Stom wrote:Puja wrote:I think we're actually still in a pretty solid situation. Our pack will still have Mako, Hartley, Cole, Lawes, Launch, Robshaw and Billy - that's 5 of the players who've been unbeaten for Eddie and Lawes/Launch who were our 2nd row saviours not so long ago. Openside's a problem, but it's always been. I'd be comfortable with Thompson there myself.
Puja
And the bench? Who's covering lock? I think it's likely to be Ewels, tbh, or Slater may come in. But it's not the best situation to be in. Thompson hasn't been picked yet, either. Which leaves us with an out of touch Harrison or a crowbarred Hughes/Beaumont...which wouldn't be ideal.
I wouldn't want to see a backrow of Robshaw, Billy and Hughes. Poor Chris would be swamped.
I'd like to hope Eddie's got more sense than to try and put Hughes or Beaumont in at 7. Then again, we are talking about the man who once picked Hendrik Tui on the wing for Japan so he could have 4 back rows.
Harrison is massively disappointing in how he's regressed this year. It's starting to look like last season's form was a blip, rather than a real blossoming and this is the regression to the mean. If so, he might have a case for having the second shortest England career ever (after Chris Pennell's glorious 1 minute of action).
A bench of Marler, George, Hill/Sinckler, Ewels, ANOther, Robson, Slade and Yarde doesn't sound too bad to me. Of course, a lot will depend on who the ANOther is and on us having no more injuries. We're fine right now, but one more would really make it awkward.
Puja