20th - so that will open up space.
Yeah must be awful for him to be in the warm in a country with minimal Covid impact. If I was him I'd be doing the same. Actually I just wish I was in Australia again, beer in hand...
What I'm saying is that if our tactics are to kick a lot of ball away, and play it through the hands comparatively less often, we'd be better off with quicker, heavier carrying centers than ball players
What I'm saying is that if our tactics are to kick a lot of ball away, and play it through the hands comparatively less often, we'd be better off with quicker, heavier carrying centers than ball players
Even then, we instantly lose a major kicking option?
Raggs wrote:Odogwu going to be named in the 6n squad according to the mail...
England or italy's?
England's apparently. I'm in favour - there's been far worse options if we're looking for a powerful 13 to pretend to be Manu.
Shame about Redpath, although I can't blame him - he'd struggle to get past Fazlet for England, whereas he'll go straight into the Scotland XV.
Puja
He's got to fight his way past the human twiglet Duncan Taylor first.
It would seem crazy seeing Udogwu in an England shirt for some reason. I've had him down as a talented, but very erratic and inconsistent, winger for what feels like years and now he's suddenly looking very competent at all the boring stuff now too, even if he's a bit unorthodox.
England's apparently. I'm in favour - there's been far worse options if we're looking for a powerful 13 to pretend to be Manu.
Shame about Redpath, although I can't blame him - he'd struggle to get past Fazlet for England, whereas he'll go straight into the Scotland XV.
Puja
He's got to fight his way past the human twiglet Duncan Taylor first.
It would seem crazy seeing Udogwu in an England shirt for some reason. I've had him down as a talented, but very erratic and inconsistent, winger for what feels like years and now he's suddenly looking very competent at all the boring stuff now too, even if he's a bit unorthodox.
I know what you mean, he burst to prominence ages ago with Tigers in the 7s, then off to Sale, now Wasps, but he's only 23 (soon 24), and has had some bad luck with injury.
Puja wrote:
England's apparently. I'm in favour - there's been far worse options if we're looking for a powerful 13 to pretend to be Manu.
Shame about Redpath, although I can't blame him - he'd struggle to get past Fazlet for England, whereas he'll go straight into the Scotland XV.
Puja
He's got to fight his way past the human twiglet Duncan Taylor first.
It would seem crazy seeing Udogwu in an England shirt for some reason. I've had him down as a talented, but very erratic and inconsistent, winger for what feels like years and now he's suddenly looking very competent at all the boring stuff now too, even if he's a bit unorthodox.
I know what you mean, he burst to prominence ages ago with Tigers in the 7s, then off to Sale, now Wasps, but he's only 23 (soon 24), and has had some bad luck with injury.
He's been looking pretty useful at Wasps lately but nothing to especially demand Eng attention imo. Until that last match which was a real eye-opener.
