Australia Tour Squad

[Mikey Brown]

It should be, he was knocked out. Absolutely no reason to risk him next weekend irrelevant of what game it is. He should probably stay in camp so the medics can keep an eye on him, he might be able to offer some mentoring to the other locks if he feels up to it.

A] you can be KOd without being concussed.
B] I don't think he was KOd, he kept muscle tone firing in his arms at all points.

C] He absolutely should be out of the rest of the tour, and not risked - Underhill too. Nothing really to be gained by either of them playing, potentially an awful lot to be lost.

I understand you've said he should be rested anyway, but if it were the RWC final next week (for instance) and he had been KOd, would you feel it is a reasonable call to let him play? Is there a scenario a player is knocked out, not concussed, and completely safe to play such a short time after?

[Scrumhead]

He's probably shouting, screaming and jumping up and down with a wild-eyed look right now.

Exactly the image in my mind when I posted that

Would you be making similar comments about Ludlum if he was at home and Earl was in the squad? I don't think I would but are we just debating who is 7th and who is 8th (or whatever) in the back-row pecking order?

I think @beasties and @ad_tigger are referring to Earl’s penchant for highly irritating and massively OTT celebrations for turnovers and the like. He’s worse for that than Itoje, which is saying something.

[Which Tyler]

I understand you've said he should be rested anyway, but if it were the RWC final next week (for instance) and he had been KOd, would you feel it is a reasonable call to let him play? Is there a scenario a player is knocked out, not concussed, and completely safe to play such a short time after?

So long as the medical staff haven't been pressured, and he genuinely passed all the stages of the TRP protcols (including further HIAs) then yes. As I understand it, that's the current state of the evidence.

I would also severely question whether the medical staff hadn't been pressured, including indirect pressure or pressure from the player (think bloodgate physio - who was in an impossible situation).

[Freddo]

was Tommy Reffell ever English . He's been tip top in SA.

I think I'd rather have two locks on the bench than Jeffries. He's a good, honest trier, but he's not going to be any better than having Chessum step in at back row. Gods help us all if Ludlam gets injured first minute.

Puja

Nowell to flanker.

[Beasties]

Exactly the image in my mind when I posted that

Would you be making similar comments about Ludlum if he was at home and Earl was in the squad? I don't think I would but are we just debating who is 7th and who is 8th (or whatever) in the back-row pecking order?

I think @beasties and @ad_tigger are referring to Earl’s penchant for highly irritating and massively OTT celebrations for turnovers and the like. He’s worse for that than Itoje, which is saying something.

That, which is enough, but also the fact that he was apparently Premiership player of the season. And now he’s behind someone called Jeff Reece, who no one’s apparently heard of…

[Mellsblue]

That Jeff Reece is going to be some player, until p/d blames him.

[Puja]

That Jeff Reece is going to be some player, until p/d blames him.

Came from Bedford, did he?

Puja

[Mellsblue]

That Jeff Reece is going to be some player, until p/d blames him.

Came from Bedford, did he?

Puja

Come on, you know better than that. His name would obvs be in caps followed by !!! if he were.

[FKAS]

was Tommy Reffell ever English . He's been tip top in SA.

I think I'd rather have two locks on the bench than Jeffries. He's a good, honest trier, but he's not going to be any better than having Chessum step in at back row. Gods help us all if Ludlam gets injured first minute.

Puja

Nowell to flanker.

I can't remember, was that originally an Eddie or an Austin idea?

[Danno]

I think I'd rather have two locks on the bench than Jeffries. He's a good, honest trier, but he's not going to be any better than having Chessum step in at back row. Gods help us all if Ludlam gets injured first minute.

Puja

Nowell to flanker.

I can't remember, was that originally an Eddie or an Austin idea?

Is there a difference?

[Mellsblue]

Nowell to flanker.

I can't remember, was that originally an Eddie or an Austin idea?

Is there a difference?

Accent… that’s about it.

[Mikey Brown]

Any thoughts on Guy Porter as “the galvanising ballast” in midfield?

[Mellsblue]

Any thoughts on Guy Porter as “the galvanising ballast” in midfield?

Link?

[Mikey Brown]

Oh I thought I’d opened the latest Charlie Morgan article from here, but now I can’t see it. To be honest it was mostly the same conversation about the playmaking axis we’ve been having on here. That line about Porter was the only thing that really jumped out at me.

Nothing against him at all, he looks a good all rounder and has some grit, but that one solid carry off a dominant scrum and some involvements at the breakdown didn’t seem like enough to suggest he is gluing this midfield together all of a sudden.

[Danno]

Yeah, I'd rather see Dan Kelly in the role but it's irrelevant. Farrell/Slade/Tuilagi is the mixed hope and that is what we shall see

[Danno]

Yeah, I'd rather see Dan Kelly in the role but it's irrelevant. Farrell/Slade/Tuilagi is the mixed hope and that is what we shall see. With maybe Porter on the bench

[Danno]

There's a reason quotes happen so often and it's because this forum is fucking stupid, not the other way round

[Danno]

There's a reason quotes happen so often and it's because this forum's setup is fucking stupid, not the other way round

[Danno]

SEE

[FKAS]

Yeah, I'd rather see Dan Kelly in the role but it's irrelevant. Farrell/Slade/Tuilagi is the mixed hope and that is what we shall see

Keep your fingers crossed for the AIs. It was a really unlucky time for Kelly to pick up that injury, he was in absolutely top form and with both Slade and Manu out Eddie has had to look at other options for this squad. If Kelly was fit he'd have surely been in it.

[Puja]

Yeah, I'd rather see Dan Kelly in the role but it's irrelevant. Farrell/Slade/Tuilagi is the mixed hope and that is what we shall see

Keep your fingers crossed for the AIs. It was a really unlucky time for Kelly to pick up that injury, he was in absolutely top form and with both Slade and Manu out Eddie has had to look at other options for this squad. If Kelly was fit he'd have surely been in it.

I worry that Kelly is becoming a new board Peter Short - someone that posters glom onto because they don't like the incumbent and so are willing to commit hard to a possible alternative, whether they're actually good enough or not.

I say this being a big fan of Kelly and his potential, but I don't want to see him set up as the new saviour of the English 12 shirt.

Puja

[Raggs]

Dan Kelly is old news. Olly Hartley is the new 12 saviour.

It just might take 5 seasons to get there...

[p/d]

I worry that Kelly is becoming a new board Peter Short

Puja

…. Did we? Surely that was only beefy!!!

That’s like saying we all thought Peter Wright would see the Lions home

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah, I'd rather see Dan Kelly in the role but it's irrelevant. Farrell/Slade/Tuilagi is the mixed hope and that is what we shall see

Keep your fingers crossed for the AIs. It was a really unlucky time for Kelly to pick up that injury, he was in absolutely top form and with both Slade and Manu out Eddie has had to look at other options for this squad. If Kelly was fit he'd have surely been in it.

I worry that Kelly is becoming a new board Peter Short - someone that posters glom onto because they don't like the incumbent and so are willing to commit hard to a possible alternative, whether they're actually good enough or not.

I say this being a big fan of Kelly and his potential, but I don't want to see him set up as the new saviour of the English 12 shirt.

Puja

Hey you started all this hype iirc, so it’s on you if he goes the way of Devoto/Eastmond. He looks a real rounded player with great defence and a good skill set, should drop in comfortably at international level and I’ll be furious if he offers anything less, both short and long term. Too much to ask?

[Puja]

I worry that Kelly is becoming a new board Peter Short

Puja

…. Did we? Surely that was only beefy!!!

That’s like saying we all thought Peter Wright would see the Lions home

There were a few people where he made their "if I was picking England" XV, simply because everyone was desperate for Not!Borthwick at lock. Sad times; we'd've been thrilled to have a Charlie Ewels back then.

Puja