Argentina tour

[Puja]

So Sleightholme, IFW and Furbank all look like being available for summer tour. I know there’s a school of thought to leave them to recover further but it’s possible that IFW and Furbank could be in very good aerobic shape given their types of injuries and could benefit from a bit of game time rather than a few more months without.

The wing selection certainly got a lot harder again.

Sleightholme, maybe, depending on how he survives the last few games. Furbank, absolutely not, unless he is 100% fixed. The last thing we need is for him to exacerbate a niggling issue and require more surgery.

Puja

[Oakboy]

Presumably, Furbank has said he is OK. That sort of injury is not for the HC to pronounce on. If player + surgeon say 'yes', then 'yes' it is. Any regrets are for later.

[Danno]

Nah you can't leave the decision to players. They want to play first and foremost and can't really be trusted not to play through the pain until something breaks.

[Captainhaircut]

Furbank came back against Castres 6 weeks ago and then had a minor setback. Hopefully that extra 6 weeks has seen him overcome whatever reaction he had last time out. After tomorrow, he can have another month away from games before the France A game if we want to play him in that and 6 weeks away if we don’t.

[Which Tyler]

Nah you can't leave the decision to players. They want to play first and foremost and can't really be trusted not to play through the pain until something breaks.

[Banquo]

Furbank came back against Castres 6 weeks ago and then had a minor setback. Hopefully that extra 6 weeks has seen him overcome whatever reaction he had last time out. After tomorrow, he can have another month away from games before the France A game if we want to play him in that and 6 weeks away if we don’t.

he's got pain/nerve issues from the plate. Think this is a roll of the dice for a big game, then new plan.

[Oakboy]

Has IFW been confirmed as available?

[TheNomad]

He's been training well apparently, but haven't seen anything more than that.

I still think it's a shame PBB isn't there. You could make a good case for OHC too, but PBB arguably more upside given age etc. Such a talented player

[Scrumhead]

No. Last I heard he wasn’t even back in full training.

I hope he has the summer off. With Sleightholme, Roebuck and Murley fit, why take the risk?

[fivepointer]

If he's deemed fit, i think he'll tour. Might have to prove his fitness in the French game but if he's in the training squad it must with a view to him playing.

[Epaminondas Pules]

He was training with England for the warm up camp.

[jngf]

Why does Ewels at lock seem so Borthwick 2.0 but Ewels at no.8 strangely intriguing?

[Mikey Brown]

Because you took a hard bang to the head?

[Danno]

https://111.nhs.uk/

[Puja]

So, the new Itoje debate notwithstanding, it's Brizzle and Sale players released for the France game. I'm quite pleased about that, cause I would like to see Ma'asi-White get as much time in camp as possible for them to see if there's something worth exploring there.

Puja

[Danno]

So, the new Itoje debate notwithstanding,

Hmm?

like to see Ma'asi-White get as much time in camp as possible for them to see if there's something worth exploring there.

Puja

Agreed

[TheNomad]

I’d love it if Ma’asi-white stepped up. My gut instinct is that, as a combination. he doesn’t quite have enough pace or power to really make dents in international midfields, and nor does he have the playmaking to make up for it.

But he’s very young, has been doing quite well at club level, and stranger things have happened.

Would love it if he came good

[FKAS]

I think Ma'asi-White has a bit more pace then most expect him to have so he might catch out a few. I'd like to see him in camp but we've got a few young centres who I'd like to see in camp for this France game.

Waghorn, Seb Atkinson, Ma'asi-White, Joseph, Beard etc. we've got quite a few now to pick from. Only increases when the Bath and Tigers lads become available.

I'm mildly horrified at the idea of Ewels at 8 when we've got Willis available and CCS also likely to be in the squad.

[Which Tyler]

I think Ma'asi-White has a bit more pace then most expect him to have so he might catch out a few. I'd like to see him in camp but we've got a few young centres who I'd like to see in camp for this France game.

Waghorn, Seb Atkinson, Ma'asi-White, Joseph, Beard etc. we've got quite a few now to pick from. Only increases when the Bath and Tigers lads become available.

I'm mildly horrified at the idea of Ewels at for England when we've got alternatives available.

FTFY

[FKAS]

I think Ma'asi-White has a bit more pace then most expect him to have so he might catch out a few. I'd like to see him in camp but we've got a few young centres who I'd like to see in camp for this France game.

Waghorn, Seb Atkinson, Ma'asi-White, Joseph, Beard etc. we've got quite a few now to pick from. Only increases when the Bath and Tigers lads become available.

I'm mildly horrified at the idea of Ewels at for England when we've got alternatives available.

FTFY

[Puja]

I think Ma'asi-White has a bit more pace then most expect him to have so he might catch out a few. I'd like to see him in camp but we've got a few young centres who I'd like to see in camp for this France game.

Waghorn, Seb Atkinson, Ma'asi-White, Joseph, Beard etc. we've got quite a few now to pick from. Only increases when the Bath and Tigers lads become available.

I'm mildly horrified at the idea of Ewels at for England when we play rugby.

FTFY

FTFTFY

Puja

[Scrumhead]

I’d love it if Ma’asi-white stepped up. My gut instinct is that, as a combination. he doesn’t quite have enough pace or power to really make dents in international midfields, and nor does he have the playmaking to make up for it.

But he’s very young, has been doing quite well at club level, and stranger things have happened.

Would love it if he came good

Yeah, I need convincing on Ma’asi-White. I’ve said this before but I think the PI connection and and what people associate with this gives rise to really unhelpful ‘new Tuilagi’ branding (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... e32g2yyyxo).

Not hating on RMW BTW. The articles and lazy comparisons aren’t his fault, but he’s only had regular starts this calendar year and while he’s done well, I’m far more interested in Seb Atkinson who has looked consistently very good in an inconsistent side for 3yrs or so.

I’d say the same about Waghorn too FWIW. Promising and well worth checking out, but too soon for more than the ‘XV’ game IMO.

Woodward has at least had more or less a full season and it’s not insignificant that Cheika has consistently picked him.

I’m choosing to ignore the number 8 chat …

[twitchy]

Yeah, the "new manu" thing is really lazy. Do you remember when it was ollie lawrence? Manu was a complete physical outlier even among professional rugby players. It doesn't do the player being compared to him any favours anyway.

[FKAS]

I’d love it if Ma’asi-white stepped up. My gut instinct is that, as a combination. he doesn’t quite have enough pace or power to really make dents in international midfields, and nor does he have the playmaking to make up for it.

But he’s very young, has been doing quite well at club level, and stranger things have happened.

Would love it if he came good

Yeah, I need convincing on Ma’asi-White. I’ve said this before but I think the PI connection and and what people associate with this gives rise to really unhelpful ‘new Tuilagi’ branding (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... e32g2yyyxo).

Not hating on RMW BTW. The articles and lazy comparisons aren’t his fault, but he’s only had regular starts this calendar year and while he’s done well, I’m far more interested in Seb Atkinson who has looked consistently very good in an inconsistent side for 3yrs or so.

I’d say the same about Waghorn too FWIW. Promising and well worth checking out, but too soon for more than the ‘XV’ game IMO.

Woodward has at least had more or less a full season and it’s not insignificant that Cheika has consistently picked him.

I’m choosing to ignore the number 8 chat …

With Woodward it'll be interesting to see what Chieka does for the final. Woodward seemed to be the third choice centre and trying to push into the starting spot midway through the season. The injury to Perese really cemented his spot in the first team and he's looked good since. As demonstrated by his off the bench cameo Vs Sale Perese is pretty explosive and Chieka might opt for that over Woodward's more tactical and organisational abilities.

Woodward definitely has a couple of areas where he needs a full pre seasons work. One is his kicking accuracy, he spots the right kick but doesn't always execute well. His direct running threat could do with some work as well.

[jngf]

I’d love it if Ma’asi-white stepped up. My gut instinct is that, as a combination. he doesn’t quite have enough pace or power to really make dents in international midfields, and nor does he have the playmaking to make up for it.

But he’s very young, has been doing quite well at club level, and stranger things have happened.

Would love it if he came good

Yeah, I need convincing on Ma’asi-White. I’ve said this before but I think the PI connection and and what people associate with this gives rise to really unhelpful ‘new Tuilagi’ branding (https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... e32g2yyyxo).

Not hating on RMW BTW. The articles and lazy comparisons aren’t his fault, but he’s only had regular starts this calendar year and while he’s done well, I’m far more interested in Seb Atkinson who has looked consistently very good in an inconsistent side for 3yrs or so.

I’d say the same about Waghorn too FWIW. Promising and well worth checking out, but too soon for more than the ‘XV’ game IMO.

Woodward has at least had more or less a full season and it’s not insignificant that Cheika has consistently picked him.

I’m choosing to ignore the number 8 chat …

Ah, You never know Scrumhead it could be so much worse, Bevan Rodd at openside anyone?