New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread

[Puja]

Also, if a player is not struggling physically why would you take him off at all? I think the current fashion needs a re-think.

I would also say that, if an international prop is not struggling physically by minute 60, then they're not working hard enough and need to be hooked for that anyway - with the way the regulations are current written, it makes absolutely zero sense for a starting prop not to be looking to completely empty the tank by 50-60 minutes.

I would agree that the fashion needs a rethink, cause I don't care for it, but that'll only happen with the regulations changing. I would very much be in favour of only 5 substitutions being allowed, with injuries beyond that requiring to go down to 14/front row injuries requiring another player be subbed off.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

I agree with the sentiment, but I’m not sure fashion is the right word for it. South Africa showed it can be unbelievably effective, so now everyone is trying to replicate that. Just like any other tactic really.

How you go about limiting substitutions with the game having already reached this point, I’m not sure.

[Oakboy]

Of course, the next question is, "Why not four props on the bench so that each does 20?" If six were available of similar standard, as SA may have . . . .

[Mikey Brown]

Let them?

[Puja]

I agree with the sentiment, but I’m not sure fashion is the right word for it. South Africa showed it can be unbelievably effective, so now everyone is trying to replicate that. Just like any other tactic really.

How you go about limiting substitutions with the game having already reached this point, I’m not sure.

What's wrong with just saying, "New law - Bench stays at 8 players, but only 5 substitutions allowed in total, with the only exceptions being blood or doctor-decided concussion."

Apart from anything else, it's the easiest way of reducing the gap between the heavyweights and the minnows. It's a lot easier for nations to get together a competitive XV than it is to get together a competitive XXIII (which is now mandatory to compete, with the way subs are used).

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

I just imagine it will get confusing with front row safety requirements, validity of blood/HIA subs, Rassie shenanigans etc. but maybe it really is that simple.

[Oakboy]

I agree with the sentiment, but I’m not sure fashion is the right word for it. South Africa showed it can be unbelievably effective, so now everyone is trying to replicate that. Just like any other tactic really.

How you go about limiting substitutions with the game having already reached this point, I’m not sure.

What's wrong with just saying, "New law - Bench stays at 8 players, but only 5 substitutions allowed in total, with the only exceptions being blood or doctor-decided concussion."

Apart from anything else, it's the easiest way of reducing the gap between the heavyweights and the minnows. It's a lot easier for nations to get together a competitive XV than it is to get together a competitive XXIII (which is now mandatory to compete, with the way subs are used).

Puja

Am I right in assuming that we got to where we are originally with 8 on the bench on an assumed guideline framework of: 3 front rowers (compulsory), 1second row, 1 back row, SH, FH, 1 other back?

I'd cut the bench to five including 3 compulsory front rowers, allowing all to be used but only in the case of injury.

[twitchy]

Substitutes are woke nonsense, I would make them "run until they drop".

[Which Tyler]

8 man bench
2 voluntary subs, any additional subs for an injury then the injured player must sit out the next match for recuperation
Blood and HIA temporary subs excluded

[Mikey Brown]

Would that not just result in injured players playing on?

I still don’t see any answers that don’t result in more ploys to get around them or making an already confusing game even more complicated with exemptions and stand-down periods.

[Which Tyler]

Would that not just result in injured players playing on?

That's the problem with any potential reduction in replacements - including the current situation

[twitchy]

I was being facetious, I don't really see any problems with the current situation. South Africa are just much better than everyone else currently at a specific aspect of the game. I don't think it warrants changing the rules.

[fivepointer]

5 subs should be enough. 2 front rowers plus 3 others.

[twitchy]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... 4rv668d30o

Former England captain Jamie George is to retire at the end of 2027 after agreeing a one-year contract extension with Saracens.

[FKAS]

Just shy of his 37th birthday. Finishing at the top with a world cup if everything goes to plan. Makes sense. He'll have accumulated a lot of England caps by then as well.

[Mikey Brown]

I really hope he can keep going for England, even if he’s just there for 15 minutes off the bench.

[Oakboy]

I really hope he can keep going for England, even if he’s just there for 15 minutes off the bench.

This! Serious injury to him and/or LCD must be SB's biggest fear.

[FKAS]

I really hope he can keep going for England, even if he’s just there for 15 minutes off the bench.

This! Serious injury to him and/or LCD must be SB's biggest fear.

Probably. We have various hookers that could step up but we really do need to back them more and get game time into them. It might be a can that Strategic Ballthrow puts off until after the world cup knowing then he'll need to start again with that position. LCD will be 34.

Post world cup some more youngsters might have sufficient game time to back long term. Craig Wright in particular.

[Oakboy]

I really hope he can keep going for England, even if he’s just there for 15 minutes off the bench.

This! Serious injury to him and/or LCD must be SB's biggest fear.

Probably. We have various hookers that could step up but we really do need to back them more and get game time into them. It might be a can that Strategic Ballthrow puts off until after the world cup knowing then he'll need to start again with that position. LCD will be 34.

Post world cup some more youngsters might have sufficient game time to back long term. Craig Wright in particular.

Against any of the top 3 or 4 nations (tomorrow, say), are there any hookers who could offer credible options as starters?

[FKAS]

This! Serious injury to him and/or LCD must be SB's biggest fear.

Probably. We have various hookers that could step up but we really do need to back them more and get game time into them. It might be a can that Strategic Ballthrow puts off until after the world cup knowing then he'll need to start again with that position. LCD will be 34.

Post world cup some more youngsters might have sufficient game time to back long term. Craig Wright in particular.

Against any of the top 3 or 4 nations (tomorrow, say), are there any hookers who could offer credible options as starters?

Plenty passable ones but none in the LCD and George category. Those guys do the basics well, are great around the park and are big for hookers with it. Our other hookers generally lack one of those three things like Blamire who's big and great around the park but has dodgy basics (hit and miss at lineout time) or Oghre who's got great basics and is good around the park but notably smaller (in an emergency I'd prefer to throw him in because you know when he throws in it'll go to where it's supposed to). You can get away with being smaller if you're explosive but Theo Dan has that and is struggling with his basics.

Currently Craig Wright, Nathan Jibulu and Seb Blake look the most likely. Blake was out of form before injury this season, Jibulu looks good but needs more game time to help his consistency and Wright looks the business but is only 21 so needs that bit more experience just to help him develop.

[Stom]

When is the squad announced, btw?

[FKAS]

When is the squad announced, btw?

I'm sure I read somewhere tomorrow. Not sure how accurate that is.

[Oakboy]

Is McGuigan past consideration? I've heard nothing anout him recently.

[fivepointer]

Is McGuigan past consideration? I've heard nothing anout him recently.

Yes. He was very good a couple of seasons ago but not at that level currently. If we wanted to look at a more seasoned hooker, we could surely do a lot worse than turn to Tom Dunn, who is one of the Prem's most consistent players.

Ideally, though, we have to try and develop one or two of the younger hookers.

[Which Tyler]

If we wanted to look at a more seasoned hooker, we could surely do a lot worse than turn to Tom Dunn, who is one of the Prem's most consistent players.

Is he our most capped hooker after George, LCD & Dan?

More seriously - no, he's only ever a "break glass in case of emergency" option for England, by the time your far enough down the line to see his name, you're better off taking one of the youngsters with potential