Squad for Wales

[rjjb]

He just looks out of position tbh. I was at the Wales game last year, and he just looked like he didn't want to be there.

I think he knows that as he’s said he’s moving to Bristol to play 15 (no confirmation as to whether RICH LANE!!! is moving to Toulouse or Leinster so Malins can get a look in) which makes the selection of him at 14 for England all the more baffling.

He was the top try scorer in the Prem last year and is fairly high up this year, from playing wing. It's not a particularly wild decision if we're wanting to pick on form.

Puja

He's not being picked to play in the Prem though. That's like saying someone who scores lots of runs in the CC will score lots more in test cricket, which simply doesn't follow.

[rjjb]

Keeping him in the squad & on the bench robs him of a lot more than "80 mins in a depleted Premiership game". He needs proper game time & he's obviously not going to get it in internationals.

Like what?

He'll spend the week training with internationals, rubbing shoulders with heroes, and getting a variety of more one-on-one coaching; then on Saturday, he'll get 10-15 minutes of international rugby.

Had he stayed with LIrish, he'd have spent the week training with the same-old same-old, rubbing shoulders with the same-old same-old and getting the same-old coaching, sharing time with a greater number of players; then on Saturday he'd get 65-80 minutes playing premiership rugby.


If we want him to be ready for France'23, then he's got 3 more matches worth of meaningful international experience available; in addition to another 4(?) Prem matches. Alternatively, he can 6 weeks of the latter.

If any player gets more out of the latter than the former, then they're never going to make it as a pro (absent stratospheric levels of talent ala Caucaunibuca, who can make 50+ capped internationals look like schoolboys without any actual application)

There's no reason why he can't train with the squad, but be released at the weekend to play full matches (whenever they're scheduled). One touch on average a match really isn't "meaningful international experience".

[FKAS]

I think he knows that as he’s said he’s moving to Bristol to play 15 (no confirmation as to whether RICH LANE!!! is moving to Toulouse or Leinster so Malins can get a look in) which makes the selection of him at 14 for England all the more baffling.

He was the top try scorer in the Prem last year and is fairly high up this year, from playing wing. It's not a particularly wild decision if we're wanting to pick on form.

Puja

He's not being picked to play in the Prem though. That's like saying someone who scores lots of runs in the CC will score lots more in test cricket, which simply doesn't follow.

There's no guarantee any player will be able to step up a level but moving Malins to 15 isn't going to magically make him an international level player and nor is it likely to happen.

He plays predominantly wing at Sarries, scores tries and has a range of skills that Borthwick thinks makes him useful. Amongst those skills is work under the high ball and kicking game. Borthwick is seemingly expecting an aerial barrage judging by the back three he's selected.

Malins wouldn't be my choice personally, I'd swap him out for Freeman but I can see why Borthers is keeping him in there.

[Puja]

I think he knows that as he’s said he’s moving to Bristol to play 15 (no confirmation as to whether RICH LANE!!! is moving to Toulouse or Leinster so Malins can get a look in) which makes the selection of him at 14 for England all the more baffling.

He was the top try scorer in the Prem last year and is fairly high up this year, from playing wing. It's not a particularly wild decision if we're wanting to pick on form.

Puja

He's not being picked to play in the Prem though. That's like saying someone who scores lots of runs in the CC will score lots more in test cricket, which simply doesn't follow.

It's not a guarantee that he'll step up, but it does certainly warrant him being given a little bit of faith, especially since he has scored two tries already under the new regime. I probably wouldn't pick him, but I'm not appalled that he is being picked

Keeping him in the squad & on the bench robs him of a lot more than "80 mins in a depleted Premiership game". He needs proper game time & he's obviously not going to get it in internationals.

Like what?

He'll spend the week training with internationals, rubbing shoulders with heroes, and getting a variety of more one-on-one coaching; then on Saturday, he'll get 10-15 minutes of international rugby.

Had he stayed with LIrish, he'd have spent the week training with the same-old same-old, rubbing shoulders with the same-old same-old and getting the same-old coaching, sharing time with a greater number of players; then on Saturday he'd get 65-80 minutes playing premiership rugby.


If we want him to be ready for France'23, then he's got 3 more matches worth of meaningful international experience available; in addition to another 4(?) Prem matches. Alternatively, he can 6 weeks of the latter.

If any player gets more out of the latter than the former, then they're never going to make it as a pro (absent stratospheric levels of talent ala Caucaunibuca, who can make 50+ capped internationals look like schoolboys without any actual application)

There's no reason why he can't train with the squad, but be released at the weekend to play full matches (whenever they're scheduled). One touch on average a match really isn't "meaning international experience".

Would Irish pick him for 80 if he's not been at training all week?

And no-one's happy about him only getting one touch per match. We are, however, only two games into a new regime, with him having come off the back of an injury that's kept him out for 4 months. I'm willing to be patient.

Puja

[Spiffy]

I think he knows that as he’s said he’s moving to Bristol to play 15 (no confirmation as to whether RICH LANE!!! is moving to Toulouse or Leinster so Malins can get a look in) which makes the selection of him at 14 for England all the more baffling.

He was the top try scorer in the Prem last year and is fairly high up this year, from playing wing. It's not a particularly wild decision if we're wanting to pick on form.

Puja

He's not being picked to play in the Prem though. That's like saying someone who scores lots of runs in the CC will score lots more in test cricket, which simply doesn't follow.

Still. It is not surprising that the league's top scorer may have caught the eye of the coach. That's the way things work. Players get picked for the national team based on their performances at club level against their peers. That's why players like Chessum, Lawrence, Arundell, Mitchell have cracked the squad. But yes, there is no guarantee that they will all be stars at the higher level.

[p/d]

F/ck!!! 5 inch’s shorter than OHC but 3 stone heavier

[rjjb]

He was the top try scorer in the Prem last year and is fairly high up this year, from playing wing. It's not a particularly wild decision if we're wanting to pick on form.

Puja

He's not being picked to play in the Prem though. That's like saying someone who scores lots of runs in the CC will score lots more in test cricket, which simply doesn't follow.

It's not a guarantee that he'll step up, but it does certainly warrant him being given a little bit of faith, especially since he has scored two tries already under the new regime. I probably wouldn't pick him, but I'm not appalled that he is being picked

Like what?

He'll spend the week training with internationals, rubbing shoulders with heroes, and getting a variety of more one-on-one coaching; then on Saturday, he'll get 10-15 minutes of international rugby.

Had he stayed with LIrish, he'd have spent the week training with the same-old same-old, rubbing shoulders with the same-old same-old and getting the same-old coaching, sharing time with a greater number of players; then on Saturday he'd get 65-80 minutes playing premiership rugby.


If we want him to be ready for France'23, then he's got 3 more matches worth of meaningful international experience available; in addition to another 4(?) Prem matches. Alternatively, he can 6 weeks of the latter.

If any player gets more out of the latter than the former, then they're never going to make it as a pro (absent stratospheric levels of talent ala Caucaunibuca, who can make 50+ capped internationals look like schoolboys without any actual application)

There's no reason why he can't train with the squad, but be released at the weekend to play full matches (whenever they're scheduled). One touch on average a match really isn't "meaning international experience".

Would Irish pick him for 80 if he's not been at training all week?

And no-one's happy about him only getting one touch per match. We are, however, only two games into a new regime, with him having come off the back of an injury that's kept him out for 4 months. I'm willing to be patient.

Puja

They regularly release players from training camp - how often do the clubs refrain from picking these guys?

Arundell wasn't out for 4 months by the way - it was pretty much 3 & that was only because they held back on surgery initially. They didn't operate until more than 5 weeks after the Gloucester game.

[Mellsblue]

F/ck!!! 5 inch’s shorter than OHC but 3 stone heavier

How much did you eat over Christmas?

[Mellsblue]

He just looks out of position tbh. I was at the Wales game last year, and he just looked like he didn't want to be there.

I think he knows that as he’s said he’s moving to Bristol to play 15 (no confirmation as to whether RICH LANE!!! is moving to Toulouse or Leinster so Malins can get a look in) which makes the selection of him at 14 for England all the more baffling.

He was the top try scorer in the Prem last year and is fairly high up this year, from playing wing. It's not a particularly wild decision if we're wanting to pick on form.

Puja

Yep, but there’s more to the position than scoring tries. I didn’t actually say he shouldn’t be picked but I don’t think he should! I’d have Watson, Freeman and Murley all ahead of him. I actually think he’ll make a great fullback. As does he, it would seem.

[p/d]

I like Malins, the young scamp. However less than comfortable with him alongside Slade - almost cancel each other out - and think his weaknesses are more prone to be exposed at this level during our rebuild period.

I actually think he would make an excellent attacking right back for QPR

[FKAS]

I think he knows that as he’s said he’s moving to Bristol to play 15 (no confirmation as to whether RICH LANE!!! is moving to Toulouse or Leinster so Malins can get a look in) which makes the selection of him at 14 for England all the more baffling.

He was the top try scorer in the Prem last year and is fairly high up this year, from playing wing. It's not a particularly wild decision if we're wanting to pick on form.

Puja

Yep, but there’s more to the position than scoring tries. I didn’t actually say he shouldn’t be picked but I don’t think he should! I’d have Watson, Freeman and Murley all ahead of him. I actually think he’ll make a great fullback. As does he, it would seem.

He played quite a lot of left wing for Bristol as well with Piatau at fullback. Piatau moving on means Bristol need a 15 but the Lam style also really suited Malins. He was given a lot of opportunity to be a roaming playmaker which is sort of what I expected England would use him as but hasn't seemed that way so far.

I'd agree on Furbank over him, Murley would offer something different. Not sure Borthwick thinks he's got the skills under the high ball nor the kicking game at the moment but hopefully he's not far away from getting his first cap.

[Banquo]

He was the top try scorer in the Prem last year and is fairly high up this year, from playing wing. It's not a particularly wild decision if we're wanting to pick on form.

Puja

Yep, but there’s more to the position than scoring tries. I didn’t actually say he shouldn’t be picked but I don’t think he should! I’d have Watson, Freeman and Murley all ahead of him. I actually think he’ll make a great fullback. As does he, it would seem.

He played quite a lot of left wing for Bristol as well with Piatau at fullback. Piatau moving on means Bristol need a 15 but the Lam style also really suited Malins. He was given a lot of opportunity to be a roaming playmaker which is sort of what I expected England would use him as but hasn't seemed that way so far.

I'd agree on Furbank over him, Murley would offer something different. Not sure Borthwick thinks he's got the skills under the high ball nor the kicking game at the moment but hopefully he's not far away from getting his first cap.

Assume you mean Freeman?

I’m just a bit underwhelmed by Malins the international, especially without the ball. I still think he’s not a happy camper at this level in this position.

[Stom]

Yep, but there’s more to the position than scoring tries. I didn’t actually say he shouldn’t be picked but I don’t think he should! I’d have Watson, Freeman and Murley all ahead of him. I actually think he’ll make a great fullback. As does he, it would seem.

He played quite a lot of left wing for Bristol as well with Piatau at fullback. Piatau moving on means Bristol need a 15 but the Lam style also really suited Malins. He was given a lot of opportunity to be a roaming playmaker which is sort of what I expected England would use him as but hasn't seemed that way so far.

I'd agree on Furbank over him, Murley would offer something different. Not sure Borthwick thinks he's got the skills under the high ball nor the kicking game at the moment but hopefully he's not far away from getting his first cap.

Assume you mean Freeman?

I’m just a bit underwhelmed by Malins the international, especially without the ball. I still think he’s not a happy camper at this level in this position.

Yeah. He does have a nose for the ball, and can make things happen...but his positioning and tackling are...not up to international standard, imo. He's like a quick enough Alex Goode.

Hey, why don't we pick him at 12?

[Crash Hamster]

I'd not have Malins in my team, but at least there's a good case for his being a winger. Yes, I'd rather have Freeman or Murley, but at least we seem to be getting out of comedy 'out of positions' selections. I'm very grateful for that.

[Mr Mwenda]

I'd not have Malins in my team, but at least there's a good case for his being a winger. Yes, I'd rather have Freeman or Murley, but at least we seem to be getting out of comedy 'out of positions' selections. I'm very grateful for that.

I'd wait to see where Lawes ends up playing before saying that!

[Banquo]

I'd not have Malins in my team, but at least there's a good case for his being a winger. Yes, I'd rather have Freeman or Murley, but at least we seem to be getting out of comedy 'out of positions' selections. I'm very grateful for that.

its something I guess

[Danno]

Listening to Slack Bradford is so refreshing after the last 4 years

[Galfon]

Great presence of mind, to pull his shorts up there...

[Danno]

Raynal

[Galfon]

ice-man - 0-3, fair reflection.

[Danno]

Quiet round here today

[Galfon]

Slick hands. Simple game if done right eh.
0 - 8. faz miss.
Jiffy using 'brilliant' for set play - then f/up restart again..

[Galfon]

Quiet round here today

All at the game !..

[astralweeks]

Faz- 1 kick charged down, 1 kagab and straight into touch, 1 kick conversion hit the post. The boy is doing well

[Galfon]

Another gone - margin of lead should be greater from posession/territory dominance.. Wal with have their moments.