EPS Watch / Player Form Thread

[Peat]

Lawes over Launch? Yer what?

[kk67]

I don't have too much problem with CGS and Launch to start.

[Timbo]

Lawes over Launch? Yer what?

I'm a massive fan of Launchbury, but Lawes has been fantastic all season. IMO the best second row in the country at the moment. I think Jones has switched something on in him, he's improved across the board. His carrying has improved to the point where I'd say he is the best ball carrier of all our locks.

And T. Harrison will start producing for us this 6 nations too, as long as we get the ball in his hands.

I'm not a Saints fan btw.

[Beasties]

The following 25 players have been retained by England:

Forwards: D Cole (Leicester), E Genge (Leicester), J George (Saracens), T Harrison (Northampton), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), N Hughes (Wasps), M Itoje (Saracens), G Kruis (Saracens), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton), J Marler (Harlequins), M Mullan (Wasps), K Sinckler (Harlequins), T Wood (Northampton)

Backs: M Brown (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), E Daly (Wasps), O Farrell (Saracens), G Ford (Bath), J Joseph (Bath), J May (Gloucester), J Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), B Te'o (Worcester Warriors), B Youngs (Leicester)

Anyone got a list of who's been sent home?

[twitchy]

[fivepointer]

England forward George Kruis will miss England's opening match of the RBS 6 Nations after being ruled out with a knee ligament injury.

Kruis will see a specialist tomorrow (Thursday 2 February) to determine further management of the injury.

Saracens lock Kruis has 20 caps for England and last played for his country in the Old Mutual Wealth Series victory against Australia.

“We’ll have to wait and see what the specialist’s prognosis is, but we’re not ruling him out of the RBS 6 Nations at this stage," said England head coach Eddie Jones.

[twitchy]

Some one has the voodoo curse on us this 6N. It isn't looking good is it.

[Timbo]

Lawes and Launch it is then.

[JellyHead]

Some one has the voodoo curse on us this 6N. It isn't looking good is it.

I don't get this. Clearly I'd prefer a clear squad but from the previous 23's in the pack we've lost the loose head and number 8 who only became first choice 18 months ago, a lock who is either first or fourth choice depending in you personal preference and a flanker who 2 years ago a lot of people wanted out so new players could be given a chance. From the backs it's watson who may or may not be on the wing or at full back, again down to personal preference. Manu has been out to long to count. If this is a voodoo curse then Baron Samedi has lost his teath.

[Mikey Brown]

Who gets the 19 shirt if it's 4 Launch 5 Lawes 6 Itoje?

[Timbo]

The Hask and Harrison will bench I'd imagine.

[Mikey Brown]

Well that's exciting.

[fivepointer]

Some one has the voodoo curse on us this 6N. It isn't looking good is it.

I don't get this. Clearly I'd prefer a clear squad but from the previous 23's in the pack we've lost the loose head and number 8 who only became first choice 18 months ago, a lock who is either first or fourth choice depending in you personal preference and a flanker who 2 years ago a lot of people wanted out so new players could be given a chance. From the backs it's watson who may or may not be on the wing or at full back, again down to personal preference. Manu has been out to long to count. If this is a voodoo curse then Baron Samedi has lost his teath.

Yep, you have to accept injuries but we've lost 4 of our starting pack and that is going to have an effect.

We've covered well up to now with missing players, though you do worry there may come a time when that starts to bite.

Fortunately I think the French are in an even worse position.

[Mellsblue]

Some one has the voodoo curse on us this 6N. It isn't looking good is it.

I don't get this. Clearly I'd prefer a clear squad but from the previous 23's in the pack we've lost the loose head and number 8 who only became first choice 18 months ago, a lock who is either first or fourth choice depending in you personal preference and a flanker who 2 years ago a lot of people wanted out so new players could be given a chance. From the backs it's watson who may or may not be on the wing or at full back, again down to personal preference. Manu has been out to long to count. If this is a voodoo curse then Baron Samedi has lost his teath.

Yep, you have to accept injuries but we've lost 4 of our starting pack and that is going to have an effect.

We've covered well up to now with missing players, though you do worry there may come a time when that starts to bite.

Fortunately I think the French are in an even worse position.

Injuries and Hartley's ban have affected the entire pack.
Marler and Hartley are playing after weeks of no game time. Marler will probably have had only a few days training prior to the match. One first choice lock is injured whilst the other seems certain to play on the back row. None of the first choice backrow will start, with one on the bench after 60ish mins of rugby all season.
In essence, only Cole could be deemed a first choice, playing in the preferred position and being at full match fitness. That's a heavily compromised pack.
Personally, I've no worries about second row, due to fantastic strength in depth, but both back and front row worry me.

[Mellsblue]

The Times are predicting:
Marler
Hartley
Cole
Launchbury
Lawes
Itoje
Wood
Hughes

Youngs
Ford
Daly
Farrell
Joseph
May
Brown

George
Mullan
Sinckler
Harrison
Haskell
Care
T'eo
Nowell

[Puja]

Daly ahead of Nowell would be frankly bizarre.

Puja

[Digby]

Not that unusual to want a bit of pace in one's winger

[twitchy]

Apparently nowell is out anyway so we don't have this debate again.

[Which Tyler]

Apparently nowell is out anyway so we don't have this debate again.

Have you got a link for that?

For me Nowell is indeed ahead of Daly - largely because he's currently playing wing; as opposed to Daly who's played there what? once in the last 3 years?
The way he's playing at the moment, I have no problem with Nowell as one of Englands top 3 wingers - but his lack of pace is still just waiting to be exposed IMO, and it won't take much of a drop in form for him to become a liability there.
TBH, I'd far rather Daly got some game time at wing/FB for Wasps whilst Nowell got it at OC/FB - then both could play in their position of best fit, rather than the position their club needs them in (not that I dislike Daly at OC; he's just not currently a winger either).

Has anyone found an explanation for Yarde yet?

[Peat]

For Yarde in general? He's a pretty decent international with the potential to be a very good one.

For Yarde ahead of Rokoduguni? Not really.

[Mellsblue]

Kruis confirmed as injured for the rest of the championship.

[fivepointer]

Kruis out for 12 weeks.

Mako may be back for end of 6N's.

[twitchy]

Don't get your hopes up. But the telegraph reckon billy could be fit for ireland.


http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/ ... rand-slam/

[TheNomad]

That would be absolutely massive...

[Oakboy]

Is Solomona EQ? Hat-trick in 1st half pretty impressive!