The Great Big England A Thread

[Banquo]

Slade I'd leave out of the conversation, he's been average for so long, god only knows why he still plays for England. He has one good game in perhaps 6 and then is kept on. He isn't up to it.

Lawrence we've all discussed so much... played so much for England at 12 but 13 at Bath etc. I'd say he still has a future with England... I think there's a lot there to work with personally.

We've seen Dingwall briefly for England... Like so many, he didn't get a fair crack of the whip. I'd say that many here are hoping that Will Butt, Olly Hartley etc come through at some stage.

In the short term I'd play Lawrence and Freeman against Japan/from those in the squad.

so again play a 13 at 12 and someone who only occasionally plays 13 outside him. Genius . Only kidding, but its kind of odd not giving people their best shot by playing in their best positions.

I know you're kidding but to counter it

Lawrence has played at 12 quite a lot for England, nothing that new for him there and we have one game left in this series and can only pick (as far as I understand) from SB's chosen squad. Freeman has as you know played quite a few times at 13 in his career so it's not massively new for him either. To me he looks absolutely like a 13 anyway I have to say... I've said it before, with his step, balance, skills and size, I think you want Freeman with the ball in his hands more often that he has it on the wing for England. I think Freeman at 13 in the oppo 22 would cause defences a lot of problems. I don't think he has out and out intl winger gas either. So there you are, I'd go all SCW and back my convictions and stick him where I think he'd be better.

I hasten to add that on the base of what Dingwall has done in an England shirt before, the likes of Ireland, NZ, SA etc might prefer to see him at 12 than Lawrence to be honest.

Lawrence really hasn't been very good at 12 tbh, and Freeman would have to learn to defend at 13 (good going forward) but learning a blitz (mind no-one else seems to have a clue). I think all of the above sides would relish facing this pair frankly.
I think Freeman could make a 13 but needs to be playing club rugby there, ideally outside Dingwall to teach him

[TheDasher]

I'd say Lawrence has been 'ok' at 12, some flashes for sure.

I expect Freeman can learn to defend at 13. I'd say he'd be better there defensively than Slade pretty quickly.

Dingwall vs Tuipolotu, Aki/Henshaw, DeAllende/Esterhuizen, Danty, etc etc - doesn't seem right to me.

[Banquo]

I'd say Lawrence has been 'ok' at 12, some flashes for sure.

I expect Freeman can learn to defend at 13. I'd say he'd be better there defensively than Slade pretty quickly.

Dingwall vs Tuipolotu, Aki/Henshaw, DeAllende/Esterhuizen, Danty, etc etc - doesn't seem right to me.

Yes, dead simple..... I may be be biased (as an ex 13), but its probably the hardest defensive position on the park, esp if we persist with a blitz.

You make a fair point, but just sticking a big bloke out of position/comfort there isn't the best answer, even if it might be the obvious or only one.

[Stom]

I’ll ask here:

For those who watched the whole game, how was Murley?

He scored twice, but the talk in the other thread is for Ibitoye. Murley was very busy first half, getting involved and making yards, and he presents the ball well, unlike some…

[TheDasher]

I'd say Lawrence has been 'ok' at 12, some flashes for sure.

I expect Freeman can learn to defend at 13. I'd say he'd be better there defensively than Slade pretty quickly.

Dingwall vs Tuipolotu, Aki/Henshaw, DeAllende/Esterhuizen, Danty, etc etc - doesn't seem right to me.

Yes, dead simple..... I may be be biased (as an ex 13), but its probably the hardest defensive position on the park, esp if we persist with a blitz.

You make a fair point, but just sticking a big bloke out of position/comfort there isn't the best answer, even if it might be the obvious or only one.

I'm sure if you could do it Banquo Tommy Freeman probably can.

Lawrence looked better at 12 against Ireland and France than at 13 in the past two games confusingly.

[Mikey Brown]

I still don’t even understand if they’re doing something different. Lawrence needed in the 12 channel for attack and Slade needed to defend the 13 channel still sounds like 12. OL 13. HS to me, unless them swapping is what’s caused so much of the confusion.

[TheDasher]

I still don’t even understand if they’re doing something different. Lawrence needed in the 12 channel for attack and Slade needed to defend the 13 channel still sounds like 12. OL 13. HS to me, unless them swapping is what’s caused so much of the confusion.

Then you have people like Greenwood saying that it makes no difference which centre position you're in and that you should be able to chop and change.

[Mikey Brown]

I still don’t even understand if they’re doing something different. Lawrence needed in the 12 channel for attack and Slade needed to defend the 13 channel still sounds like 12. OL 13. HS to me, unless them swapping is what’s caused so much of the confusion.

Then you have people like Greenwood saying that it makes no difference which centre position you're in and that you should be able to chop and change.

We should get Banquo to have a word with him.

[Banquo]

I still don’t even understand if they’re doing something different. Lawrence needed in the 12 channel for attack and Slade needed to defend the 13 channel still sounds like 12. OL 13. HS to me, unless them swapping is what’s caused so much of the confusion.

yup

[Banquo]

I still don’t even understand if they’re doing something different. Lawrence needed in the 12 channel for attack and Slade needed to defend the 13 channel still sounds like 12. OL 13. HS to me, unless them swapping is what’s caused so much of the confusion.

Then you have people like Greenwood saying that it makes no difference which centre position you're in and that you should be able to chop and change.

he could play both well but different times and defending at o/c ishugely different esp off first phase....chopping and changing in attack, fine....actually plays to Dingwall's skill set

[Banquo]

I'd say Lawrence has been 'ok' at 12, some flashes for sure.

I expect Freeman can learn to defend at 13. I'd say he'd be better there defensively than Slade pretty quickly.

Dingwall vs Tuipolotu, Aki/Henshaw, DeAllende/Esterhuizen, Danty, etc etc - doesn't seem right to me.

Yes, dead simple..... I may be be biased (as an ex 13), but its probably the hardest defensive position on the park, esp if we persist with a blitz.

You make a fair point, but just sticking a big bloke out of position/comfort there isn't the best answer, even if it might be the obvious or only one.

I'm sure if you could do it Banquo Tommy Freeman probably can.

Lawrence looked better at 12 against Ireland and France than at 13 in the past two games confusingly.

Intl level a tad different.
Lawrence and Slade definitely werent playing in their numbered positions a lot of the time

[Banquo]

All a bit irrelevant as Dingers dinged his head and can’t join up.

[Puja]

Joe Hawkins becomes an EQP in March 2026...

Puja

[Oakboy]

Joe Hawkins becomes an EQP in March 2026...

Puja

Is that the Welsh lad at Exeter? If so, has he looked much beyond club squad standard?

[Puja]

Joe Hawkins becomes an EQP in March 2026...

Puja

Is that the Welsh lad at Exeter? If so, has he looked much beyond club squad standard?

I am mostly on the wind-up - he looked very good for Wales during the 2023 6N (especially against us ), so if he was fit and firing he'd probably be a better option than anything else we currently have, but he's been injured most of the time he's been at Exeter and I believe is very proudly Welsh, so I don't think he'd actually be an option.

Puja

[Puja]

I can only assume Batley picked up an injury.

A little surprised Oghre got the nod at hooker.

Just revealed that he fractured his leg playing against Australia A for Brizzle the week before - now out until end of the year.

Puja

[Puja]

Joe Hawkins becomes an EQP in March 2026...

Puja

Is that the Welsh lad at Exeter? If so, has he looked much beyond club squad standard?

I am mostly on the wind-up - he looked very good for Wales during the 2023 6N (especially against us ), so if he was fit and firing he'd probably be a better option than anything else we currently have, but he's been injured most of the time he's been at Exeter and I believe is very proudly Welsh, so I don't think he'd actually be an option.

Puja

Looks like Gatland reads this board - name-checks him as a player he specifically wants to lure back to Wales immediately after my post: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... k-30419870

Puja

[FKAS]

Is that the Welsh lad at Exeter? If so, has he looked much beyond club squad standard?

I am mostly on the wind-up - he looked very good for Wales during the 2023 6N (especially against us ), so if he was fit and firing he'd probably be a better option than anything else we currently have, but he's been injured most of the time he's been at Exeter and I believe is very proudly Welsh, so I don't think he'd actually be an option.

Puja

Looks like Gatland reads this board - name-checks him as a player he specifically wants to lure back to Wales immediately after my post: https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rug ... k-30419870

Puja

There's been rumblings about them wanting him back since he left. Cardiff are rumoured though that makes absolutely no sense as they have the incumbent Wales 12. He left the Ospreys on bad terms, pissed off they refused to give him a pay rise and left him on an academy contract despite him playing regularly in the first team and internationally. Leaves the shit pit that is the Dragons or the Scarlets. Scarlets could work.

He's 22 and has five caps. If he's getting promises of being back in the squad then it's a two year contract and he can probably leave again and remain eligible so a one contract stint in Wales might appeal.