EPS Watch / Player Form Thread

[Mellsblue]

What the eff is this? The smoking jacket appreciation board?

Sort yourselves out.

[Stom]

What the eff is this? The smoking jacket appreciation board?

Sort yourselves out.

Quite. Martinis ffs. Only Connery could pull that off.

Bah, Bond's Martinis are terrible. See: http://www.esquire.com/food-drink/drink ... a-martini/

[I R Geech]

Martini's are the go to drink for estate agents at a conference in a rented Moss Bros DJ. For the modern rugby gentleman, it's all about the Negroni now anyway you fools, or a Boulevardier if you are feeling extra manly.

What were we talking about?

[Mellsblue]

Watson looked good at fullback today........

[skidger]

Watson looked good at fullback today........

Better than Mike Brown? I intended to watch the game but woke at 11.50. The election took its toll,especially hours of watching Gideon and wondering is he or not.

[Banquo]

Watson looked good at fullback today........

he did. Good lions effort; Faz looked decent too, as did Teo. English boys went well up front.

[skidger]

Watson looked good at fullback today........

he did. Good lions effort; Faz looked decent too, as did Teo. English boys went well up front.

Did Kruis go well? I posted a while back that fellow players and coaches seem to rate him highly. I would be amazed if all the other locks are not battling for the place alongside him for the tests.

[Digby]

I'd be very surprised if the locks aren't AWJ and Kruis

[Mikey Brown]

That would be the heaviest combo after all.

[Which Tyler]

Watson looked good at fullback today........

Hmmm, I wonder if his club will take note and finally give him a run in the 15 shirt?

[Banquo]

Watson looked good at fullback today........

he did. Good lions effort; Faz looked decent too, as did Teo. English boys went well up front.

Did Kruis go well? I posted a while back that fellow players and coaches seem to rate him highly. I would be amazed if all the other locks are not battling for the place alongside him for the tests.

yes, marshalled the lineout well, won his share of ball, and popped up in the loose. He's a very good lock.

[Banquo]

I'd be very surprised if the locks aren't AWJ and Kruis

yep. Itoje and Lawes will push hard...haha

[skidger]

I'd be very surprised if the locks aren't AWJ and Kruis

yep. Itoje and Lawes will push hard...haha

I would probably go for Kruis and Lawes with Itoje on the bench. I did not think i would ever be mentioning Lawes as a starter for the Lions.

[Spiffy]

Test backrow selection will be interesting. The only nailed-on the moment is Falateau. Warburton is captain and will probably be picked, but he has had very little game time to show his stuff, while both Tipuric and O'Brien have looked pretty good. Blindside looks a toss up between Stander and POM - I think I'd marginally prefer the latter for his disruptive lineout play and all round niggle but Stander is a powerful carrier, perhaps a good impact bencher to cover 6 and 8. Can't see Haskell or Moriarty in contention at present, but a great game from either could take him into consideration.

[Digby]

Is Farrell going to have to back up today's match on Tuesday? If so it's exactly the sort of concern I've got about the Lions playing so many games in so short a period (which isn't a hope the extend the period)

[Digby]

I'd be very surprised if the locks aren't AWJ and Kruis

yep. Itoje and Lawes will push hard...haha

Have you heard the Kiwi commentators pronounce Itoje? It's as mangled as Jiffy attempting a French name

[Digby]

Is Farrell going to have to back up today's match on Tuesday? If so it's exactly the sort of concern I've got about the Lions playing so many games in so short a period (which isn't a hope the extend the period)

I see my concerns have been addressed by putting Farrell on the bench and selecting a starter who failed his HIA, it doesn't seem quite the solution one might have hoped for

[Stom]

So after yesterday, what do we know about England?

Mako is excellent. Genge has extreme potential, but is raw.
George is better than Hartley...
Williams can be our 3rd choice THP.
Launch is superb. Ewels will do OK as 5th lock.
Wilson can be backup 6. No more Wood No more Haskell
Curry is a freak of nature.
Hughes can be backup 8, but needs to push at the bloody scrums!
Care is better at a 9s core skills than Youngs...
Ford is on a different planet to Farrell as an attacking 10. But Farrell has improved a lot.
Loz and Slade can effectively play in midfield. Te'o is a great option if you want a hard runner.
Slade is a mercurial talent we should find a way to use.
Yarde is good.
Brown's day has passed. Watson is an international FB.

[Scrumhead]

So after yesterday, what do we know about England?

Mako is excellent. Genge has extreme potential, but is raw.
George is better than Hartley...
Williams can be our 3rd choice THP.
Launch is superb. Ewels will do OK as 5th lock.
Wilson can be backup 6. No more Wood No more Haskell
Curry is a freak of nature.
Hughes can be backup 8, but needs to push at the bloody scrums!
Care is better at a 9s core skills than Youngs...
Ford is on a different planet to Farrell as an attacking 10. But Farrell has improved a lot.
Loz and Slade can effectively play in midfield. Te'o is a great option if you want a hard runner.
Slade is a mercurial talent we should find a way to use.
Yarde is good.
Brown's day has passed. Watson is an international FB.

Yeah - agreed on all of the above except the Danny Care comment. He's probably quicker to the ruck and better at passing from the base than Youngs, but his kicking is a lot worse and Youngs' sniping generally tends to be a bit more successful. Evens IMO.

A couple of points to add:

Piers Francis got two assists on his debut and looked very assured. A Definite EPS contender if that continues.
Lozowski looked very comfortable at 12. Good in attack and defence.

We are building towards a situation where we have genuine competition for places which is great to see.

For example, Slade, Francis, Lozowski and Devoto will effectively be chasing one or two places in the squad.

[Mikey Brown]

So after yesterday, what do we know about England?

Mako is excellent. Genge has extreme potential, but is raw.
George is better than Hartley...
Williams can be our 3rd choice THP.
Launch is superb. Ewels will do OK as 5th lock.
Wilson can be backup 6. No more Wood No more Haskell
Curry is a freak of nature.
Hughes can be backup 8, but needs to push at the bloody scrums!
Care is better at a 9s core skills than Youngs...
Ford is on a different planet to Farrell as an attacking 10. But Farrell has improved a lot.
Loz and Slade can effectively play in midfield. Te'o is a great option if you want a hard runner.
Slade is a mercurial talent we should find a way to use.
Yarde is good.
Brown's day has passed. Watson is an international FB.

Yeah - agreed on all of the above except the Danny Care comment. He's probably quicker to the ruck and better at passing from the base than Youngs, but his kicking is a lot worse and Youngs' sniping generally tends to be a bit more successful. Evens IMO.

A couple of points to add:

Piers Francis got two assists on his debut and looked very assured. A Definite EPS contender if that continues.
Lozowski looked very comfortable at 12. Good in attack and defence.

We are building towards a situation where we have genuine competition for places which is great to see.

For example, Slade, Francis, Lozowski and Devoto will effectively be chasing one or two places in the squad.

It's irritating we went for so long with Tindall/Hape/Barrett/Farrel etc and now can't quite find enough games to try out all these 12 options with an infinite amount more potential.

[skidger]

I see they are getting a 'specialist' opinion on Hogg to see if he can still play a part on the Lions tour. If not then I suppose one of our lot could be called up. Loads of 15 cover there already so possibly May? All ifs and buts though.

[Scrumhead]

I wouldn't mind if they called up Brown.

[Which Tyler]

Oh please, he'll call up someone Welsh; probably Cuthbert!

[skidger]

I wouldn't mind if they called up Brown.

Not sure even Gatland is not mad. I would take May myself if Hogg is out. But agreed Mike could do with a nice rest from the England set up.

[Puja]

Given a) Gatland's history of odd mid-tour call ups for the Lions and b) his occasional tendency to fixate on people who can do one thing well while missing swathes of basic skills, I wonder whether he'd go for Solomona. It'd certainly be interesting.

Puja