Second Segment Selection Speculation

[TheDasher]

I still want to know what the ‘development targets’ should have been?

Me, too. I suppose I would have expected progress at hooker. Is Dan ever going to be up to starting? If not, why is he on the bench when 20 minutes game time could go to another? It seems that any marginal questions are being allocated to the fringe matches only. Fair enough, perhaps.

You were the one who proposed them!

I do agree that progress at hooker is needed but I think we’ve already seen the value of George’s experience on this tour. I would have liked to have seen Langdon on the bench ahead of Dan.

I'd have 3 hookers in the squad going forward, LCD, Blake and Blamire. George will be too old, Dan is too small and Langdon is a similar level to Blake and Blamire methinks but just a bit more lightweight.

[FKAS]

Looking back at the France XV game and the 23 we picked for tests, Hill is the main loser. On the one hand, it looks as though Borthwick is favouring a dual openside set up which obviously counts against him. OTOH, it was a clear chance to put himself into contention as a starter or at least sub and he didn’t really take it. One nice run down the wing clearly didn’t make up for an overall lack of impact. I accept a lot of that was what he was being asked to do tactically. However, there’s no getting around the fact that his stats were very unimpressive for a 6.

I rate him and I think there’s a place for him with England, but I wouldn’t bet against Carnduff and Kpoku (when eligible) breathing down his neck for that hybrid lock/flanker role.

If Kpoku was available to Borthwick I think he'd be on this tour. Exactly the type of mobile unit Borthwick wants I reckon.

Carnduff needs to stay fit, he missed most of last season, including an operation towards the end of it. Hopefully he's got for the start of this one.

[FKAS]

Me, too. I suppose I would have expected progress at hooker. Is Dan ever going to be up to starting? If not, why is he on the bench when 20 minutes game time could go to another? It seems that any marginal questions are being allocated to the fringe matches only. Fair enough, perhaps.

You were the one who proposed them!

I do agree that progress at hooker is needed but I think we’ve already seen the value of George’s experience on this tour. I would have liked to have seen Langdon on the bench ahead of Dan.

I'd have 3 hookers in the squad going forward, LCD, Blake and Blamire. George will be too old, Dan is too small and Langdon is a similar level to Blake and Blamire methinks but just a bit more lightweight.

But George, despite his age, is better than LCD, Blake and Blamire. Farrell took the wrong England hooker on tour.

[fivepointer]

George is 34. I thought he looked every one of those years early in the season but he had a good 6N's and was excellent last week.

Plainly we need to look at bringing through replacements. Think we have some good options but no one really stands out.

Could see Tuipolotu being fast tracked next season.

[Which Tyler]

When did 34 become old for a front rower?
I thought 30-35 was the accepted peak at the coal face?