EPS Watch / Player Form Thread

[TheNomad]

Something for the fantasy rugby teams - BillyV to miss the first month of the season in order to recuperate from injury. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/41006352

Puja

Sounds like he's being well managed - they're a remarkably well run club really aren't they?

Not long now till the kick off. I can't remember a season when there were so many exciting English players on show - the depth we have now is incredible IMO.

Yes, a few positions still aren't quite up to the standard being set by others (the usual really!) but in many respects that's a reflection of how strong we are in so many rather than a glaring weakness in those positions, and even there, there are lots of good kids coming though.

Really excited for this year

[Mellsblue]

Plus, no-one's mentioned the obvious option of Mark Atkinson yet.

Puja

Who?

[TheNomad]

Carl Fearns saying he would play for France now...so he's well and truly out of the picture! Shame, good player I think

[Raggs]

Carl Fearns saying he would play for France now...so he's well and truly out of the picture! Shame, good player I think

He can't. He's capped for the Saxons vs Wolfhounds. If part of his offer to stay in France was potentially playing for France, he's been sold a pup.

[Scrumhead]

I read the article and by the sounds of it, Fearns completely misinterpreted Eddie.

From the various sound bites we've heard over the past few years, Eddie likes to test players' characters and throws out a few digs that are often pretty unfair to see how they react.

He knew what he had to do to 'chase and England cap' - i.e. stick to his word, move to Gloucester and prove himself to Eddie, but instead he went back on his word and is now talking about playing for France!

I always had sympathy for Fearns after the way he was treated at Bath but that interview suggests Eddie was right. It's almost as though he's said, 'I carried the most and made the most metres' so I deserve a cap which won't have gone down well when Eddie doesn't like players with that sense of entitlement about them.

He was disloyal to Gloucester after signing a contract and now he's being disloyal to England. Good job the French have said they're no-longer picking foreign players.

[Scrumhead]

Carl Fearns saying he would play for France now...so he's well and truly out of the picture! Shame, good player I think

He can't. He's capped for the Saxons vs Wolfhounds. If part of his offer to stay in France was potentially playing for France, he's been sold a pup.

This is true as it goes ... funnily enough, I seem to remember that being the game Sam Burgess first appeared in an England shirt.

[Timbo]

I've not seen him play for Lyon, but Fearns played over here for a long time and I never saw in him a player that had a huge amount to offer the international game. He must have improved out of sight....maybe.

[Which Tyler]

He can't. He's capped for the Saxons vs Wolfhounds. If part of his offer to stay in France was potentially playing for France, he's been sold a pup.

He's been there long enough to use the 7s loophole now... though France have also said that they won't be picking any new foreigners (we'll wait and see how that turns out though)

I've not seen him play for Lyon, but Fearns played over here for a long time and I never saw in him a player that had a huge amount to offer the international game. He must have improved out of sight....maybe.

And then there's this - he's never looked good enough to justify caps - well, maybe when Tom Wood seemed genuinely our best option; but not otherwise; and he's never seemed good enough to get into the French backrow on merit.
Of course, if he's become a completely different player since joining Lyon, then fair enough; but he never showed it for Bath or Sale.

[Raggs]

He has to be seen as a justifiable selection for the 7s. I can't claim to have seen him recently, but I suspect he's not a serious 7s contender.

[Digby]

He has to be seen as a justifiable selection for the 7s. I can't claim to have seen him recently, but I suspect he's not a serious 7s contender.

Maybe the game has swung so far to the hybrid forward who can act as first receiver or defend out wide that some old school power up the middle like Fearns would do a job. I can't say I watch much 7s these days, but at a guess you wouldn't be able to hide Fearns up the middle with everyone else working wider to cover him. But I'd also guess he'd be worth a look, the question is whether if he's then awful you could justify further games on the basis he's played before.

[Mikey Brown]

So. Any standouts?

From Quins I'd say Marler/Robshaw/Care and myself were fairly solid but all failed to bring some direction and leadership to the game. Care in particular missed tackles in 2 of the tries.

Yarde looked very lively. Well taken try and brilliantly created another, but as usual this comes with a massive blunder or two. Still needs to show much more consistency to trouble Eddie though I would think.

Clifford carried really well I thought but is among a handful just waiting in line behind Vunipola/Hughes.

Marchant didn't really get much of a chance but ran another brilliant line for his try. He's still just a spare Jonathon Joseph for the time being though I imagine.

Smith full of promise but lots to do there, even if a lot of that is just bedding in to this level.

[Stom]

So. Any standouts?

From Quins I'd say Marler/Robshaw/Care and myself were fairly solid but all failed to bring some direction and leadership to the game. Care in particular missed tackles in 2 of the tries.

Yarde looked very lively. Well taken try and brilliantly created another, but as usual this comes with a massive blunder or two. Still needs to show much more consistency to trouble Eddie though I would think.

Clifford carried really well I thought but is among a handful just waiting in line behind Vunipola/Hughes.

Marchant didn't really get much of a chance but ran another brilliant line for his try. He's still just a spare Jonathon Joseph for the time being though I imagine.

Smith full of promise but lots to do there, even if a lot of that is just bedding in to this level.

I thought Marler looked undercooked, tbh... He really had very poor workrate in the first 10 minutes of the second half in particular. And considering he used to be known for his ability around the park, that's not a good look...

[Puja]

Marler was one of the only players on the fantasy rugby to get minus points! While that's hardly the be-all and end-all, it doesn't suggest much for his work around the park.

I thought it was a quiet weekend in general for the England prospects. Thought Itoje looked quiet at 6 again, although I suspect part if that may be because he could do with a rest.

Puja

[fivepointer]

Te'o picked up an injury which might keep him out for a while.

[Peej]

I'm surprised Sarries played Itoje given his summer.

Robson excellent for Wasps. Hughes also had a good game. And while not in the EPS, the young lock Will Rowlands again looked impressive when he was on the field.

[Timbo]

I wonder where Max Clarke is on Eddie's radar. He's a very physical athletic boy, shows up well in defence I think.

[Banquo]

I wonder where Max Clarke is on Eddie's radar. He's a very physical athletic boy, shows up well in defence I think.

good point, welsh born, but played age groups for England.

[Timbo]

Turned down Wales during the summer. Both parents English I believe.

[Which Tyler]

I wonder where Max Clarke is on Eddie's radar. He's a very physical athletic boy, shows up well in defence I think.

good point, welsh born, but played age groups for England.

IIRC he lived in Wales for a couple of days/weeks only - Born whilst on holiday (IIRC his mum's family live there).
I know he was in Dorset by the time he started school; and IIRC the family was based on London before that.

[Banquo]

I wonder where Max Clarke is on Eddie's radar. He's a very physical athletic boy, shows up well in defence I think.

good point, welsh born, but played age groups for England.

IIRC he lived in Wales for a couple of days/weeks only - Born whilst on holiday (IIRC his mum's family live there).
I know he was in Dorset by the time he started school; and IIRC the family was based on London before that.

May not stop them coming a'calling tho....

[Mikey Brown]

Well Timbo says they already have.

He's definitely one to keep an eye on. He's got a wicked step and it makes a nice change the idea that you can have a 12 that isn't simply a fast backrower or a crap fly-half.

[Banquo]

Well Timbo says they already have.

He's definitely one to keep an eye on. He's got a wicked step and it makes a nice change the idea that you can have a 12 that isn't simply a fast backrower or a crap fly-half.

ah, failed to scroll up, apols.

[Scrumhead]

Te'o picked up an injury which might keep him out for a while.

Lifeline for Manu?

[Peej]

If Teo's injury is serious and around the plate that's holding his arm together after those two breaks, you have to wonder how much further he can go on

[Puja]

Manu's not even in the conversation right now. He was very poor on Sunday and needs a good couple of games to even be discussed in terms of England. We'd be better served by Marchant as things stand.

Puja