New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread

[twitchy]

Yep, good article. Surely he needs to be at least looked at. The cupboard is bare at centre. Let lawrence play his normal position.

Justice 4 dingers

Shift dingers to 13 and Lawrence to bench. Slade to see his career out with the Pirates.

I’m starting to think people aren’t ready for Steward at 12.

Please don't even joke about this.

[FKAS]

Yep, good article. Surely he needs to be at least looked at. The cupboard is bare at centre. Let lawrence play his normal position.

Justice 4 dingers

Shift dingers to 13 and Lawrence to bench. Slade to see his career out with the Pirates.

I’m starting to think people aren’t ready for Steward at 12.

Steward certainly isn't.

[Banquo]

Yep, good article. Surely he needs to be at least looked at. The cupboard is bare at centre. Let lawrence play his normal position.

Justice 4 dingers

Captain of the A side seems fair currently.

....he said The cupboard is bare at centre... Dingers is no BOD but thats harsh.

[FKAS]

Justice 4 dingers

Captain of the A side seems fair currently.

....he said The cupboard is bare at centre... Dingers is no BOD but thats harsh.

As we've said before, brilliant rugby brain but doesn't look physical enough for international rugby.

[p/d]

Dings is a fine centre, and would be an improvement to our play. That said what hope for he and any want to be 12 if they lined up outside Me Me Me Smithy.

[Banquo]

Captain of the A side seems fair currently.

....he said The cupboard is bare at centre... Dingers is no BOD but thats harsh.

As we've said before, brilliant rugby brain but doesn't look physical enough for international rugby.

....cupboard bare though? Hardly. Meagre pickings maybe

Half decent coaches could get something out of Smith/Smith, Dingwall/Atkinson/Slade/Lawrence. That said, its what's happening inside them that needs attention more.

[twitchy]

Ok I will revise my point "down to that weird can of chilli I bought at the start of the pandemic".

[FKAS]

....he said The cupboard is bare at centre... Dingers is no BOD but thats harsh.

As we've said before, brilliant rugby brain but doesn't look physical enough for international rugby.

....cupboard bare though? Hardly. Meagre pickings maybe

Half decent coaches could get something out of Smith/Smith, Dingwall/Atkinson/Slade/Lawrence. That said, its what's happening inside them that needs attention more.

Looked like we were at the end of the 6N and during the summer. Less do during the AIs...

I just look at what the other 6N contenders are going to set up with at 12; Danty, Aki, Tuipolotu. Do we back Dingwall to stand up to them and lock down that channel in defence? I'd paired with Lawrence he'd be at least spared the expectation to make metres in contact.

I'm hoping we do see Atkinson get at least a squad place for the 6N.

[Which Tyler]

You know what, with getting some decent game time this year, I think De Glanville might be becoming a reasonable option for England - certainly the best like-for-like for Furbank.

I was worried he'd lost too much development being stuck behind JvG's security blanket (Gallagher), and would loose out to Harris, but he's really laying down his marker this season.

[FKAS]

You know what, with getting some decent game time this year, I think De Glanville might be becoming a reasonable option for England - certainly the best like-for-like for Furbank.

I was worried he'd lost too much development being stuck behind JvG's security blanket (Gallagher), and would loose out to Harris, but he's really laying down his marker this season.

Looks like a few of the fullbacks are putting their hands up this weekend. JvG, Hendy and Steward all playing well.

[Mellsblue]

#judtice4carpenter

[FKAS]

#judtice4carpenter

Yeah, fair. He was good last night.

[Mellsblue]

#judtice4carpenter

Yeah, fair. He was good last night.

He’s been good for a while.

[FKAS]

#judtice4carpenter

Yeah, fair. He was good last night.

He’s been good for a while.

Also true. The Sale back three are normally a safe bet for a decent display.

[Banquo]

As we've said before, brilliant rugby brain but doesn't look physical enough for international rugby.

....cupboard bare though? Hardly. Meagre pickings maybe

Half decent coaches could get something out of Smith/Smith, Dingwall/Atkinson/Slade/Lawrence. That said, its what's happening inside them that needs attention more.

Looked like we were at the end of the 6N and during the summer. Less do during the AIs...

I just look at what the other 6N contenders are going to set up with at 12; Danty, Aki, Tuipolotu. Do we back Dingwall to stand up to them and lock down that channel in defence? I'd paired with Lawrence he'd be at least spared the expectation to make metres in contact.

I'm hoping we do see Atkinson get at least a squad place for the 6N.

I'm saying some combo from that lot could be made to work. The op was about the cupboard being bare- I mentioned dingwall, and you dont have him in the mix, so, lets move on.

[p/d]

#judtice4carpenter

Absolutely. For me he is the perfect fit.

[FKAS]

#judtice4carpenter

Absolutely. For me he is the perfect fit.

He's a more traditional fullback. Doesn't have the play making skills of a Furbank/Malins type nor big size of Steward. I'm unsure, I'd like to see him kick on a little bit and really show off something a bit more than being a solid all rounder with a bit of pace.

As a side note Jack Willis has extended until 2029 with Toulouse.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Update on Fasogbon:
Afo Fasogbon picked up an ankle injury in the win over Harlequins last week. Following consultation with a specialist, he will now face several months on the sidelines, with a view to making a return before the end of the season.

Also Mercer and Thorley confirmed out for the whole season with knee injuries.

[Banquo]

Update on Fasogbon:
Afo Fasogbon picked up an ankle injury in the win over Harlequins last week. Following consultation with a specialist, he will now face several months on the sidelines, with a view to making a return before the end of the season.

Also Mercer and Thorley confirmed out for the whole season with knee injuries.

bit of a bu55er for glaws revival

[FKAS]

Update on Fasogbon:
Afo Fasogbon picked up an ankle injury in the win over Harlequins last week. Following consultation with a specialist, he will now face several months on the sidelines, with a view to making a return before the end of the season.

Also Mercer and Thorley confirmed out for the whole season with knee injuries.

bit of a bu55er for glaws revival

Some really big blows for them. Fasogbon the biggest though, they really don't have a tighthead anywhere near as good as him. If he returns before the end of the season that could be a massive boost for them if they are still in playoff contention and he can then go on the summer tour.

[Puja]

Update on Fasogbon:
Afo Fasogbon picked up an ankle injury in the win over Harlequins last week. Following consultation with a specialist, he will now face several months on the sidelines, with a view to making a return before the end of the season.

Also Mercer and Thorley confirmed out for the whole season with knee injuries.

Could be a lot worse for Fasogbon. Doesn't sound like it's too bad of an injury (hopefully nothing that will turn chronic) and I'm not against him having a few months to allow his body and neck to recover from such a strenuous throwing into the deep end of adult rugby.

Puja

[jngf]

As we've said before, brilliant rugby brain but doesn't look physical enough for international rugby.

....cupboard bare though? Hardly. Meagre pickings maybe

Half decent coaches could get something out of Smith/Smith, Dingwall/Atkinson/Slade/Lawrence. That said, its what's happening inside them that needs attention more.

Looked like we were at the end of the 6N and during the summer. Less do during the AIs...

I just look at what the other 6N contenders are going to set up with at 12; Danty, Aki, Tuipolotu. Do we back Dingwall to stand up to them and lock down that channel in defence? I'd paired with Lawrence he'd be at least spared the expectation to make metres in contact.

I'm hoping we do see Atkinson get at least a squad place for the 6N.

The ready made solution to ongoing troublesome test 12 berth is to stick Ben Earl there (whether or not Saracens do ) got to be a step up from Slade or Lawrence

[Captainhaircut]

So Furbank and IFW missing the 6N.

Of this on fringes, fairly certain Muir will too (at least the start) given he went off with a hammy at the weekend whilst Hendy is unclear. Ibitoye also missed the last few weeks with a hammy.

Going to leave us with Steward and Carpenter at the back and Freeman, Sleightholme, Roebuck and Murley on the wing. They named Coka on the list of injured players when they named the last squad so he must be close and then we have Daly in the squad too…

We better hope we don’t get any more injuries in the next few weeks or it could be a very sad looking back 3. Although Ben Earl is quick and could probably play on the wing right?

[Mikey Brown]

Obviously we don't want more injuries, but that doesn't seem too concerning in terms of depth compared to the front 5, centre, halfback?

IFW is obviously a big loss but we've got a good handful of wingers in form. I'd be happy to see more of Sleightholme, Roebuck or Murley. Is OHC's England career done?

I can't help but think Carpenter is solid but not an international - the Lewis Ludlow of fullbacks - but maybe that's unfair.

[FKAS]

No Hassell-Collins? Joint top Prem try scorer and Tigers preferred kick chase option (leaves the fullback in the backfield ready to return any kick back). Claimed back quite a few box kicks Vs the Quins back three the other week. Added bonus it would piss off Gatland who's eying him up for a change in allegiance.

Be interesting to see if Borthwick selects another fullback like Carpenter or goes in with Steward and Marcus Smith. Will give a good indication of his plans from the selection.