RugbyRebels

jngf wrote:

Banquo wrote:

Raggs wrote:Billy has very good hands.

he does, and he isn't slow either despite what many say. His workrate is also hugely improved since shedding a few pounds, though it comes with slightly less tight yardage made through bulk- a good trade off.

Imo he trundles rather than sprints about the pitch and is the least athletic of our 8 options by a long chalk - partly due to having a build more akin to front row than a back row. His tight play compensates for all this though.

Have you watched him in the last 4 years?!

Puja

Banquo wrote:

Scrumhead wrote:How many number 8s do you see sprinting around the pitch?

Andy Ripley will be the answer.

This made me lol

Puja wrote:

jngf wrote:

Banquo wrote: he does, and he isn't slow either despite what many say. His workrate is also hugely improved since shedding a few pounds, though it comes with slightly less tight yardage made through bulk- a good trade off.

Imo he trundles rather than sprints about the pitch and is the least athletic of our 8 options by a long chalk - partly due to having a build more akin to front row than a back row. His tight play compensates for all this though.

Have you watched him in the last 4 years?!

Puja

It's futile. I've responded to these probably more than anybody on here, but he's not 6'4" so he's a prop.

Timbo wrote:Billy is a fantastic all round rugby player. Look at his stats and he will invariably make more passes and offloads than any other forward on the pitch. Stands in at 9 at lineouts and hits 20 yard passes out into midfield, turns ball over at the ruck etc.

Don't be silly. He's big. That's all there is to see.

The big snag with Billy is that we miss him so much when he is not there. Keeping him fit is vital. I don't understand why different types of 8 (Simmonds and Kvesic are the obvious examples) don't suit Jones now that he has discarded Hughes. Moving Wilson to 8 has the obvious disadvantage that it puts Shields into the XV (or at least the 23).

Puja wrote:

morepork wrote:

Scrumhead wrote:
I don’t think that’s true at all. Mako and Sinckler often stand in at first receiver for their clubs as well for England and that definitely isn’t by chance. Both are good at it too.

Curry has also done a decent amount of link play in recent games and Billy is nowhere near as one dimensional as you’re making out.

But his preferred replacement seems to be.

His preferred replacement is currently Wilson, who is definitely not one-dimensional. Hughes isn't even in the extended RWC squad.

Puja

I knew that...

England men’s head coach Eddie Jones has announced a squad of 31 players to attend a second training camp at The Lensbury Hotel (30 June-4 July).

Danny Cipriani (Gloucester Rugby), Piers Francis (Northampton Saints), Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints) and Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby) have been added to the squad while Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins) and Marcus Smith (Harlequins) will return to their clubs next week.

Forwards

Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints), Val Rapava Ruskin (Gloucester Rugby), Nick Schonert (Worcester Warriors), Brad Shields (Wasps), Jack Singleton (Worcester Warriors), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons).

Backs

Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Cipriani (Gloucester Rugby), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Elliot Daly (Wasps), George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Piers Francis (Northampton Saints), Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath Rugby), Dan Robson (Wasps), Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors), Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby), Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

*In for medical treatment

George Kruis (Saracens)

Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)

Mako Vunipola (Saracens)

Jesus. Thought that was Cipriani listed as a fullback for a second there.

Francis???

Mikey Brown wrote:Jesus. Thought that was Cipriani listed as a fullback for a second there.

Francis???

In fairness, he's shown decent form this season, unlike Te'o. You'd have to hope Devoto's coming in with the Exeter contingent though.

Puja

why is Sinckler going back to Quins?

2 tights and 2 loose? Similar to what he tried to do with scrum halves and not have anyone waiting o the sides?

Raggs wrote:2 tights and 2 loose? Similar to what he tried to do with scrum halves and not have anyone waiting o the sides?

seems a bit random, given this is nothing like the real squad.

Wtf on Sinckler!!! Surely he's one of our most important players, especially if Mako isn't fully fit...

Cant imagine Sinckler has been dropped. Surely its because he's picked up a knock and will sit out next week's training.

Telegraph report that Sinckler has a minor hamstring niggle.

Times going with minor back niggle. Closely related, I suppose, assuming it’s lower back.

Let’s hope it is minor. Scrummaging aside, it’s a huge drop in quality from Sinckler to Williams and the 2019 version of Cole.

Full 38 to be announced today according to DT.

Any idea of time?

Everyone prepared to be able to pick a very exciting squad out of this lot, knowing they'll be very disappointed at the final cut?

Mellsblue wrote:Any idea of time?

No, sorry.

Mellsblue wrote:Any idea of time?

The papers just say lunchtime.

Shiny wrote:

Mellsblue wrote:Any idea of time?

The papers just say lunchtime.

I’d better start making lunch, then.

I bet a few people will get this today.

12.30 according to the indy