Autumn International Squad

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah that is a painfully slow looking side.

[Banquo]

Sorry to bore but… no farking pace. But, as the lovely Birgitte Nyborg would say “I don’t comment on hypotheticals”… so, only note this if that is the XV.

Not much pace available in the backs in the squad tbf.

[Mellsblue]

Sorry to bore but… no farking pace. But, as the lovely Birgitte Nyborg would say “I don’t comment on hypotheticals”… so, only note this if that is the XV.

Not much pace available in the backs in the squad tbf.

He didn’t have to pick that squad but even putting Marchant at 13* and/or Murley on the wing would make a difference.

*I appreciate the would involve doing the unthinkable and dropping the iceman.

[fivepointer]

That backline would be immeasurably improved with Daly in it. A runner, passer and a kicker would add so much.

That back 4 (including Manu) arent exactly that quick or have great distribution skills.

Oh well, we're stuck with it so hopefully they're better on the pitch than they look on paper.

[Margin_Walker]

I mean, it may well be fine, but considering the talent available at the moment in the outside channels it's pretty uninspiring.

TBF Freeman and Arundell timed their injuries fairly poorly.

Edit - If you're wedded to the idea of a big winger, OHC is your man in front of Cokanasiga any day. He's a better finisher, probably quicker and much better defensively. That ship has probably sailed though as he's been in plenty of training squads without a sniff of a cap.

[Banquo]

Sorry to bore but… no farking pace. But, as the lovely Birgitte Nyborg would say “I don’t comment on hypotheticals”… so, only note this if that is the XV.

Not much pace available in the backs in the squad tbf.

He didn’t have to pick that squad but even putting Marchant at 13* and/or Murley on the wing would make a difference.

*I appreciate the would involve doing the unthinkable and dropping the iceman.

Oh no, was just saying makes little difference with the squad he chose. Though Arundell and Freeman would have helped.

[Mikey Brown]

That backline would be immeasurably improved with Daly in it. A runner, passer and a kicker would add so much.

That back 4 (including Manu) arent exactly that quick or have great distribution skills.

Oh well, we're stuck with it so hopefully they're better on the pitch than they look on paper.

Yep, again balance seems to be the real sticking point.

Maybe this won't stand up to the facts, but certainly feels like we oscillate between picking a big, one-paced backline like this and a different kind of all-a-bit-similar backline with Daly, Malins, Slade, Marchant etc. I suppose injuries have made it hard to get that consistency and balance right, but this looks so stodgy.

[Banquo]

That backline would be immeasurably improved with Daly in it. A runner, passer and a kicker would add so much.

That back 4 (including Manu) arent exactly that quick or have great distribution skills.

Oh well, we're stuck with it so hopefully they're better on the pitch than they look on paper.

Yep, Daly on the wing would make a big difference imo.

[Mellsblue]

That backline would be immeasurably improved with Daly in it. A runner, passer and a kicker would add so much.

That back 4 (including Manu) arent exactly that quick or have great distribution skills.

Oh well, we're stuck with it so hopefully they're better on the pitch than they look on paper.

Yep, Daly on the wing would make a big difference imo.

Thirded. The fact he’s on great form, albeit at 15, makes it even more mystifying.

[Peej]

Lozowski has been doing well at 13 this season, but it seems his card is well and truly marked after that last Japan game.

No Willis in the starting XV is mad (let alone the 23 at all, which looks a strong possibility). Disappointed Murley and McGuigan have been sent back to the clubs. Makes a mockery of the idea of form having any relevance.

We'll probably win, as Argentina aren't really that good outside of South America, it's the first match of their tour, and Cheika has bene split between them and Lebanon in the RLWC. And the scraped win will be used to both justify the more questionable selections and resist any calls for change under the "we need more time to gel, can't be too disjointed" banner

[Mellsblue]

Not much pace available in the backs in the squad tbf.

He didn’t have to pick that squad but even putting Marchant at 13* and/or Murley on the wing would make a difference.

*I appreciate the would involve doing the unthinkable and dropping the iceman.

Oh no, was just saying makes little difference with the squad he chose. Though Arundell and Freeman would have helped.

I’m fairly certain, as certain as you can be with Jones, that Freeman would have started, and would’ve made a huge difference, but it’s rugby and you he need to be able to account for injuries. You could say he would’ve also started May, and Jones might do that if he passes a fitness test, but May’s top end has gone, if perhaps only temporarily, from what I’ve seen this season.
IMo, Arundell would’ve been in the 23 shirt, at best, which means a minimum of 60 mins of plodding, notwithstanding potential injuries.

[Peej]

Shouldn't the team have been announced by now?

[FKAS]

Shouldn't the team have been announced by now?

Tomorrow morning. Presumably due to the number of late fitness tests.

[FKAS]

That backline would be immeasurably improved with Daly in it. A runner, passer and a kicker would add so much.

That back 4 (including Manu) arent exactly that quick or have great distribution skills.

Oh well, we're stuck with it so hopefully they're better on the pitch than they look on paper.

Steward isn't that quick but he's got a similarly massive boot to Daly and is more than capable of distributing having played school boy rugby at 10 and 13 for Loughborough University outside Kelly at 12.

With the two playmakers at 10 and 12 a focus on carrying threat in the rest of the backline is pretty paramount. Smith's jerking step is pretty toothless when there's limited runners off of him. That being said some more pace would be nice, particularly because the Pumas aren't slow in the backs and pretty mobile in the backrow.

[Mikey Brown]

Brad Barritt played 10 in SA don't you know.

[Banquo]

Shouldn't the team have been announced by now?

Tomorrow morning. Presumably due to the number of late fitness tests.

and because the games on Sunday....

[Mellsblue]

If only Jamie George were fit. He played at 10 for Haileybury School 1stXV.

[Banquo]

That backline would be immeasurably improved with Daly in it. A runner, passer and a kicker would add so much.

That back 4 (including Manu) arent exactly that quick or have great distribution skills.

Oh well, we're stuck with it so hopefully they're better on the pitch than they look on paper.

Steward isn't that quick but he's got a similarly massive boot to Daly and is more than capable of distributing having played school boy rugby at 10 and 13 for Loughborough University outside Kelly at 12.

With the two playmakers at 10 and 12 a focus on carrying threat in the rest of the backline is pretty paramount. Smith's jerking step is pretty toothless when there's limited runners off of him. That being said some more pace would be nice, particularly because the Pumas aren't slow in the backs and pretty mobile in the backrow.

or just play Daly in his best position of wing, you get better pace and distribution and boot than Nowell (if Nowell is starter)- and pace gives you a carrying threat last time I looked , but I understand what You mean.

[Peej]

Shouldn't the team have been announced by now?

Tomorrow morning. Presumably due to the number of late fitness tests.

and because the games on Sunday....

Ah well that's the key bit of info I didn't have, much obliged!

[Oakboy]

That backline would be immeasurably improved with Daly in it. A runner, passer and a kicker would add so much.

That back 4 (including Manu) arent exactly that quick or have great distribution skills.

Oh well, we're stuck with it so hopefully they're better on the pitch than they look on paper.

Steward isn't that quick but he's got a similarly massive boot to Daly and is more than capable of distributing having played school boy rugby at 10 and 13 for Loughborough University outside Kelly at 12.

With the two playmakers at 10 and 12 a focus on carrying threat in the rest of the backline is pretty paramount. Smith's jerking step is pretty toothless when there's limited runners off of him. That being said some more pace would be nice, particularly because the Pumas aren't slow in the backs and pretty mobile in the backrow.

or just play Daly in his best position of wing, you get better pace and distribution and boot than Nowell (if Nowell is starter)- and pace gives you a carrying threat last time I looked , but I understand what You mean.

Quite. Does anybody find Coka convincing any more? He seems to not punch his full weight in contact on the little I have seen of him. What do I know, though? I thought the same about Tuilagi for Sale recently and he's a re-emerging Messiah, apparently.

[Which Tyler]

Does anybody find Coka convincing any more?

Yes

[Banquo]

Steward isn't that quick but he's got a similarly massive boot to Daly and is more than capable of distributing having played school boy rugby at 10 and 13 for Loughborough University outside Kelly at 12.

With the two playmakers at 10 and 12 a focus on carrying threat in the rest of the backline is pretty paramount. Smith's jerking step is pretty toothless when there's limited runners off of him. That being said some more pace would be nice, particularly because the Pumas aren't slow in the backs and pretty mobile in the backrow.

or just play Daly in his best position of wing, you get better pace and distribution and boot than Nowell (if Nowell is starter)- and pace gives you a carrying threat last time I looked , but I understand what You mean.

Quite. Does anybody find Coka convincing any more? He seems to not punch his full weight in contact on the little I have seen of him. What do I know, though? I thought the same about Tuilagi for Sale recently and he's a re-emerging Messiah, apparently.

Coka is ok, and a decent pairing with Daly tbh.

[Mellsblue]

or just play Daly in his best position of wing, you get better pace and distribution and boot than Nowell (if Nowell is starter)- and pace gives you a carrying threat last time I looked , but I understand what You mean.

Quite. Does anybody find Coka convincing any more? He seems to not punch his full weight in contact on the little I have seen of him. What do I know, though? I thought the same about Tuilagi for Sale recently and he's a re-emerging Messiah, apparently.

Coka is ok, and a decent pairing with Daly tbh.

You’ll need to turn down the hyperbole levels.

[Banquo]

Quite. Does anybody find Coka convincing any more? He seems to not punch his full weight in contact on the little I have seen of him. What do I know, though? I thought the same about Tuilagi for Sale recently and he's a re-emerging Messiah, apparently.

Coka is ok, and a decent pairing with Daly tbh.

You’ll need to turn down the hyperbole levels.

I've told you a thousand times not to exaggerate

(mind, my level of excitement in the backline is about -1)

[Mellsblue]

Coka is ok, and a decent pairing with Daly tbh.

You’ll need to turn down the hyperbole levels.

I've told you a thousand times not to exaggerate

(mind, my level of excitement in the backline is about -1)

As is mine.