England v Barbarians June 19th 2022

[Mellsblue]

Maybe McGuigan will be picked by the Barbarians.

He must’ve heard your call to arms. He scored a hat trick today.
I don’t suppose you’d tip one of the Bedford players for a BaaBaas call-up in a couple of weeks, would you?

[Oakboy]

Maybe McGuigan will be picked by the Barbarians.

He must’ve heard your call to arms. He scored a hat trick today.
I don’t suppose you’d tip one of the Bedford players for a BaaBaas call-up in a couple of weeks, would you?

I can't even predict when I'll be awake.

[Scrumhead]

It’s a weird one … usually no-one cares about this fixture, but when you’re coming in to it off the back of two defeats and a poor 6 Nations, it takes on a bit of a different level of significance.

Given that a good chunk of our first choice players are likely to be in the play-offs, I would still use it as a chance to look at some of the fringe players without an outside chance of being involved in Australia/possible RWC bolters.

On the assumption that the top 4 stays the same (which it probably won’t) I’d like to see something like:

1. T. West / W. Goodrick-Clarke
2. G. McGuigan / J. Blamire
3. W. Stuart / P. Hill
4. S. Robinson / A. Coles
5. D. Ribbans / E. Stooke
6. T. Hill (c) / M. Reid
7. B. Curry / T. Pearson
8. T. Willis / A. Barbeary
9. A. Mitchell / B. Spencer
10. J. Umaga / F. Smith
11. O. Hassell-Collins / O. Thorley
12. M. Ojomoh / M. Atkinson
13. P. Odogwu / F. Dingwall
14. J. Cokanasiga / A. Radwan
15. T. Parton / T. Freeman

I think that’s a nice squad and a great set of backs for some Barbarians rugby.

Could be the perfect game for the likes of Barbeary and OHC.

Could be a tough squad to pick …

Quite a few I’d like to have seen like Ojomoh or Bailey who haven’t played in a while or others like Odogwu who don’t seem to be getting much game time. Also, while I wouldn’t say Reid or Cokanasiga were individually that culpable, it would be hard to justify picking Bath players after the season they’ve had.

On the plus side, it would be a good opportunity to take a look at Arundell.

[Oakboy]

I think we should be at the point where experimentation is over unless there is an outstanding club-performance-inspired case for a late bolter. The significant lack of cohesive play from the team unit in the 6N cries out for using every chance to improve those who definitely will be RWC squad players rather than fiddle around looking for options.

It is very much a case of 'I wouldn't start from here' but that is where we are at thanks to Jones and his backing by the RFU.

Hard decisions now have to be made. For example, which two out of Smith, Ford and Farrell are the FHs? I need my mouth washing out with soap if I say it but it could well be that cohesive team unit performances will be best achieved by putting Farrell back in the 10 shirt. I hate the thought but that might have to be the starting point - not for his play but for what is missing from the team when he is NOT there. Maybe, just maybe, he offsets the head coach's nonsense such that the team plays well despite the coaching.

I hate where we are at but we don't have time to build a new system around Smith at 10 IF Farrell is at 12 where, IMO, he is not international standard. Farrell will be in the XV whatever happens. With that proviso (much as it should not be so had coaching/planning been better) we just have to bite the bullet and go for short-termism.

[Scrumhead]

I’ve done too much agreeing with you in recent times … your points are all valid, but as this fixture is the day after the Premiership final, the selection will be impacted fairly significantly which means experimentation is kind of forced.

Hard to call who’ll be in the final, but for example, it’s certain that at least one of Smith, Farrell and Ford will be playing and it’ll probably be two of them.

Let’s say the final is Tigers vs. Saracens, that rules out George, Itoje, Isiekwe, Farrell, Daly, Malins, Genge, Dolly, Chessum, Youngs, Ford and Steward from the 6N squad. It also rules out players like Earl and Heyes who are on the fringes.

With the exception of Stooke and Coles, every player I named previously has been called up by Eddie in the recent past (some just for training), but they’re not entirely new faces.

[32nd Man]

As has been pointed out the timing of the match means that it will very much be an experimental team.

I hope everyone involved takes that on board and we don't see cast iron opinions being adopted about players ability to perform at international level after they get an hour in what will be a scratch side, playing against another scratch side.

[fivepointer]

Its always a bit of a make do selection as players may still be on club duty, injured, or stood down for the summer.
Seems likely Saints may not provide players to the initial squad, so that is going to require a bit of a rethink.
Exeter should be able to provide some players, so how about Sam Maunder, O'Flaherty and Capstick?
Someone who seems to be maturing nicely is Atkinson at Wasps. He'd be worth having a look at.

[Scrumhead]

I think Sam Maunder is looking more promising than his brother now.

Not against O’Flaherty, but I don’t think I’d go for Capstick TBH. So many good back row players and I’d put T. Hill, B. Curry, Pearson, Reid and Ludlow all ahead of him - partly my opinion, it also on the basis that they’ve all been involved in some capacity.

Atkinson has a big advantage over Bailey simply by playing. Umaga has dropped right off and definitely shouldn’t be considered as a 15 IMO.

Could be a good opening for Joe Simmonds to complete his comeback after a poor season.

[francoisfou]

According to Eurosport, here's Fabien Galthié's Barbarians side to face England. It includes George Kruis, who apparently plays for La Rochelle?!!

There are mainly Top14 players with the exception of Oyonnax's Laclayat in ProD2. I'm not sure that Botia is right at 7 as he's normally a centre (unless Galthié is taking a leaf out of Eddie's book!). Whatever, there are plenty of tries likely in this side.

15. Spring (Racing 92), 14. Penaud (Clermont), 13. Vakatawa (Racing 92), 12. Vili (Clermont), 11. Niniashvili (Lyon), 10. Hastoy (Pau), 9. Couilloud (Lyon), 7. Botia (La Rochelle), 8. Ollivon (Toulon), 6. Cretin (Lyon), 5. Skelton (La Rochelle), 4. Kruis (La Rochelle), 3. Nyakane (Racing 92), 2.Bourgarit (La Rochelle), 1. Gros (Toulon).

16. Tolofua (Toulon), 17. Priso (La Rochelle), Falatea (Clermont), Lavault (La Rochelle), Tanga (Racing 92), Le Garrec (Racing 92), Carbonnel (Toulon), Macalou (Stade français), Laclayat (Oyonnax).

[Puja]

Huh. That is the Frenchest Barbarians side I've ever seen. Very unusual, although I guess it's what you get when you hire Galthie. Odd if Care really was supposed to be playing for the Barbarians before his England call-up - he would've been the sole Prem representative! Surprised that the Top 14 teams are allowing the release of players outside of the test window.

I think the Kruis thing might be a copy-and-paste screw-up, as everything I've seen says he's retiring after this game. Really good for him to have one last game at Twickenham though - good servant for England.

Puja

[Danno]

That pack can be summed up by the loosehead (in German)

[Mellsblue]

I’'m not sure that Botia is right at 7 as he's normally a centre .

He can and does play both.

[Which Tyler]

I’'m not sure that Botia is right at 7 as he's normally a centre .

He can and does play both.

Really not specialised up front though:
Occupied positions by Levani on start team :
Center : 114 times ( Inside Centre 81% )
Back Row : 23 times ( Blindside Flanker 10%, Openside Flanker 6% )
Winger : 4 times ( Right Wing 2%, Left Wing 1% )

https://all.rugby/player/levani-botia

[francoisfou]

That pack can be summed up by the loosehead (in German)

Fatboy! Good name for a prop!

[Mellsblue]

I’'m not sure that Botia is right at 7 as he's normally a centre .

He can and does play both.

Really not specialised up front though:
Occupied positions by Levani on start team :
Center : 114 times ( Inside Centre 81% )
Back Row : 23 times ( Blindside Flanker 10%, Openside Flanker 6% )
Winger : 4 times ( Right Wing 2%, Left Wing 1% )

https://all.rugby/player/levani-botia

Yep, primarily a centre but he can and does play both. FF’s point was he thought it was a typo, at least that’s how I read it, but it’s probably not.

[Puja]

He can and does play both.

Really not specialised up front though:
Occupied positions by Levani on start team :
Center : 114 times ( Inside Centre 81% )
Back Row : 23 times ( Blindside Flanker 10%, Openside Flanker 6% )
Winger : 4 times ( Right Wing 2%, Left Wing 1% )

https://all.rugby/player/levani-botia

Yep, primarily a centre but he can and does play both. FF’s point was he thought it was a typo, at least that’s how I read it, but it’s probably not.

And it's a Barbarians game - that's the time to have a Fijian centre playing on the openside.

Puja

[FKAS]

Botia on the flank has been fun when I've seen it before. In a Baabaas game should work nicely. He basically just hits things without having to worry about positioning.

The young replacement tighthead could be quite interesting:

https://www.rugbyworld.com/countries/fr ... yat-142468

[Spiffy]

As has been pointed out the timing of the match means that it will very much be an experimental team.

I hope everyone involved takes that on board and we don't see cast iron opinions being adopted about players ability to perform at international level after they get an hour in what will be a scratch side, playing against another scratch side.

Over the past few years the England team v. the Ba-Bas has always been experimental. That's why it's strange to call up Care, though I suppose it could be argued that he brings experience/stability. That's if he gets to play at all. The outcome of this game is meaningless so Jones might as well give the hopefuls their head.

[Doorzetbornandbred]

As has been pointed out the timing of the match means that it will very much be an experimental team.

I hope everyone involved takes that on board and we don't see cast iron opinions being adopted about players ability to perform at international level after they get an hour in what will be a scratch side, playing against another scratch side.

Over the past few years the England team v. the Ba-Bas has always been experimental. That's why it's strange to call up Care, though I suppose it could be argued that he brings experience/stability. That's if he gets to play at all. The outcome of this game is meaningless so Jones might as well give the hopefuls their head.

Cant help but think Jones is gonna not pick Care then come out with "maaaate, we had a good look at him in training and he wasn't offering us what we want". That will then be the end of Cares England career.

[FKAS]

Eddie could go with the Quins 8/9/10 in this one to try and generate a bit of fluency in an otherwise experimental side. Dombrandt might be under a bit of pressure though as he was poor in Quins semi final loss and is going to be up against a quality backrow in this one. A no show again might resign him to another bench role in Australia.

Mitchell off the bench would be a good shout, I don't think he's got the stamina to start at international level and Care could then empty the tank instead of having to keep a bit in reserve, he'd know 50/55 mins he'd be coming off.

[francoisfou]

The young replacement tighthead could be quite interesting:

https://www.rugbyworld.com/countries/fr ... yat-142468

That's outrageous! He should be drummed out of the front-row union immediately!

[Raggs]

The young replacement tighthead could be quite interesting:

https://www.rugbyworld.com/countries/fr ... yat-142468

That's outrageous! He should be drummed out of the front-row union immediately!

Not at all. Far safer trying to throw a dummy than actually throwing the ball!

[FKAS]

The young replacement tighthead could be quite interesting:

https://www.rugbyworld.com/countries/fr ... yat-142468

That's outrageous! He should be drummed out of the front-row union immediately!

Not at all. Far safer trying to throw a dummy than actually throwing the ball!

If you've got swerve and pace like that whilst built like a tank why both passing.

[Puja]

That's outrageous! He should be drummed out of the front-row union immediately!

Not at all. Far safer trying to throw a dummy than actually throwing the ball!

If you've got swerve and pace like that whilst built like a tank why both passing.

I like the fact that he runs like a prop - none of this high knees nonsense, just scuttling, like your hamstrings are two sizes two small for your legs.

Puja

[francoisfou]

Not at all. Far safer trying to throw a dummy than actually throwing the ball!

If you've got swerve and pace like that whilst built like a tank why both passing.

I like the fact that he runs like a prop - none of this high knees nonsense, just scuttling, like your hamstrings are two sizes two small for your legs.

Puja