Team for Argentina

[Mikey Brown]

Sorry if I missed an existing thread.

What do we do selection wise? Any reason/expectation to stray from what we did vs South Africa?

All I'm really that bothered about is that Ludlam at least comes in for Vunipola and we don't continue to kick away overlaps.

I have an odd feeling that Marchant will drop out for Ford again.

[Mellsblue]

Do we go all out to win it or start planning for the future? If it’s the latter then following shouldn’t really play:
Marler
George
Cole
Ribbans (probs wouldn’t anyway)
Lawes
Billy
Care/Youngs (one, almost certainly the latter, wouldn’t anyway)
Farrell
Tuilagi
May
Daly

[Slater582]

When is the team announcement?

Given their age/cap profile would like to see Martin, Earl & Mitchell retain their starting position. If possible Arundell on the wing and perhaps Marcus Smith at fullback again if HIA is fine. Rodd on the bench and Theo Dan to actually get some minutes this game as well.

What do we do selection-wise. Any reason/expectation to stray from what we did vs South Africa?

Do we go all out to win it or start planning for the future? If it’s the latter then following shouldn’t really play:
Marler
George
Cole
Ribbans (probs wouldn’t anyway)
Lawes
Billy
Care/Youngs (one, almost certainly the latter, wouldn’t anyway)
Farrell
Tuilagi
May
Daly

According to Chris Foy in the Daily Mail, Manu Tuilagi played against South Africa with a broken hand. If true I'd get Lawrence in there at 12 instead.

[Oakboy]

Maybe, just choose whoever really wants to play and let those who don't fancy it stand aside without prejudice.

[Mikey Brown]

Do we go all out to win it or start planning for the future? If it’s the latter then following shouldn’t really play:
Marler
George
Cole
Ribbans (probs wouldn’t anyway)
Lawes
Billy
Care/Youngs (one, almost certainly the latter, wouldn’t anyway)
Farrell
Tuilagi
May
Daly

It wouldn't surprise me if that looked more like the starting XV than the other way round, to be honest. Borthwick doesn't seem an overly sentimental type but it wouldn't surprise me to see a fair few of the big outgoing names get a run. Has Youngs said anything about retiring? I just looked up his age (34) and saw he called his kid Boris?!

[Epaminondas Pules]

When is the team announcement?

Given their age/cap profile would like to see Martin, Earl & Mitchell retain their starting position. If possible Arundell on the wing and perhaps Marcus Smith at fullback again if HIA is fine. Rodd on the bench and Theo Dan to actually get some minutes this game as well.

What do we do selection-wise. Any reason/expectation to stray from what we did vs South Africa?

Do we go all out to win it or start planning for the future? If it’s the latter then following shouldn’t really play:
Marler
George
Cole
Ribbans (probs wouldn’t anyway)
Lawes
Billy
Care/Youngs (one, almost certainly the latter, wouldn’t anyway)
Farrell
Tuilagi
May
Daly

According to Chris Foy in the Daily Mail, Manu Tuilagi played against South Africa with a broken hand. If true I'd get Lawrence in there at 12 instead.

He made the mistake of shaking hands with George Martin

[Mikey Brown]

Maybe, just choose whoever really wants to play and let those who don't fancy it stand aside without prejudice.

That's probably the way to be honest. I imagine the motivation players will feel for this game will be drastically different.

At least let Lawes captain the side after a few incredible performances in the last few years and hopefully send a message to Faz about dealing with referees.

[Epaminondas Pules]

It'd be nice to end it with a bit of endeavour, to have a bit of Smith or Ford, to let Arundell play, and not just chase kick after kick after kick after kick after kick after kick after kick after kick. Give the squad some gametime.

Nobody remembers who finished 3rd or 4th.

[16th man]

There is an argument to say that it's double ranking points and we've got 2 and a half years or so to get set in the top 4, for as good a group.as possible, so we should go out to win.

The other argument is, sod just thinking about world cups, it's given us an awful 4 years, let's pick a young side with a point to prove ahead of the next EPS and February.

I'm very much the latter myself.

[Mikey Brown]

Fair points, though not sure where that first option even takes us in terms of selection.

I've sort of convinced myself we're going to see one last hurrah for the axis of evil. Youngs, Ford, Farrell gives Youngs a send off and we surely can't face Argentina again without deploying gorgeous George from the start.

[Stom]

We’ll see send offs for players. I expect something like:

Genge
George
Sinckler
Itoje
Martin
Lawes
Curry
Earl
Mitchell
Farrell
Daly
Manu
Marchant
May
Smith

…

Yeah, that’s almost the same team.

Fuck giving players a chance to impress.

[Banquo]

When is the team announcement?

Given their age/cap profile would like to see Martin, Earl & Mitchell retain their starting position. If possible Arundell on the wing and perhaps Marcus Smith at fullback again if HIA is fine. Rodd on the bench and Theo Dan to actually get some minutes this game as well.

What do we do selection-wise. Any reason/expectation to stray from what we did vs South Africa?

Do we go all out to win it or start planning for the future? If it’s the latter then following shouldn’t really play:
Marler
George
Cole
Ribbans (probs wouldn’t anyway)
Lawes
Billy
Care/Youngs (one, almost certainly the latter, wouldn’t anyway)
Farrell
Tuilagi
May
Daly

According to Chris Foy in the Daily Mail, Manu Tuilagi played against South Africa with a broken hand. If true I'd get Lawrence in there at 12 instead.

yeah I noticed he had bandage on his hand

[twitchy]

[Puja]

Do we even slightly care? It's a meaningless game - whether he gives the squad players a chance to play or brings out the old guard for a last hurrah. It's not going to tell us huge amounts about any new faces, nor anything about Suspended Bootstraps's future plans, cause he's not going to change much for one week at the end of a massive international window. Frankly, I'd be as well just not playing it and just giving the players back to their clubs so that we can bring the quality of the Premiership back up again.

Puja

[morepork]

It could be an opportunity for the Blazers to see a Plan B that doesn't involve ignoring the backline past 10 and aggressively whining to the ref?

[Banquo]

Do we even slightly care? It's a meaningless game - whether he gives the squad players a chance to play or brings out the old guard for a last hurrah. It's not going to tell us huge amounts about any new faces, nor anything about Suspended Bootstraps's future plans, cause he's not going to change much for one week at the end of a massive international window. Frankly, I'd be as well just not playing it and just giving the players back to their clubs so that we can bring the quality of the Premiership back up again.

Puja

suspect there's a mandatory rest period tho...

[Puja]

Do we even slightly care? It's a meaningless game - whether he gives the squad players a chance to play or brings out the old guard for a last hurrah. It's not going to tell us huge amounts about any new faces, nor anything about Suspended Bootstraps's future plans, cause he's not going to change much for one week at the end of a massive international window. Frankly, I'd be as well just not playing it and just giving the players back to their clubs so that we can bring the quality of the Premiership back up again.

Puja

suspect there's a mandatory rest period tho...

Which could be starting one week earlier...

Is there a mandatory rest period though? Or is it that they are only allowed to play them for X number of games across the next Y weeks? Would seem silly as well to have a blanket rule that treats Bevan Rodd, who's barely seen anything but a tackle shield for a couple of months, the same as Jamie George, the man who can never be substituted.

Puja

[francoisfou]

Nobody remembers who finished 3rd or 4th.

Exactement! And who gives a monkey’s? But will Sugar Babe put aside all thoughts of giving all imminent retirees a final hurrah, and pick the younger players who want to put their hands up for the forthcoming 6N? I doubt it.

[FKAS]

It could be an opportunity for the Blazers to see a Plan B that doesn't involve ignoring the backline past 10 and aggressively whining to the ref?

Plan B being drop Farrell then. It's novel. None of the last three England head coaches have really gone with it as a plan despite George Ford generally showing up as more than capable.

[fivepointer]

Would be nice to see a few guys get a run who have largely been overlooked or underused like Dan, Rodd, Ribbans, Ludlam, Lawrence and Arundell but it may be we see a largely unchanged side barring any injury.

[Beasties]

This is the most depressing thread I’ve ever read on here. We’re actually considering wheeling out the old gummie bears for one more polish of the medals instead of giving the youngsters a game at last and some int’l experience, however dodgy? No one gives a fekk. It’s a third place play off, these lads have been desperate for a go. FML.

[Galfon]

Consensus seems to be with Dan, Lawrence and Arundell starting, but for the rest Sgt. Bilko will probs. play safe. Agree sentiment shoild not play part in selection.

[Banquo]

Sgt. Bilko

[Mikey Brown]

Consensus seems to be with Dan, Lawrence and Arundell starting, but for the rest Sgt. Bilko will probs. play safe. Agree sentiment shoild not play part in selection.

Consensus where? Here? Or are there some hints from training bibs circulating?

Just read a pulsating Telegraph article where a bunch of journos named their teams. Pretty much entirely the same 23, with a few votes for those guys and Billy V dropping out (of most, but not all!) of the squad.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... -play-off/

Truly thrilling stuff.

[Galfon]

Not that close to the throbbing heart unfortunately, but journos, incl. said 'experts' in DT. ! Astounding.