Team for Tonga

[Mikey Brown]

Fair enough, I guess I just wouldn't have viewed him as the incumbent at 10 - despite playing the last two tests and being in line to start this one. It's not like he's started in a game considered to be anything other than development. I figured the Tonga game would be his audition to show he can play in this system alongside the first XV.

[Puja]

Fair enough, I guess I just wouldn't have viewed him as the incumbent at 10 - despite playing the last two tests and being in line to start this one. It's not like he's started in a game considered to be anything other than development. I figured the Tonga game would be his audition to show he can play in this system alongside the first XV.

Guess it depends on Eddie's preconception of him. If he was planning on picking him at 10 before his injury, he'll pick him against Australia even if Slade scores 10 tries vs Tonga on his own. If he was always going to put Smith on the bench regardless of fitness and was just trolling the press with his public pronouncements, then it doesn't matter what Smith does, he'll be #22 for the entire series.

Puja

[fivepointer]

BREAKING: Owen Farrell is missing the captain’s run today after a positive COVID test.

He will tested twice before the game tomorrow.

Well......

[Digby]

So no fit 10s, bar the best 10 we have who we didn't pick to begin with, marvellous

[Mikey Brown]

So no fit 10s, bar the best 10 we have who we didn't pick to begin with, marvellous

Yes but at least there wasn't a 10 stood around doing nothing at training*. Swings and roundabouts really.

[Mellsblue]

Is this first known example of covid jumping species from human to test match animal?

[Scrumhead]

Furbank to 10 if Smith’s not fit?

[twitchy]

[Puja]

Is this first known example of covid jumping species from human to test match animal?

Puja

[Danno]

Is this first known example of covid jumping species from human to test match animal?

[Peej]

Does a positive test not equate to an instant 10-day self-isolation period?

[SDHoneymonster]

Covid has finally achieved the purpose the Chinese government created it for - to get Marcus Smith starting for England with Tuilagi outside him.

[Raggs]

Does a positive test not equate to an instant 10-day self-isolation period?

I guess if you can get enough negative tests you can claim it's a false positive.

[Danno]

I've been and gone and gotten my hopes up, but there's no way he isn't playing tomorrow

ETA - Obviously I hope he's asymptomatic, I'm not a complete bastard

[Digby]

At what point would the game itself be called off?

[p/d]

Is this first known example of covid jumping species from human to test match animal?

Seconded

[Puja]

At what point would the game itself be called off?

Given that everyone else has returned all negative tests, it suggests that either our glorious leader has got a false positive (not impossible given the volume of tests that they do) or the vaccines are doing their job and no-one else is affected (although we should probably pull Henry Slade, just to be on the safe side). I think the only possibility to call it off is if anyone else returns a positive test tomorrow, showing that it's spread elsewhere in the camp.

If it's not a false positive, then that surely rules him out of Australia as well though, no? Two tests with Curry as captain and Smith given a midfield with a runner in it?! Seems like a dream and one which could continue if we grind the Aussies into the dirt and realise that we can win without a captain that shouts at referees.

Puja

[Danno]

At what point would the game itself be called off?

Given that everyone else has returned all negative tests, it suggests that either our glorious leader has got a false positive (not impossible given the volume of tests that they do) or the vaccines are doing their job and no-one else is affected (although we should probably pull Henry Slade, just to be on the safe side). I think the only possibility to call it off is if anyone else returns a positive test tomorrow, showing that it's spread elsewhere in the camp.

If it's not a false positive, then that surely rules him out of Australia as well though, no? Two tests with Curry as captain and Smith given a midfield with a runner in it?! Seems like a dream and one which could continue if we grind the Aussies into the dirt and realise that we can win without a captain that shouts at referees.

Puja

Lalalalalalala not listening to you.

[Mikey Brown]

It's hard to imagine they wouldn't have done several tests (after an initial positive) before letting the media know. Surely? Or would that be seen as them trying to repeat the test until they get the result they want?

[Oakboy]

If Farrell is out do the three leadership chaps (Genge, Curry and Lawes??) have a pissing contest to see who is captain or what? This multi-appointment crap needs to get binned.

[Raggs]

At what point would the game itself be called off?

Given that everyone else has returned all negative tests, it suggests that either our glorious leader has got a false positive (not impossible given the volume of tests that they do) or the vaccines are doing their job and no-one else is affected (although we should probably pull Henry Slade, just to be on the safe side). I think the only possibility to call it off is if anyone else returns a positive test tomorrow, showing that it's spread elsewhere in the camp.

If it's not a false positive, then that surely rules him out of Australia as well though, no? Two tests with Curry as captain and Smith given a midfield with a runner in it?! Seems like a dream and one which could continue if we grind the Aussies into the dirt and realise that we can win without a captain that shouts at referees.

Puja

I would assume that they can keep testing him until they get two negatives in a row, and claim he's all better? I don't know if it'll be the obligatory 10 days. Could be interesting if it is, I suspect we see Ford being called back in at that point though.

[p/d]

Do we assume those couple of things that Ford was told to work on have indeed been worked on so that those couple of things no longer need to be worked on

[Puja]

At what point would the game itself be called off?

Given that everyone else has returned all negative tests, it suggests that either our glorious leader has got a false positive (not impossible given the volume of tests that they do) or the vaccines are doing their job and no-one else is affected (although we should probably pull Henry Slade, just to be on the safe side). I think the only possibility to call it off is if anyone else returns a positive test tomorrow, showing that it's spread elsewhere in the camp.

If it's not a false positive, then that surely rules him out of Australia as well though, no? Two tests with Curry as captain and Smith given a midfield with a runner in it?! Seems like a dream and one which could continue if we grind the Aussies into the dirt and realise that we can win without a captain that shouts at referees.

Puja

Lalalalalalala not listening to you.

Seems fair.


On a side note from Farrell's infection status, a dishrag masaquerading as a newspaper printed this which was shared to me today:

Eddie Jones's Most Picked Team

Mako (31 appearances)
George (31)
Sinckler (31)
Itoje (31)
Kruis (25)
Robshaw (18)
Underhill (21)
BillyV (39)
Youngs (50)
Ford (47)
May (33)
Farrell (39)
Joseph (26)
Watson (27)
Daly (31)


I don't know how accurate it is, given that a) it came from the Daily Heil who I wouldn't trust to say if the sky was blue and b) in the same article there's a list of "Jones Debutants with more than 10 caps" to push a narrative that he's not discovered anyone and they forgot that Itoje exists. However, still interesting.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Do we assume those couple of things that Ford was told to work on have indeed been worked on so that those couple of things no longer need to be worked on

Yes I’m sure Ford’s return will be accompanied by a statement from Eddie claiming he’d instructed Ford he needed to practice his drop goals and is now a better player for being left out.

[Puja]

Do we assume those couple of things that Ford was told to work on have indeed been worked on so that those couple of things no longer need to be worked on

Yes I’m sure Ford’s return will be accompanied by a statement from Eddie claiming he’d instructed Ford he needed to practice his drop goals and is now a better player for being left out.

Oh no, Ford won't be called up. Tell me that you don't think Eddie would go into the Australia game with Furbank training at 10 because he's sticking with the options within the training camp and he thinks that Furbank's international future might just be at 10 anyway?

Puja