EPS Watch / Player Form Thread

[Scrumhead]

No Exeter, Wasps or Northampton players for the Barbarians game

Quite difficult to pick a side from who's left. Presumably Eddie will call-up some reinforcements?

Going purely on the Argentina/training squads, I'd guess we'll be looking at something like:

1. Genge
2. Buchanan? (No Hartley, George, Cowan-Dickie, Taylor or Haywood)
3. Collier/Schonert
4. Ewels
5. Isiekwe/Spencer
6. Robshaw
7. Curry (Ben or Tom)/Underhill
8. Beaumont/Wilson
9. Care
10. Ford
11. May
12. James/Lozowski? (No Slade or Mallinder, not sure about Francis)
13. Marchant
14. Solomona
15. Brown

I don't remember us putting out a side that callow. Probably something like 8 uncapped players up against what looks like a good Barbarians side.

[padprop]

With my England Coach hat on, to field the best possible team:

Genge
Youngs
Harrison
Attwood
Ewels
Robshaw
Underhill
Beaumont

Care
Ford
Roko
James
Marchant
Solomona
Brown

[Scrumhead]

Harrison is a loosehead. He did play as a tighthead once or twice at the end of the season, but you'd never pick him there for a test game even a non-cap one.

As much as I like him, I can't see Tom Youngs making himself available in his circumstances either.

Attwood should probably be there, but hasn't even been in the training squads, so I can't see him being selected.

[Banquo]

Harrison is a loosehead. He did play as a tighthead once or twice at the end of the season, but you'd never pick him there for a test game even a non-cap one.

As much as I like him, I can't see Tom Youngs making himself available in his circumstances either.

Attwood should probably be there, but hasn't even been in the training squads, so I can't see him being selected.

ditto Roko

[Timbo]

Roko is injured I believe. Did his knee playing for the army.

[Scrumhead]

Even if Roko wasn't injured, I don't think Eddie would have picked him.

I noticed Hughes limped off yesterday. As most of you know, he's not a favourite of mine when it comes to playing for England, but if it's anything more than a minor injury, we might have to think about an alternative 8 for the tour.

Beaumont was called up to the training squad, but after a good season for Gloucester, I can't see why Morgan is ignored? In a situation where we're taking a squad short on experience, he would be the obvious pick IMO. Beaumont is more versatile, but is uncapped and had a poor season.

Fearns could be a wildcard pick I guess?

[Timbo]

I think we're just going to have to see how everyone shapes up after next weekend. There's a few players in the England squad that haven't been playing recently due to injury.

[Puja]

No Exeter, Wasps or Northampton players for the Barbarians game

Quite difficult to pick a side from who's left. Presumably Eddie will call-up some reinforcements?

Going purely on the Argentina/training squads, I'd guess we'll be looking at something like:

1. Genge
2. Buchanan? (No Hartley, George, Cowan-Dickie, Taylor or Haywood)
3. Collier/Schonert
4. Ewels
5. Isiekwe/Spencer
6. Robshaw
7. Curry (Ben or Tom)/Underhill
8. Beaumont/Wilson
9. Care
10. Ford
11. May
12. James/Lozowski? (No Slade or Mallinder, not sure about Francis)
13. Marchant
14. Solomona
15. Brown

I don't remember us putting out a side that callow. Probably something like 8 uncapped players up against what looks like a good Barbarians side.

That sounds broadly correct to me - looks like a pretty good side. The teams for the Barbarians games have always been very callow sides and this year is likely to be slightly unusual in that we will have some first team players in there of Robshaw, Ford and Brown.

Puja

[p/d]

Haskell called up for Lions

[16th man]

Haskell called up for Lions

Frankly odd choice, given the options available.

[p/d]

Haskell called up for Lions

Frankly odd choice, given the options available.

Indeed. Though great news for England tour to Arg

[Timbo]

Blimey, after seeing Billy play injured these last two weeks imagine when he's back at 100% next season.

Who do we think England will call up for Hask?

[Scrumhead]

Haskell called up for Lions

Frankly odd choice, given the options available.

Indeed. Though great news for England tour to Arg

Well it'll be interesting to see how Eddie calls up to replace Haskell ... Beaumont, Wilson or Ellis are probably best placed to gatecrash.

I suspect Beaumont or Ellis have the edge on Wilson given their ability to cover at lock considering we're only taking three.

[Puja]

Denny Solomona to miss England tour to Argentina with a foot injury: http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39994298

Can't say I'm surprised - it must be really hard on the metatarsals to do so many rapid u-turns on your commitments in such a short time. Fantastic news for the integrity of the international game and hopefully Marland Yarde will be rewarded for his improved form with a recall.

Puja

[p/d]

More good news

[Mellsblue]

Such a shame.

[skidger]

Haskell called up for Lions

Frankly odd choice, given the options available.

Indeed. Though great news for England tour to Arg

Indeed. Just need a call up for Mike Brown to further improve England's summer.

[Scrumhead]

I can't find the article now but Eddie has name-checked Ben Curry, Spencer and Ford-Robinson as three players who have impressed in training.

Since we've already got a number of flankers there and only three specialist locks, perhaps Spencer will be the guy to replace Haskell?

Ford-Robinson is an interesting one. Now we've established that he's primarily a 3 and not a 1 (as I thought ), that will essentially mean three of our top tightheads are all playing at one club next season.

Admittedly I haven't seen much of him, but my perception was that Ford-Robinson is much better out of the scrum than in it (perhaps why I hadn't noticed which side of the scrum he was on). I know he's not in the touring party but it sounds like he'll be filling Sinckler's finisher role on Sunday.

[Digby]

Billy V out for the summer with a shoulder injury. I'm trying hard not to smile, but I can't say I'm surprised at failing to be a better person.

[Mikey Brown]

I'm obviously missing something here. You're not just delighted that he's injured???

[Digby]

I'm pleased he'll not be getting smashed around on the jamboree and will instead be getting a rest

[Banquo]

I'm pleased he'll not be getting smashed around on the jamboree and will instead be getting a rest

...only if the shoulder injury can be sorted with no residual effect. I struggle to be pleased he's injured and that he is missing out on what most players consider to be a significant career milestone.

[Digby]

I'm pleased he'll not be getting smashed around on the jamboree and will instead be getting a rest

...only if the shoulder injury can be sorted with no residual effect. I struggle to be pleased he's injured and that he is missing out on what most players consider to be a significant career milestone.

The surprising part is maybe as it's an ongoing issue which now needs to be addressed is why it wasn't made known until now? Or maybe Gats did know and it was thought it could be managed on an ongoing basis. If Gats hadn't been made aware of this he could be a little annoyed, and I wouldn't blame him.

And I suspect yours is the better response to his situation, but it's not the one I had, I actually put down my cup of tea and raised my arms aloft when hearing the news this morning.

[Banquo]

I'm pleased he'll not be getting smashed around on the jamboree and will instead be getting a rest

...only if the shoulder injury can be sorted with no residual effect. I struggle to be pleased he's injured and that he is missing out on what most players consider to be a significant career milestone.

The surprising part is maybe as it's an ongoing issue which now needs to be addressed is why it wasn't made known until now? Or maybe Gats did know and it was thought it could be managed on an ongoing basis. If Gats hadn't been made aware of this he could be a little annoyed, and I wouldn't blame him.

And I suspect yours is the better response to his situation, but it's not the one I had, I actually put down my cup of tea and raised my arms aloft when hearing the news this morning.

well I'm just pleased you put the tea down first!

I agree on what Gatland's response could have been- on the surface he appears to have no issue- as it looks like Billy was never really going to go, unless he did a lot more damage v Exeter.

[Mellsblue]

...only if the shoulder injury can be sorted with no residual effect. I struggle to be pleased he's injured and that he is missing out on what most players consider to be a significant career milestone.

The surprising part is maybe as it's an ongoing issue which now needs to be addressed is why it wasn't made known until now? Or maybe Gats did know and it was thought it could be managed on an ongoing basis. If Gats hadn't been made aware of this he could be a little annoyed, and I wouldn't blame him.

And I suspect yours is the better response to his situation, but it's not the one I had, I actually put down my cup of tea and raised my arms aloft when hearing the news this morning.

well I'm just pleased you put the tea down first!

I agree on what Gatland's response could have been- on the surface he appears to have no issue- as it looks like Billy was never really going to go, unless he did a lot more damage v Exeter.

So, you're happy a player is injured and to make matters worse you openly mocked him by raising your arms above your head. There's a special place in hell for you. If hell existed, that is.