EPS Watch / Player Form Thread

[Mikey Brown]

3 fullbacks and no Robson

[Puja]

Tom Wood!?

Where did you find that Mikey? Please let it be a hoax.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Err. RFU twatbox.

I don't really use Twitter so was unsure. Looks fairly legit though.

https://mobile.twitter.com/EnglandRugby

[Puja]

3 fullbacks and no Robson

Agh! I hadn't even noticed that, so horrified was I by the last name on the sheet.

It does indeed look legit. Bloody hell.

Puja

[Puja]

Vunipola
Marler
Genge

Hartley
George
Taylor

Cole
Sinckler

Lawes
Launchbury
Attwood

Robshaw
Ewels
Harrison
Wood

Vunipola
Morgan
Hughes

Youngs
Care

Ford
Farrell
Lozowski

Rokoduguni
May
Yarde

Slade
Te'o
Joseph
Daly

Brown
Goode
Haley


No Hill is interesting, although unsurprising given he's behind Brookes at club level.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

I'm guessing/hoping this is how it lines up?

Obviously I'd have George though, obviously, because who wouldn't.

1. Mako, Marler, Genge
2. Hartley, George, Taylor
3. Cole, Sinkler
4. Launch, Attwood
5. Lawes, Ewels
6. Robshaw, Hughes?
7. Harrison, Wood?
8. Vunipola, Morgan

9. Youngs... Care...
10. Ford, Slade*, Lozowski
11. May
12. Farrell, Slade*, Teo
13. Joseph, Daly
14. Rokoduguni, Yarde
15. Brown, Goode, Haley

*In the sense he'll cover from 22

Edit- ugh, get away Puja.

Is Ewels a backrow? I thought he was a lock.

Will one of Haley, Daly, Brown be considered wing cover if required?

[Puja]

I'm guessing/hoping this is how it lines up?

Obviously I'd have George though, obviously, because who wouldn't.

1. Mako, Marler, Genge
2. Hartley, George, Taylor
3. Cole, Sinkler
4. Launch, Attwood
5. Lawes, Ewels
6. Robshaw, Hughes?
7. Harrison, Wood?
8. Vunipola, Morgan

9. Youngs... Care...
10. Ford, Slade*, Lozowski
11. May
12. Farrell, Slade*, Teo
13. Joseph, Daly
14. Rokoduguni, Yarde
15. Brown, Goode, Haley

*In the sense he'll cover from 22

Edit- ugh, get away Puja.

Is Ewels a backrow? I thought he was a lock.

Will one of Haley, Daly, Brown be considered wing cover if required?

Ewels is a lock/back row and quite mobile. I think he'd do an all right job of the Haskell role and I'm hoping that's what Eddie's seeing. Anything but Wood.

Christ, a Wood/Robshaw flank combo, Lawes/Launch as our only saviours at lock, and the possibility of Brown on the wing. All it needs is an Ashton recall to really bring back traumatic memories.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

But we beat the All Blacks!

[fivepointer]

33-man squad for Old Mutual Wealth Series

Forwards
Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby) *injury replacement for George Kruis (Saracens)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Teimana Harrison (Northampton Saints) *injury replacement for James Haskell (Wasps)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Nathan Hughes (Wasps)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby) *injury replacement for Jack Clifford (Harlequins)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Tommy Taylor (Wasps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints) *injury replacement for Mike Williams (Leicester Tigers)

Backs
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Mike Haley (Sale Sharks)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Alex Lozowski (Saracens)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)
Marland Yarde (Harlequins) *injury replacement for Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

[Puja]

Looks like just the two of us here then to celebrate the new England squad. Or everyone else is too busy throwing up to reach the keyboard.

ETA - And just as I type that, here comes 5P with some breaking news.

Puja

[fivepointer]

FR - Surprised there's no Hill but Sinckler is playing well. Otherwise its all as expected.
Lock - Pretty much as expected here as well. Pleased for Attwood. Slater maybe a touch unlucky but they've gone with the younger player in Ewels.
BR - Wood is a pragmatic selection. I'm not that averse to it. Cannot see why Morgan is there and not Beaumont or Thompson. Faith being kept in Harrison which I'm glad to see.
SH - Very disappointed there's no Robson and/or Simpson. Really shortsighted selection I think.
FH - Loz seems to be on the fast track.
Centre - as expected.
back 3 - Really pleased Haley is in there. wings as expected.

[Peej]

How is Robson not in there? Care and Youngs? FFS. Don't know how Morgan had made it. I know we have injuries but this is actually a little depressing.

[Mr Mwenda]

It ain't that bad. When Wood and Robshaw start together I'll be much sadder.

Pity about 9 but I guess maybe with this run of injuries there's enough disruption going on as it is. Many coaches clearly see something in Youngs as well it seems.

[Mellsblue]

Yep. No new scrumhalf is beyond unfathomable. Also, Tom Wood. Jeez.

[Digby]

I'd like to see Robson, Kvescic and Eastmond in there, but Robson not being there is the only (slight) surprise

[Mellsblue]

Well, it ain't all bad. I'm looking forward to the avalanche of Tom Wood media appearances over the next seven weekend. Silver linings and all that.

I can't cope with it this early in the week.

[Bloggs]

I really don't like Tom Wood, as a player and as a bloke. Always seemed to willing to promote himself to be England captain, and have himself as the guy who would 'front up' to the media after games.

Am I right in thinking that after the World Cup, he didn't feel there should be a review but that the core leadership group within the actual squad should be the ones to evaluate how they did (i.e. him and his mates)?

No Robson is bizarre, as is the high number of FB's. Think we'll be seeing Brown on the wing.

Te'o - not one I'd have done, but for purely selfish Quins reasons, I wanted Marchant to carry on training with the England squad for his development. Delighted for Sinckler, he's been fantastic so far this year.

I'd much rather have seen Kvesic, O'Connor or Wallace in there than Wood. Have I mentioned I don't like Wood?

[Beasties]

Uuuurgh, Youngs and Care and no sign of Robson or Simpson ffs. I'm going to have to have a lie down in a dark room for a while. The days of getting excited by EJ squad announcements seem far off now.

[Stom]

Team from that?

Mako
Hartley
Cole
Lawes
launch
Robshaw
Wood (boo)
Billy
Youngs
Ford
May
Farrell
Joseph
Yarde
Brown

George, Marler, Sinckler, Attwood, Harrison, Care (boo), Slade, Daly

Moved from the closed thread as it's an interesting post - Puja

[Stom]

Injuries have deprived us of the now, and the future is not ready. So back to the past we go.

[Puja]

Team from that?

Mako
Hartley
Cole
Lawes
launch
Robshaw
Wood (boo)
Billy
Youngs
Ford
May
Farrell
Joseph
Yarde
Brown

George, Marler, Sinckler, Attwood, Harrison, Care (boo), Slade, Daly

Moved from the closed thread as it's an interesting post - Puja

Sadly, I think you're right. However, I'd much prefer:

Mako
George
Cole
Lawes
Launchbury
Robshaw (c)
Ewels
Vunipola

Youngs
Ford
May
Farrell
Joseph
Rokoduguni
Brown

Marler
Hartley
Sinckler
Attwood
Morgan
Care
Slade
Daly


I'm hoping Roko will get his chance. The fact that he was selected in the EPS proper and Yarde is just an injury replacement surely speaks to his favour? Hopefully?

Puja

[Beasties]

I do hope you're right Puja. The guy deserves a proper run of games finally.

[Oakboy]

Team from that?

Mako
Hartley
Cole
Lawes
launch
Robshaw
Wood (boo)
Billy
Youngs
Ford
May
Farrell
Joseph
Yarde
Brown

George, Marler, Sinckler, Attwood, Harrison, Care (boo), Slade, Daly

Moved from the closed thread as it's an interesting post - Puja

I'd be surprised if Yarde got in ahead of Roko, not that I particularly like either. I'd also be surprised if Harrison gets a bench slot ahead of Morgan or Hughes. Wood + Robshaw is plodding and lacking in impact. Harrison would not be my half-time alternative and I doubt it will be Eddie's.

[Mikey Brown]

Team from that?

Mako
Hartley
Cole
Lawes
launch
Robshaw
Wood (boo)
Billy
Youngs
Ford
May
Farrell
Joseph
Yarde
Brown

George, Marler, Sinckler, Attwood, Harrison, Care (boo), Slade, Daly

Moved from the closed thread as it's an interesting post - Puja

I'd be surprised if Yarde got in ahead of Roko, not that I particularly like either. I'd also be surprised if Harrison gets a bench slot ahead of Morgan or Hughes. Wood + Robshaw is plodding and lacking in impact. Harrison would not be my half-time alternative and I doubt it will be Eddie's.

Who do you fancy as wingers?

[Digby]

From that 33 I'd opt for

Mako (this might be the first time I've picked him ahead of Marler)
George
Cole
Launch
Lawes
Vunipola
Harrison
Morgan
Youngs
Ford
May
Slade
JJ
Roko
Haley

Taylor (Hartley has only just come back and was flat out bad)
Marler
Sinckler
Attwood
Robshaw
Care
Te'o
Yarde

That's a very harsh selection on Farrell, but I don't want him at 10 ahead of Ford, and with Slade at 12 I don't need him on he bench either. If Ford doesn't play well enough then I'm not averse to having Ford dropped and Farrell replacing him, though it's always tricky to make those calls after just 1-2 games, and Youngs isn't he most reliable 9.

I'm also allowing for May to cover 15, and thus there's no space for Brown either in the 23.