6 Nations Squad Announcement - 11:30am

[FKAS]

We’re debating whether the back three is slow so including one third of the unit in the debate is relevant. If Furbank were at 15 or Sleightholme at 11 then I wouldn’t be saying it’s a slow back three…
Thank you for restating for the hundredth time what Steward’s obvious strengths are.

Yeah but I disputed the assertion the wingers were slow. You realised you were wrong and pivoted.

lol. You’re right. You disputed it, the scales suddenly fell from my eyes and I realised that Freeman and Roebuck were faster than I thought.

Glad you saw reason.

[Oakboy]

Telegraph reckon Curry x 2 and Earl in the back row. Chessum, CCS and Willis on bench.

Bit surprising so great it’s come out on Tuesday before the test so Ireland have plenty of time to adapt…

When will Severely Blinkered see that Willis and Hill need to start - far too late, it would seem

Without sounding like a broken record Willis should have been in the AI 23 ahead of Dombrandt. The fact that he wasn’t leaves us (apparently) scared of starting him in the big boys sandpit

This. Whatever might theoretically be gained from picking (in experience terms) any of Curry x 2 and Earl, all three (T Curry since injury and Earl post-RWC) have come up short against top opposition. Willis should have been given at least two lots of 80 in the AIs but even starting from here, he is more of a threat to Ireland than any other back-rower we have. The build-up in the training camp should have been based on selecting a back-row around him. To pick him on the bench would not just be an error in itself but indicate that the preparation has been wrong.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah but I disputed the assertion the wingers were slow. You realised you were wrong and pivoted.

lol. You’re right. You disputed it, the scales suddenly fell from my eyes and I realised that Freeman and Roebuck were faster than I thought.

Glad you saw reason.

Keep going guys. I'm really enjoying this.

[Oakboy]

When's the team due to be announced officially? I really want to be optimistic going into a new 6N but I'm feeling quite apprehensive about the selection.

[Mellsblue]

lol. You’re right. You disputed it, the scales suddenly fell from my eyes and I realised that Freeman and Roebuck were faster than I thought.

Glad you saw reason.

I'm really enjoying this.

I’d dispute that.

[Mikey Brown]

Do we know when the team is actually supposed to be announced or is that also just going to be a list of random times that could be right?

[Mikey Brown]

Glad you saw reason.

I'm really enjoying this.

I’d dispute that.

Well you are wrong, once again.

[Mellsblue]

I'm really enjoying this.

I’d dispute that.

Well you are wrong, once again.

The scales are falling from my eyes faster than a back three of Freeman, Roebuck and Steward this morning.

[p/d]

I’d dispute that.

Well you are wrong, once again.

The scales are falling from my eyes faster than a back three of Freeman, Roebuck and Steward.

That quick!!!!

[Danno]

So, to summarise, we so far have definitive confirmation that Slightly Bemusing is selecting: 6. Chessum, 7. Earl, 8. TCurry, and also 6. Chessum, 7. TCurry, 8. Earl, and also 6. Chessum, 7. BCurry, 8. TCurry, and also 6. TCurry, 7. BCurry, 8. Earl.

Anyone else feel like maybe it's not worth shouting at Strangely Beleaguered for what Mail/Ruck.co.uk's predicted selections are, given that they all appear to be guesses so far?

Puja

Whilst it’s lovely on one level that the Curry brothers (may) get to start a test together if accurate it smacks of sentimentality on the part of Smudger Bouffant and whilst I’m prepared to see how he does in this 6 Nations, doesn’t bode well - I’d even have Earl starting at 8 in preference and you all know how lukewarm I am about that in itself.

Sentimentality?

[p/d]

So, to summarise, we so far have definitive confirmation that Slightly Bemusing is selecting: 6. Chessum, 7. Earl, 8. TCurry, and also 6. Chessum, 7. TCurry, 8. Earl, and also 6. Chessum, 7. BCurry, 8. TCurry, and also 6. TCurry, 7. BCurry, 8. Earl.

Anyone else feel like maybe it's not worth shouting at Strangely Beleaguered for what Mail/Ruck.co.uk's predicted selections are, given that they all appear to be guesses so far?

Puja

Whilst it’s lovely on one level that the Curry brothers (may) get to start a test together if accurate it smacks of sentimentality on the part of Smudger Bouffant and whilst I’m prepared to see how he does in this 6 Nations, doesn’t bode well - I’d even have Earl starting at 8 in preference and you all know how lukewarm I am about that in itself.

Sentimentality?

A film starring Kate Beckinsale I believe

[FKAS]

Well you are wrong, once again.

The scales are falling from my eyes faster than a back three of Freeman, Roebuck and Steward.

That quick!!!!

Practically instantaneous.

[Which Tyler]

Practically instantaneous.

Have you tried meditation and breathing exercises?
Or bromide?

[fivepointer]

The Guardian reports -

Tom and Ben Curry are set to start together for England for the first time with Steve Borthwick primed to unleash the back-row twins in Saturday’s Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin.

The 26-year-old Sale Sharks flankers have never played together for England before despite both being in the squad against New Zealand in November. During that narrow defeat, Ben replaced Tom so Saturday is expected to mark the first time they have taken the field together in England colours. Ben has been in excellent form for Sale and Borthwick will have been impressed with how the twins dovetailed in Sale’s 38-0 win at Bristol in late December.

With Ben Earl also expected to start at No 8, Borthwick is set to opt for a dynamic back-row with an emphasis on breakdown ability. Ollie Chessum is likely to take his spot on a 6-2 bench and provide cover at lock and flanker, having made just one appearance since sustaining a knee injury in October. Tom Willis, the Saracens No 8, is also in line for a place on the bench.

[Captainhaircut]

So telegraph, guardian and times all going with Curry x 2.

So sounds like

Genge
LCD
Stuart
Martin
Itoje
Curry
Curry
Earl
Mitchell
MSmith
Slade
Lawrence
Freeman
Roebuck
Steward

Rodd/Baxter
Dan
Heyes/AOF
chessum
CCS
Willis
Spencer/Quirke/Randall
Fsmith

Said last night that it’s not miles away from what a lot of people would want. Swap Earl for Willis, IFW back in when fit for Roebuck and Atkinson in for Slade and a lot would be happy.

I’m still an advocate for Freeman at 13 (think he’s our most rounded back and he never touches the ball at 11, plus we have a lot of good wingers) so I’d at Murley coming in for Lawrence to that list too. Chessum or CCS for one of the Curry’s could be a horses for courses selection.

But only 3 or 4 away from being there? Still feels miles away but progress maybe..

[jngf]

By my calculation that makes our average back row height 6’ 0.5” and weight 16 stone - oh well at least T Curry is on a flank

[Mikey Brown]

I wonder how front 5 and replacements will be handled. That would be an incredibly green front row (along with a questionably match fit Chessum) to bring on all at once. Is there a case for giving one of the young props a go from the start (knowing we can replace them) or just hope the starters can go the distance?

CCS and Willis offers great impact off the bench, but it feels poorly balanced when you've got three opensides out there to start with. Earl appears unsubbable so I guess Willis is coming on for Ben Curry in all likelihood.

[jngf]

I wonder how front 5 and replacements will be handled. That would be an incredibly green front row (along with a questionably match fit Chessum) to bring on all at once. Is there a case for giving one of the young props a go from the start (knowing we can replace them) or just hope the starters can go the distance?

CCS and Willis offers great impact off the bench, but it feels poorly balanced when you've got three opensides out there to start with. Earl appears unsubbable so I guess Willis is coming on for Ben Curry in all likelihood.

My chief concern is there’s Jack Jones tight ball carrying power in that starting backrow ( and no obvious lineout option either ).

[Oakboy]

I wonder how front 5 and replacements will be handled. That would be an incredibly green front row (along with a questionably match fit Chessum) to bring on all at once. Is there a case for giving one of the young props a go from the start (knowing we can replace them) or just hope the starters can go the distance?

CCS and Willis offers great impact off the bench, but it feels poorly balanced when you've got three opensides out there to start with. Earl appears unsubbable so I guess Willis is coming on for Ben Curry in all likelihood.

Why do you think Willis makes a good replacement? To me, he is a quality physical presence who starts or nothing. I don't want him going apeshit for 20. It is just not his game. Earl, on the other hand . . .

[Banquo]

I wonder how front 5 and replacements will be handled. That would be an incredibly green front row (along with a questionably match fit Chessum) to bring on all at once. Is there a case for giving one of the young props a go from the start (knowing we can replace them) or just hope the starters can go the distance?

CCS and Willis offers great impact off the bench, but it feels poorly balanced when you've got three opensides out there to start with. Earl appears unsubbable so I guess Willis is coming on for Ben Curry in all likelihood.

Why do you think Willis makes a good replacement? To me, he is a quality physical presence who starts or nothing. I don't want him going apeshit for 20. It is just not his game. Earl, on the other hand . . .

He's saying as he isn't starting he'd make a good impact off the bench, not that he's a good replacement per se- I'd think.

IMO that back row whilst individually decent players will just get blasted off the ball by the better back rows, ie the Irish and French for sure, and make little headway carrying. If we are planning to play wide and fast, then....good luck

[Which Tyler]

If we are planning to play wide and fast....

[Banquo]

If we are planning to play wide and fast....

why else would you pick that back row?

[Mikey Brown]

If we are planning to play wide and fast....

why else would you pick that back row?

To make up for the glacial back three?

[Mikey Brown]

We could probably swap them round actually.

[jngf]

We could probably swap them round actually.

Has Borthwick been talking to SCW?