RugbyRebels

Billy out for four months.

Mellsblue wrote:Billy out for four months.

Probably makes it harder to rest Maro too given he might now be covering back row with Rhodes out. Not remotely a positive

Stephen Jones' article in today's Sunday Times is a snorter. He of course mentioned his three favourite players: Luther Burrell - should be back in the squad - Simon Shaw/Atwood - this time it was the former, who became the greatest lock he'd ever seen - and, of course, Haskell - shouldn't have been dropped.
Brilliant.

Digby wrote:

Mellsblue wrote:Billy out for four months.

Probably makes it harder to rest Maro too given he might now be covering back row with Rhodes out. Not remotely a positive

McCall has said they are looking to bring somebody in, but you can't imagine there would be anybody available of the requisite quality until after the AI's.

Mellsblue wrote:

Digby wrote:

Mellsblue wrote:Billy out for four months.

Probably makes it harder to rest Maro too given he might now be covering back row with Rhodes out. Not remotely a positive

McCall has said they are looking to bring somebody in, but you can't imagine there would be anybody available of the requisite quality until after the AI's.

I think they might need to, when you're having to pick Day at lock isn't doesn't suggest you've much wiggle room to move Maro back. Does scream short term SH signing

Mellsblue wrote:Billy out for four months.

Fark. Massive loss.

Perhaps he does need to look at his conditioning #justsaying. Bad luck more likely but same knee twice not good.

Not great, but not the worst news for Billy. When I saw it I was thinking possibly ACL and season over. From an England POV hopefully just miss the Autumn, when we should be able to cope ok, and back for the 6N when we will really need him. For Sarries, hopefully Earl gets some game time.

Digby wrote:

Mellsblue wrote:

Digby wrote:
Probably makes it harder to rest Maro too given he might now be covering back row with Rhodes out. Not remotely a positive

McCall has said they are looking to bring somebody in, but you can't imagine there would be anybody available of the requisite quality until after the AI's.

I think they might need to, when you're having to pick Day at lock isn't doesn't suggest you've much wiggle room to move Maro back. Does scream short term SH signing

They have got Kruis, Isiekwe, and Skelton to come back as well, plus back row has Conlon and Clark not been used yet, with Earl as the young tyro. I'm not really sure they do need to bring anyone else in.

Puja

Puja wrote:

Digby wrote:

Mellsblue wrote: McCall has said they are looking to bring somebody in, but you can't imagine there would be anybody available of the requisite quality until after the AI's.

I think they might need to, when you're having to pick Day at lock isn't doesn't suggest you've much wiggle room to move Maro back. Does scream short term SH signing

They have got Kruis, Isiekwe, and Skelton to come back as well, plus back row has Conlon and Clark not been used yet, with Earl as the young tyro. I'm not really sure they do need to bring anyone else in.

Puja

McCall has already said they are looking to. He also mentioned there were other long term injuries in the back row.

Brown and possibly watson out for the AI's so full back looking a bit weird now.


https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/ ... harlequins

Miller back just on time.....

Cool, pick a name out of a hat from Daly/Nowell/Slade/Mallinder. I mean I'm slow and rubbish and Watson is a winger anyway.

Mikey Brown wrote:Cool, pick a name out of a hat from Daly/Nowell/Slade/Mallinder. I mean I'm slow and rubbish and Watson is a winger anyway.

You're mssing the obvious - Banahan played 15 for Bath, so he's the sensible choice.

Not really sure who our next cap off the rank is for 15 if they're both out (which is pessimistic from what I understand of Watson). Do we go next best specialist full-back, which is the unappealing prospect of Haley, or go for the Adam Ashley-Cooper approach of the next best player who can fit in there, which would be Slade or Daly.

Frankly, if I were Harry Mallinder, I'd be chivvying dad to give me a run at full-back. It's his favoured position and it would take him out of the frontline defence, which would mitigate his cowardice in front on tackles. He's good at side-on amd covering, he's got a big boot and a turn of pace - I wouldn't mind giving him a go there for England.

Puja

Todd Blackadder has said Watson should be fit to play at the weekend, so probably a bit alarmist to say he'll miss an England game in 5 weeks.

Timbo wrote:Todd Blackadder has said Watson should be fit to play at the weekend, so probably a bit alarmist to say he'll miss an England game in 5 weeks.

....though as a Lion, would Eddie pick him anyway?

Puja wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:Cool, pick a name out of a hat from Daly/Nowell/Slade/Mallinder. I mean I'm slow and rubbish and Watson is a winger anyway.

You're mssing the obvious - Banahan played 15 for Bath, so he's the sensible choice.

Not really sure who our next cap off the rank is for 15 if they're both out (which is pessimistic from what I understand of Watson). Do we go next best specialist full-back, which is the unappealing prospect of Haley, or go for the Adam Ashley-Cooper approach of the next best player who can fit in there, which would be Slade or Daly.

Frankly, if I were Harry Mallinder, I'd be chivvying dad to give me a run at full-back. It's his favoured position and it would take him out of the frontline defence, which would mitigate his cowardice in front on tackles. He's good at side-on amd covering, he's got a big boot and a turn of pace - I wouldn't mind giving him a go there for England.

Puja

You mean like this?http://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/41401246

Puja wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:Cool, pick a name out of a hat from Daly/Nowell/Slade/Mallinder. I mean I'm slow and rubbish and Watson is a winger anyway.

You're mssing the obvious - Banahan played 15 for Bath, so he's the sensible choice.

Not really sure who our next cap off the rank is for 15 if they're both out (which is pessimistic from what I understand of Watson). Do we go next best specialist full-back, which is the unappealing prospect of Haley, or go for the Adam Ashley-Cooper approach of the next best player who can fit in there, which would be Slade or Daly.

Frankly, if I were Harry Mallinder, I'd be chivvying dad to give me a run at full-back. It's his favoured position and it would take him out of the frontline defence, which would mitigate his cowardice in front on tackles. He's good at side-on amd covering, he's got a big boot and a turn of pace - I wouldn't mind giving him a go there for England.

Puja

Think Goode would have something to say about Haley being the next best specialist 15.

On Mallinder, I wouldn't like to thrust him in as an England full back on the basis his tackling is ok in some circumstances, he's quickish and has a big boot. Be nice to see him play there a lot first as seems his wish, before not minding giving him a go for England.

Watson likely fit, but this is where Eddies' lions selection statement looks like it will be (have to be) forgotten

Timbo wrote:Todd Blackadder has said Watson should be fit to play at the weekend, so probably a bit alarmist to say he'll miss an England game in 5 weeks.

Glad someone beat me to it.

Banquo wrote: Think Goode would have something to say about Haley being the next best specialist 15.

On Mallinder, I wouldn't like to thrust him in as an England full back on the basis his tackling is ok in some circumstances, he's quickish and has a big boot. Be nice to see him play there a lot first as seems his wish, before not minding giving him a go for England.

Watson likely fit, but this is where Eddies' lions selection statement looks like it will be (have to be) forgotten

Fair point - completely forgot about Goode. He would be next man in then.

Puja

Puja wrote:

Banquo wrote: Think Goode would have something to say about Haley being the next best specialist 15.

On Mallinder, I wouldn't like to thrust him in as an England full back on the basis his tackling is ok in some circumstances, he's quickish and has a big boot. Be nice to see him play there a lot first as seems his wish, before not minding giving him a go for England.

Watson likely fit, but this is where Eddies' lions selection statement looks like it will be (have to be) forgotten

Fair point - completely forgot about Goode. He would be next man in then.

Puja

It doesn't make me happy, for the avoidance of doubt.

Oh god.

Mikey Brown wrote:Oh god.

don't think it will happen actually. Watson likely fit in any case, and Eddie would likely have a look at Daly.....if he breaks his own rule, that is

Woodward seems like a good counter attacking runner but I haven't really seen enough of him to know much about his all round game.

It's a tough one. Thought Jonny May was having a storming start to the season then he did that pass to the floor and the memories came flooding back. Who do we pick on the wing if Daly is at 15? Nowell and Solomona? Can you imagine that combo in defence?

Nowell seemed to get a lot of plaudits for his performance on Sunday but his non-tackle on Johnson was on par with the worst I've seen of Goode/Mallinder/Goden in recent times.

Hadn't considered Woodward. Feels like we'd be heading further towards a XV where having been born in England is totally irrelevant.

twitchy wrote:Woodward seems like a good counter attacking runner but I haven't really seen enough of him to know much about his all round game.

Good point, like him a lot from what I've seen- a little bit too eager to run, alongside his team mates at glaws