England Training Squad - Now Featuring Both New and Old Messiahs

[Puja]

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... ining-camp


Forwards

Alfie Barbeary (Wasps, uncapped)

Jamie Blamire

Ollie Chessum

Tom Curry

Nic Dolly (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)

Alex Dombrandt

Charlie Ewels

Ellis Genge

Joe Heyes

Maro Itoje

Joe Launchbury

Courtney Lawes

Lewis Ludlam

George McGuigan (Newcastle Falcons, uncapped)

Tom Pearson (London Irish, uncapped)

Bevan Rodd

Will Stuart

Sam Underhill

Mako Vunipola

Jack Willis
Backs

Henry Arundell (London Irish, uncapped)

Orlando Bailey (Bath Rugby, uncapped)

Joe Cokanasiga

Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, uncapped)

Owen Farrell

Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, uncapped)

George Furbank

Will Joseph (London Irish, uncapped)

Louis Lynagh (Harlequins, uncapped)

Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)

Harry Randall

Marcus Smith

Freddie Steward

Manu Tuilagi

Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)

Anthony Watson

[Banquo]

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... ining-camp

Skim reading but looks promising!

....George, Sinckler, Daly, Youngs the obvious absentees? Rested?

[Puja]

Immediate headlines -
Arundell and Joseph in. Excellent news. They are joined by Lynagh, JVP, Dingwall, Pearson, and Barbeary in terms of board favourites.
No sign of BYoungs, suggesting that he is taking the summer off. The scrum halves are thus Randall, Mitchell, JVP - no Robson or Spencer (which I agree with)
MakoV is back from international exile, at the expense of Marler. Maybe Joe's taking the summer off as well?
McGuigan is abruptly England material for some reason. A cynic might suggest that Irish interest was the determining factor there.
Cokanasiga's back, despite not being fully firing for Bath yet (mind, who is). Anthony Watson's move to Leicester has got him back into the England squad as well.
Ludlow has gone from England reserves captain last summer to not even being in the provisional training squad. Harsh.

Puja

[Puja]

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... ining-camp

Skim reading but looks promising!

....George, Sinckler, Daly, Youngs the obvious absentees? Rested?

Hadn't noticed George, Sinckler, and Daly. Slade's not there too, nor are Ford, Marchant, or Malins.

Mind, Eddie's come in with this comment:

“We’re going to use this camp as an opportunity to prepare a base game for the Barbarians fixture and for a really important Australia tour,” Jones said.

“We’ll focus on how we want to play, how we want to be as a team off the field and continue to develop the squad cohesiveness and behaviours.

“It is also 16 months to the World Cup and every minute counts. We want a hard-working and enjoyable environment for the players and to make sure we are all on the same page. We are allowed a squad of 36 players, so it has been a balancing act.

“We want to take a look at some younger players and prepare a base camp for the Barbarians game, particularly as we will be without the Premiership finalists, and also give some senior players a rest as we get to a crucial part of the season.

“These players will still be in contention for the Australia tour.”

Puja

[Banquo]

https://www.englandrugby.com/news/artic ... ining-camp

Skim reading but looks promising!

....George, Sinckler, Daly, Youngs the obvious absentees? Rested?

Hadn't noticed George, Sinckler, and Daly. Slade's not there too, nor are Ford, Marchant, or Malins.

Mind, Eddie's come in with this comment:

“We’re going to use this camp as an opportunity to prepare a base game for the Barbarians fixture and for a really important Australia tour,” Jones said.

“We’ll focus on how we want to play, how we want to be as a team off the field and continue to develop the squad cohesiveness and behaviours.

“It is also 16 months to the World Cup and every minute counts. We want a hard-working and enjoyable environment for the players and to make sure we are all on the same page. We are allowed a squad of 36 players, so it has been a balancing act.

“We want to take a look at some younger players and prepare a base camp for the Barbarians game, particularly as we will be without the Premiership finalists, and also give some senior players a rest as we get to a crucial part of the season.

“These players will still be in contention for the Australia tour.”

Puja

Oh yes, Slade is the other obvious one. Think Ford is toast tbh, unless faz gets crocked

[Mellsblue]

Think Ford is toast tbh, unless faz gets crocked

I think you’re probably right. Lucky Sale.

[Oakboy]

'To develop the squad cohesiveness' made me chuckle. It surely cannot be difficult to improve from the 6N level.

[Mikey Brown]

Ellis Genge
Mako Vunipola
Bevan Rodd

George McGuigan (Newcastle Falcons, uncapped)
Nic Dolly (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)
Jamie Blamire

Joe Heyes
Will Stuart

Charlie Ewels
Maro Itoje
Joe Launchbury

Ollie Chessum
Courtney Lawes

Lewis Ludlam
Tom Pearson (London Irish, uncapped)
Sam Underhill
Jack Willis
Tom Curry
Alex Dombrandt
Alfie Barbeary (Wasps, uncapped)

Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, uncapped)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
Harry Randall

Marcus Smith
Orlando Bailey (Bath Rugby, uncapped)

Owen Farrell

Manu Tuilagi
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Will Joseph (London Irish, uncapped)

Anthony Watson
Joe Cokanasiga
Louis Lynagh (Harlequins, uncapped)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
George Furbank
Freddie Steward
Henry Arundell (London Irish, uncapped)

I'd like to express my dismay that nobody had already done this after 5 or 6 posts.

I do quite like the squad though. Usual questions around 10/12 shuffle and who is a lock/6 but there's a good balance there and Jones definitely needed to take this chance to rest Marler, Youngs, Sarries boys etc. I'd probably have looked to Billy before Mako tbh but I guess we'd be very inexperienced up front. Ford out still seems wrong but not surprising. Murley is playing better than all of those wingers and has been for some time.

A couple of good poaches from Scotland too.

[Puja]

Ellis Genge
...
Henry Arundell (London Irish, uncapped)

Godsdammit, I just spent 10 minutes doing that and you beat me by 1 minute!

Also, thank you for your service.

Puja

[Oakboy]

Are Blamire and Dolly really better hookers than Walker?

[Mikey Brown]

Ellis Genge
...
Henry Arundell (London Irish, uncapped)

Godsdammit, I just spent 10 minutes doing that and you beat me by 1 minute!

Also, thank you for your service.

Puja

It's amazing what an irritating process it is to do, assuming there isn't a universal shortcut for 'cut' that I've been missing, and that they still don't release squads in that format.

[Puja]

Are Blamire and Dolly really better hookers than Walker?

Nope. Not even slightly. I'd also say Singleton and Oghre could also feel a little aggrieved at missing out.

I like Dolly, but I really don't see him as international class. He's... fine, but I wouldn't be thrilled with him starting a key game for Leicester, let alone England.

Puja

[Puja]

Ellis Genge
...
Henry Arundell (London Irish, uncapped)

Godsdammit, I just spent 10 minutes doing that and you beat me by 1 minute!

Also, thank you for your service.

Puja

It's amazing what an irritating process it is to do, assuming there isn't a universal shortcut for 'cut' that I've been missing, and that they still don't release squads in that format.

Ctrl-X for cut and then Ctrl-V for paste. I just put the original list into textpad and then go through it like that.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

I'd overlooked how much this squad is for the Aus tour or just the Barbarians game, but why bother with any Leicester/Sarries/Quins players at all if that's the case?

Also does Itoje ever need a rest?

[Mellsblue]

'To develop the squad cohesiveness' made me chuckle. It surely cannot be difficult to improve from the 6N level.

[Scrumhead]

Are Blamire and Dolly really better hookers than Walker?

Nope. Not even slightly. I'd also say Singleton and Oghre could also feel a little aggrieved at missing out.

I like Dolly, but I really don't see him as international class. He's... fine, but I wouldn't be thrilled with him starting a key game for Leicester, let alone England.

Puja

Agreed, although McGuigan is better than Walker so I’m really pleased he’s got a long overdue call-up.

I’m assuming Cowan-Dickie is out of the tour so there’s an opportunity for at least 2 hookers. I’d like to see McGuigan leapfrog Blamire and Dolly in to the third choice slot.

[Mikey Brown]

Hang on. No Marchant? And fucking Charlie Ewels is back? Not sure how I missed those.

I guess if Smith, Tuilagi and Marchant were all playing well it could raise some uncomfortable questions.

[Banquo]

Hang on. No Marchant? And fucking Charlie Ewels is back? Not sure how I missed those.

I guess if Smith, Tuilagi and Marchant were all playing well it could raise some uncomfortable questions.

yep, harsh on Marchant, also is Jonny Hill ever going to be fit?

[Scrumhead]

Not sure on how true it is, but I read that Slade and Marchant were being left out on agreement with Exeter/Quins.

[Banquo]

Not sure on how true it is, but I read that Slade and Marchant were being left out on agreement with Exeter/Quins.

No chiefs at all in the squad as it happens. Probably fair.

[fivepointer]

Mostly its fine.
I would have liked to see Ribbans included and i think Murley is a better all round wing than Lynagh. Like the selection of Joseph and its good to see Dingwall back in. The 3 SH's are spot on. Dont see what Cokanasiga has done to merit inclusion.
McGuigan completely deserves his call up but i would have favoured Walker over Blamire and Dolly.
Only 2 TH props. Would be an idea to perhaps take a look at someone else.

[Raggs]

I think Cokanasiga has done bloody well in his previous caps, England used his size and pace far more effectively than Bath had managed.

Our midfields tend to lack a bit of bulk, having Steward and Cokanasiga in the back 3 gives that backline some power.

[Timbo]

Baxter has said that Simmonds is out, due for surgery on his hip injury. JHill, LCD and Nowell will all be fit to tour if selected by the sounds of it.

Malins not selected for this camp due to injury.

[Banquo]

Baxter has said that Simmonds is out, due for surgery on his hip injury. JHill, LCD and Nowell will all be fit to tour if selected by the sounds of it.

Malins not selected for this camp due to injury.

Forgot about Malins, unsurprisingly; imo he needs to gravitate inwards.

[Peej]

How can Ewells still be included?

Interesting we get to have both Newcastle hookers, because Eddie won't admit he's wrong. As usual, a couple of wild punts based on nothing at all, in positions where players with meaningful form are overlooked.