Argentina tour

[Oakboy]

Freddie should have been given a go at 12 a season or so back. It was the perfect opportunity rather than plugging the midfield hole with Slade.

Still think he would excel there, but what do i know.

Let's give you one pick for the 12 shirt. Steward or Atkinson?

Seb has been the most consistent quality 12, even when at Wuss. Not sure if he can show much more. Either they like him or they don’t.
Steward has been in camp and has the test credentials at fb. However I think his strengths would suit 12 and his presumed weaknesses less, well, of a weakness.

Is that good enough?

Good political reply. Avoid answering the question by answering with another one.

[Scrumhead]

I don’t hate the idea but I don’t even think it’s an option unless it’s tested at club level. I think the idea he could just drop into a test match at 12 is somewhat fanciful. If we’re going to do that, I’d rather do it with Earl who has at least looked the part when slotting in there late in games.

Atkinson really deserves an opportunity to show he can cut it at test level. I’d back him to do well if he’s given a shot. If I was in charge, he’d have already had that chance.

[p/d]

Let's give you one pick for the 12 shirt. Steward or Atkinson?

Seb has been the most consistent quality 12, even when at Wuss. Not sure if he can show much more. Either they like him or they don’t.
Steward has been in camp and has the test credentials at fb. However I think his strengths would suit 12 and his presumed weaknesses less, well, of a weakness.

Is that good enough?

Good political reply. Avoid answering the question by answering with another one.

Thought you would like it!!! Atkinson in a heartbeat

[FKAS]

I don’t hate the idea but I don’t even think it’s an option unless it’s tested at club level. I think the idea he could just drop into a test match at 12 is somewhat fanciful. If we’re going to do that, I’d rather do it with Earl who has at least looked the part when slotting in there late in games.

Atkinson really deserves an opportunity to show he can cut it at test level. I’d back him to do well if he’s given a shot. If I was in charge, he’d have already had that chance.

I'm quite open to a 12. Atkinson, 13. Dingwall, 15. Steward combination on this tour with maybe a dabble of Steward at 12 in the last 5 mins or so as done with Earl just to test the theory. It would obviously have to go well in training as well.

Currently there's no games where Tigers are likely to take the chance of Steward at 12. Games are competitive and Tigers have centres. If in the AIs he isn't starting then releasing him back to Tigers for a PRC appearance might be a goer.

[Scrumhead]

I don’t hate the idea but I don’t even think it’s an option unless it’s tested at club level. I think the idea he could just drop into a test match at 12 is somewhat fanciful. If we’re going to do that, I’d rather do it with Earl who has at least looked the part when slotting in there late in games.

Atkinson really deserves an opportunity to show he can cut it at test level. I’d back him to do well if he’s given a shot. If I was in charge, he’d have already had that chance.

I'm quite open to a 12. Atkinson, 13. Dingwall, 15. Steward combination on this tour with maybe a dabble of Steward at 12 in the last 5 mins or so as done with Earl just to test the theory. It would obviously have to go well in training as well.

Currently there's no games where Tigers are likely to take the chance of Steward at 12. Games are competitive and Tigers have centres. If in the AIs he isn't starting then releasing him back to Tigers for a PRC appearance might be a goer.

I could get behind that.

Atkinson and Dingwall are just a bit too similar for me. Atkinson offers a bit more of a direct running threat, but I think it would be a little bit too much of a subtle pairing. Dingwall is the player in possession so I expect him to start at 12. I’d like to see Beard at 13 for a bit more size and contrast.

It’s unlikely that Saints or Quins make the play-offs now so there is probably an opportunity to try that combination in the England XV fixture. I think Gloucester will make it which might put Atkinson and Clark at a bit of a disadvantage from an England POV.

[FKAS]

I don’t hate the idea but I don’t even think it’s an option unless it’s tested at club level. I think the idea he could just drop into a test match at 12 is somewhat fanciful. If we’re going to do that, I’d rather do it with Earl who has at least looked the part when slotting in there late in games.

Atkinson really deserves an opportunity to show he can cut it at test level. I’d back him to do well if he’s given a shot. If I was in charge, he’d have already had that chance.

I'm quite open to a 12. Atkinson, 13. Dingwall, 15. Steward combination on this tour with maybe a dabble of Steward at 12 in the last 5 mins or so as done with Earl just to test the theory. It would obviously have to go well in training as well.

Currently there's no games where Tigers are likely to take the chance of Steward at 12. Games are competitive and Tigers have centres. If in the AIs he isn't starting then releasing him back to Tigers for a PRC appearance might be a goer.

I could get behind that.

Atkinson and Dingwall are just a bit too similar for me. Atkinson offers a bit more of a direct running threat, but I think it would be a little bit too much of a subtle pairing. Dingwall is the player in possession so I expect him to start at 12. I’d like to see Beard at 13 for a bit more size and contrast.

It’s unlikely that Saints or Quins make the play-offs now so there is probably an opportunity to try that combination in the England XV fixture. I think Gloucester will make it which might put Atkinson and Clark at a bit of a disadvantage from an England POV.

Play OHC, Roebuck and Steward in the back three. Power in all three, pace out wide and then you've got two playmaking options alongside the 10 in the midfield.

[Captainhaircut]

Guess we lost Pollock to the lions today then.

Very worried that he’ll actually be in instead of Earl which is a double blow as Earl’s form is woeful and we could do with him not stinking up Argentina.

Hopefully Pollock goes instead of BCurry who can then captain this tour.

Underhill exceptional today- easy to forget how brilliant a test operator he is. BCurry, Underhill, Willis would be my back row for this if they are available. Worry we’ll end up with some bollocks like CCS, Underhill, Earl.

[Scrumhead]

Yeah … I’ve been hesitant to join the Pollock hype train but to be as influential as he was in a game of that magnitude is very, very impressive.

The Lions’ have a tradition of taking a bolter, but there’s argument to say he’s among the top performing back rows in Europe this season.

I’ve gone from dismissing talk of a Lions call-up as ridiculous to now thinking he’s got an excellent chance of touring and possibly even featuring in the tests.

[Oakboy]

Yeah … I’ve been hesitant to join the Pollock hype train but to be as influential as he was in a game of that magnitude is very, very impressive.

The Lions’ have a tradition of taking a bolter, but there’s argument to say he’s among the top performing back rows in Europe this season.

I’ve gone from dismissing talk of a Lions call-up as ridiculous to now thinking he’s got an excellent chance of touring and possibly even featuring in the tests.

Well said.

How good will he be in two or five years' time? Have we ever had a backrower who could burn off Prendergast like that? We'd have all been crowing about a winger doing it. How many 20 year old flankers would still be making vital contributions in the 75th minute (especially in a team defending a man short)?

So, good at all the basics; exceptional pace; outstanding stamina; infectiously good mental approach: can we English fans just get behind him, try not to find fault and watch him make progress? I really hope so. He IS that good.

[fivepointer]

From an England POV I want him in Argentina but his claim to a Lions call up seems very strong.

[Scrumhead]

Yeah … I’ve been hesitant to join the Pollock hype train but to be as influential as he was in a game of that magnitude is very, very impressive.

The Lions’ have a tradition of taking a bolter, but there’s argument to say he’s among the top performing back rows in Europe this season.

I’ve gone from dismissing talk of a Lions call-up as ridiculous to now thinking he’s got an excellent chance of touring and possibly even featuring in the tests.

Well said.

How good will he be in two or five years' time? Have we ever had a backrower who could burn off Prendergast like that? We'd have all been crowing about a winger doing it. How many 20 year old flankers would still be making vital contributions in the 75th minute (especially in a team defending a man short)?

So, good at all the basics; exceptional pace; outstanding stamina; infectiously good mental approach: can we English fans just get behind him, try not to find fault and watch him make progress? I really hope so. He IS that good.

Let’s see … the Lions is about right here, right now. On his current form, he definitely deserves a spot.

He’s very young though and right now, we don’t know whether he’ll sustain this level of performance. Sometimes a meteoric rise is followed by a drop off. He definitely looks like he has the physical attributes and strength of character for that not to happen but I’d prefer to stay in the camp of being excited by his potential rather than proclaiming him as the messiah.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah … I’ve been hesitant to join the Pollock hype train but to be as influential as he was in a game of that magnitude is very, very impressive.

The Lions’ have a tradition of taking a bolter, but there’s argument to say he’s among the top performing back rows in Europe this season.

I’ve gone from dismissing talk of a Lions call-up as ridiculous to now thinking he’s got an excellent chance of touring and possibly even featuring in the tests.

Have we ever had a backrower who could burn off Prendergast like that?

Lol. We’ve got one right now and everybody hates him.

He actually does a ton of the things we all criticise Earl for, now I think about it. That’s not to say he can’t improve on them, but you make it sound like even questioning any of his skills is being dour or unpatriotic or something.

[Banquo]

Yeah … I’ve been hesitant to join the Pollock hype train but to be as influential as he was in a game of that magnitude is very, very impressive.

The Lions’ have a tradition of taking a bolter, but there’s argument to say he’s among the top performing back rows in Europe this season.

I’ve gone from dismissing talk of a Lions call-up as ridiculous to now thinking he’s got an excellent chance of touring and possibly even featuring in the tests.

Have we ever had a backrower who could burn off Prendergast like that?

Lol. We’ve got one right now and everybody hates him.

He actually does a ton of the things we all criticise Earl for, now I think about it. That’s not to say he can’t improve on them, but you make it sound like even questioning any of his skills is being dour or unpatriotic or something.

as before, he is only 20, and the physical side will develop. He's already better over the ball than Earl, and does more nitty gritty than him from what I've seen...I also like the remit of being able to choose what to do off his own bat. I also think he has more skill with the ball than Earl (who is overly harshly critiqued, prob because he behaves like a dick).

Saints showed some lovely handling touches when scoring yesterday, and the lines of running exceptional for a couple of the tries. I've only seen limited highlights so far, but looked a great game.

[Which Tyler]

Lol. We’ve got one right now and everybody hates him.

People hate Ted Hill?

[Mikey Brown]

Have we ever had a backrower who could burn off Prendergast like that?

Lol. We’ve got one right now and everybody hates him.

He actually does a ton of the things we all criticise Earl for, now I think about it. That’s not to say he can’t improve on them, but you make it sound like even questioning any of his skills is being dour or unpatriotic or something.

as before, he is only 20, and the physical side will develop. He's already better over the ball than Earl, and does more nitty gritty than him from what I've seen...I also like the remit of being able to choose what to do off his own bat. I also think he has more skill with the ball than Earl (who is overly harshly critiqued, prob because he behaves like a dick).

Saints showed some lovely handling touches when scoring yesterday, and the lines of running exceptional for a couple of the tries. I've only seen limited highlights so far, but looked a great game.

I know he’s 20. Funnily enough it’s been mentioned already.

I’m not saying he has all the same flaws as Earl, but conceding pens at the breakdown, questionable tackle technique and being pretty loose with the ball around contact/transition are features of his game at the moment.

That’s not to say he isn’t looking fantastic in general, but I can see reasons Farrell potentially wouldn’t consider taking him with the Lions right now.

[Banquo]

Lol. We’ve got one right now and everybody hates him.

He actually does a ton of the things we all criticise Earl for, now I think about it. That’s not to say he can’t improve on them, but you make it sound like even questioning any of his skills is being dour or unpatriotic or something.

as before, he is only 20, and the physical side will develop. He's already better over the ball than Earl, and does more nitty gritty than him from what I've seen...I also like the remit of being able to choose what to do off his own bat. I also think he has more skill with the ball than Earl (who is overly harshly critiqued, prob because he behaves like a dick).

Saints showed some lovely handling touches when scoring yesterday, and the lines of running exceptional for a couple of the tries. I've only seen limited highlights so far, but looked a great game.

I know he’s 20. Funnily enough it’s been mentioned already.

I’m not saying he has all the same flaws as Earl, but conceding pens at the breakdown, questionable tackle technique and being pretty loose with the ball around contact/transition are features of his game at the moment.

That’s not to say he isn’t looking fantastic in general, but I can see reasons Farrell potentially wouldn’t consider taking him with the Lions right now.

You just didn't seem to be taking into account his youth and senior inexperience- hence his physicality when assessing him. Every decent 7 is going to concede penalties, its more a question of where and when; tackle technique almost certainly driven by physical ability at the moment tbh.

BTW what's with the 'everybody hates him' schtick?

[Danno]

Because he's a player you only ever want on your side

[Banquo]

Because he's a player you only ever want on your side

Ok....

[Mikey Brown]

as before, he is only 20, and the physical side will develop. He's already better over the ball than Earl, and does more nitty gritty than him from what I've seen...I also like the remit of being able to choose what to do off his own bat. I also think he has more skill with the ball than Earl (who is overly harshly critiqued, prob because he behaves like a dick).

Saints showed some lovely handling touches when scoring yesterday, and the lines of running exceptional for a couple of the tries. I've only seen limited highlights so far, but looked a great game.

I know he’s 20. Funnily enough it’s been mentioned already.

I’m not saying he has all the same flaws as Earl, but conceding pens at the breakdown, questionable tackle technique and being pretty loose with the ball around contact/transition are features of his game at the moment.

That’s not to say he isn’t looking fantastic in general, but I can see reasons Farrell potentially wouldn’t consider taking him with the Lions right now.

You just didn't seem to be taking into account his youth and senior inexperience- hence his physicality when assessing him. Every decent 7 is going to concede penalties, its more a question of where and when; tackle technique almost certainly driven by physical ability at the moment tbh.

BTW what's with the 'everybody hates him' schtick?

Does one comment qualify as schtick? I was talking about Earl, in response to having a forward who could skin Prendergast. He regularly does things like but all people do is complain about him.

Along with Hill, Croft, Simmonds etc. there’s always some quick guys who are rapid. I’d love to know how Pollock compares. His acceleration is crazy.

Probably worth noting you’d back a current day Dan Cole to round Sam Prendergast too. He is quite hilariously bad at tackling.

Again I’m not questioning where Pollock will get to, and possibly very soon, but it’s not being a hater just to acknowledge there is plenty for him to work on.

[Danno]

Because he's a player you only ever want on your side

Ok....

You know what I mean you fiend

[FKAS]

From an England POV I want him in Argentina but his claim to a Lions call up seems very strong.

Even if he's not in Farrell's plans for the 23 you'd probably take him and use him to keep the intensity in training high as we've heard he's either 100% or nothing so could be a useful member of the touring party.

[twitchy]

I really hope pollock comes to argentina.

[Banquo]

I know he’s 20. Funnily enough it’s been mentioned already.

I’m not saying he has all the same flaws as Earl, but conceding pens at the breakdown, questionable tackle technique and being pretty loose with the ball around contact/transition are features of his game at the moment.

That’s not to say he isn’t looking fantastic in general, but I can see reasons Farrell potentially wouldn’t consider taking him with the Lions right now.

You just didn't seem to be taking into account his youth and senior inexperience- hence his physicality when assessing him. Every decent 7 is going to concede penalties, its more a question of where and when; tackle technique almost certainly driven by physical ability at the moment tbh.

BTW what's with the 'everybody hates him' schtick?

Does one comment qualify as schtick? I was talking about Earl, in response to having a forward who could skin Prendergast. He regularly does things like but all people do is complain about him.

Along with Hill, Croft, Simmonds etc. there’s always some quick guys who are rapid. I’d love to know how Pollock compares. His acceleration is crazy.

Probably worth noting you’d back a current day Dan Cole to round Sam Prendergast too. He is quite hilariously bad at tackling.

Again I’m not questioning where Pollock will get to, and possibly very soon, but it’s not being a hater just to acknowledge there is plenty for him to work on.

just hate the use of hate ...when its just criticism

[jngf]

Yeah … I’ve been hesitant to join the Pollock hype train but to be as influential as he was in a game of that magnitude is very, very impressive.

The Lions’ have a tradition of taking a bolter, but there’s argument to say he’s among the top performing back rows in Europe this season.

I’ve gone from dismissing talk of a Lions call-up as ridiculous to now thinking he’s got an excellent chance of touring and possibly even featuring in the tests.

Well said.

How good will he be in two or five years' time? Have we ever had a backrower who could burn off Prendergast like that? We'd have all been crowing about a winger doing it. How many 20 year old flankers would still be making vital contributions in the 75th minute (especially in a team defending a man short)?

So, good at all the basics; exceptional pace; outstanding stamina; infectiously good mental approach: can we English fans just get behind him, try not to find fault and watch him make progress? I really hope so. He IS that good.

To my mind this logically begs the question why not use Pollock in the threequarters given the 20 odd years d**cking around ( which has very much lasted to this day) to find a consistent test centre partnership ? I also have to say Max Ojomoh aside I don’t find any of the current Premiership threequarters that special, in fact there a rather mediocre group imo, so why not try something a bit different?

[p/d]

Oh come on jngf!!! He would just look silly at 12 with black tape around his head.