Autumn International Squad

[Mellsblue]

Mitchell for Quirke is the only change I can see.

[anders_limpar]

Freeman in as well

[Mellsblue]

Ah, yes. In my safe space he was never dropped…

[fivepointer]

Jamie George back too.

[Mellsblue]

Looks like I need glasses. That’s great news as:
a) I thought he was out for the entire series
b) LCD was poor
c) I love Jamie George
d) He played flyhalf at school

[Banquo]

Jamie George back too.

That is good news. He can't be as dim as LCD was.

[fivepointer]

Singleton retained so maybe George wont be fit to play.

Pleasing to note Sean Robinson keeps his place.

[Puja]

Singleton retained so maybe George wont be fit to play.

Pleasing to note Sean Robinson keeps his place.

McGuigan's turfed out though. Bizarre.

Puja

[Banquo]

Singleton retained so maybe George wont be fit to play.

Pleasing to note Sean Robinson keeps his place.

you keep raising my hopes, and then.....

[Mikey Brown]

Does anyone predict any changes though? I can't see Eddie taking Japan lightly.

May and George back in if fully fit, maybe finding a space for Porter on the bench?

[Mellsblue]

Sooo disappointed Jones didn’t bring Loz back for the Japan match. Would’ve made for glorious symmetry.

[Scrumhead]

We definitely can’t afford to take Japan lightly. Lose and there’s a real chance of 0/4 for the AIs which would be a disaster.

Tuilagi is apparently ‘sore’ so might drop out. Slade probably most likely to drop in I’d imagine.

[Puja]

Does anyone predict any changes though? I can't see Eddie taking Japan lightly.

May and George back in if fully fit, maybe finding a space for Porter on the bench?

I can definitely see him dropping Youngs for JVP, a la the summer tour. I can also see him doing something ridiculously outre like parachuting Pearson into the back row from nowhere.

Puja

[Beasties]

Does anyone predict any changes though? I can't see Eddie taking Japan lightly.

May and George back in if fully fit, maybe finding a space for Porter on the bench?

7:1 bench? Or straight to 8:0?

[Beasties]

Ooh look, yet another Eddie squad announcement to get over-optimistically and illogically excited about in spite of all the evidence.

[Banquo]

Only seems like yesterday we were celebrating a series victory over Oz, away , with JVP, Freeman and Arundells emergence onto the intl stage.

[Timbo]

We definitely can’t afford to take Japan lightly. Lose and there’s a real chance of 0/4 for the AIs which would be a disaster.

Tuilagi is apparently ‘sore’ so might drop out. Slade probably most likely to drop in I’d imagine.

Only blisters for Manu apparently.

[FKAS]

Only seems like yesterday we were celebrating a series victory over Oz, away , with JVP, Freeman and Arundells emergence onto the intl stage.

Well hopefully two of the three will be back starting at the weekend.

[badback]

Finally managed to watch that game. Pretty dire stuff.

Having watched this England for years now my main feeling is that their core problem is a lack of shall we say brain power. They do dumb things and don’t do clever things. The only player in this group that I have heard speak with anything like insight is Itoje. How on earth has he managed to avoid being captain for his club let alone for his country? If I remember correctly he was captain of an all conquering England under 21s. You might think that would be a bit of a hint.

[Oakboy]

Finally managed to watch that game. Pretty dire stuff.

Having watched this England for years now my main feeling is that their core problem is a lack of shall we say brain power. They do dumb things and don’t do clever things. The only player in this group that I have heard speak with anything like insight is Itoje. How on earth has he managed to avoid being captain for his club let alone for his country? If I remember correctly he was captain of an all conquering England under 21s. You might think that would be a bit of a hint.

I think Jones's decision not to appoint Itoje is indicative of something lacking in the former rather than the latter. Perhaps the head coach could not cope with a captain brighter than himself.

I wonder how often Farrell has been captain over the years when the team has failed to 'turn up'. For all his reported leadership example, he seems pretty poor on the motivational side, especially when it comes to changing things on the pitch if things go wrong.

Might that be the clue? Jones does not trust a captain with a brain.

[Peej]

I think Farrell is fine as a blood and thunder, screaming in the changing room kind of captain. But that's only useful some of the time. He shows little indication of actually being that bright on the pitch and he has such a poor ability to get on with officials.

[Banquo]

Finally managed to watch that game. Pretty dire stuff.

Having watched this England for years now my main feeling is that their core problem is a lack of shall we say brain power. They do dumb things and don’t do clever things. The only player in this group that I have heard speak with anything like insight is Itoje. How on earth has he managed to avoid being captain for his club let alone for his country? If I remember correctly he was captain of an all conquering England under 21s. You might think that would be a bit of a hint.

Totally agree, said the same about a year ago!

[Puja]

Finally managed to watch that game. Pretty dire stuff.

Having watched this England for years now my main feeling is that their core problem is a lack of shall we say brain power. They do dumb things and don’t do clever things. The only player in this group that I have heard speak with anything like insight is Itoje. How on earth has he managed to avoid being captain for his club let alone for his country? If I remember correctly he was captain of an all conquering England under 21s. You might think that would be a bit of a hint.

I think Jones's decision not to appoint Itoje is indicative of something lacking in the former rather than the latter. Perhaps the head coach could not cope with a captain brighter than himself.

I wonder how often Farrell has been captain over the years when the team has failed to 'turn up'. For all his reported leadership example, he seems pretty poor on the motivational side, especially when it comes to changing things on the pitch if things go wrong.

Might that be the clue? Jones does not trust a captain with a brain.

I still haven't forgiven Itoje for going "OWRAGHHHH!" at the referee and clutching himself like he'd been shot when faced with a very mild off-the-ball tackle at the weekend, and then performing the identical routine just a couple of phases later when he got gently bumped, like a kid who wasn't convinced his mum was watching the first time. Wouldn't've blamed the ref to've reversed the penalty for ungentlemanly conduct.

Although, having said that, it's probably a good reason to make him captain. Maybe giving him more responsibility would make him act with gravitas on the pitch, rather than him feeling that he has to keep adding extra value to the team with these weird one-percenter sound effects of roaring and yelling and shouting.

Puja

[Banquo]

Finally managed to watch that game. Pretty dire stuff.

Having watched this England for years now my main feeling is that their core problem is a lack of shall we say brain power. They do dumb things and don’t do clever things. The only player in this group that I have heard speak with anything like insight is Itoje. How on earth has he managed to avoid being captain for his club let alone for his country? If I remember correctly he was captain of an all conquering England under 21s. You might think that would be a bit of a hint.

I think Jones's decision not to appoint Itoje is indicative of something lacking in the former rather than the latter. Perhaps the head coach could not cope with a captain brighter than himself.

I wonder how often Farrell has been captain over the years when the team has failed to 'turn up'. For all his reported leadership example, he seems pretty poor on the motivational side, especially when it comes to changing things on the pitch if things go wrong.

Might that be the clue? Jones does not trust a captain with a brain.

I still haven't forgiven Itoje for going "OWRAGHHHH!" at the referee and clutching himself like he'd been shot when faced with a very mild off-the-ball tackle at the weekend, and then performing the identical routine just a couple of phases later when he got gently bumped, like a kid who wasn't convinced his mum was watching the first time. Wouldn't've blamed the ref to've reversed the penalty for ungentlemanly conduct.

Although, having said that, it's probably a good reason to make him captain. Maybe giving him more responsibility would make him act with gravitas on the pitch, rather than him feeling that he has to keep adding extra value to the team with these weird one-percenter sound effects of roaring and yelling and shouting.

Puja

Itoje is an odd one, he's playing less on the edge (and conceding less penalties, but I'd rather he played on the edge tbh) but shouting more.

[Oakboy]

I think Jones's decision not to appoint Itoje is indicative of something lacking in the former rather than the latter. Perhaps the head coach could not cope with a captain brighter than himself.

I wonder how often Farrell has been captain over the years when the team has failed to 'turn up'. For all his reported leadership example, he seems pretty poor on the motivational side, especially when it comes to changing things on the pitch if things go wrong.

Might that be the clue? Jones does not trust a captain with a brain.

I still haven't forgiven Itoje for going "OWRAGHHHH!" at the referee and clutching himself like he'd been shot when faced with a very mild off-the-ball tackle at the weekend, and then performing the identical routine just a couple of phases later when he got gently bumped, like a kid who wasn't convinced his mum was watching the first time. Wouldn't've blamed the ref to've reversed the penalty for ungentlemanly conduct.

Although, having said that, it's probably a good reason to make him captain. Maybe giving him more responsibility would make him act with gravitas on the pitch, rather than him feeling that he has to keep adding extra value to the team with these weird one-percenter sound effects of roaring and yelling and shouting.

Puja

Itoje is an odd one, he's playing less on the edge (and conceding less penalties, but I'd rather he played on the edge tbh) but shouting more.

I watch Itoje and see frustration as the over-riding emotion. Most of us have experienced sporting moments where 'it's just not happening' and that's where he's at, I'd guess. He was quoted in the press as saying they all have to buy in to the system more (or words to that effect). That sounded like desperation to me - trying to convince himself, perhaps. Itoje is a better player than we are seeing currently. I mean that in terms of individual performance to an extent but more in terms of his constituent part of the team effort.

I can only guess the extent to which his frustration reflects his own form, his team-mates' contribution or the coaching.