Banquo wrote: ↑Fri Sep 15, 2023 8:50 am
Oakboy wrote: ↑Fri Sep 15, 2023 7:50 am
Mellsblue wrote: ↑Fri Sep 15, 2023 6:06 am
The Times are reporting the only changes being Ludlam at 8 with Earl shifting to 7 and the possibility of Sinckler for Cole.
That sounds sensible though Ludlam at 7 would be simpler. It is certainly better than Vunipola returning.
Ludlam has 5 starts at 8 in his senior career. I suppose if the scrum isn't going to be under pressure, it may not matter, but then, what does it prove as to his overall ability to do the job at test level.
On Willis, the minutes he has spent recently has been in struggling pack, and he's not been able to deploy his pick and choose a turnover USP. He's a very different style to the other guys.
Oh, I'd have Willis as the first name on the team-sheet but SB has decided to pick and trust Earl. Ludlam was flavour-of-the-month for the 6N, then out of favour and now back in. Overall, I just think it is more important to build on continuity and cohesion with the three red card players left out of it rather than disturb the potential for improvement.
I still think our best back-row potentially is Curry, Willis and Willis and I have not changed my opinion that it was a mistake to have Youngs, Care, Billy V and Tuilagi in the squad. However, none of that matters at this point. If SB backs his first choice XV and keeps picking it, that is our best chance from here of doing well.
Ironically, I think captaincy selection may get in the way of positive thinking at some point. For example, in a horses-for-courses selection (should continuity not matter more) the Japan game might have been the one to leave Lawes out with a back-row of Ludlam, Willis and Earl starting to supply/counter pure pace. It could have been worth giving Ford the captaincy in that scenario to boost his game-management presence. The argument for that would simply be building Ford's self-belief to get the best out of him and therefore keep Farrell out.
A further irony could be Tuilagi getting injured in this game of all f-cking games. Farrell back at 12 would then loom, perish the thought!!