New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread

[Puja]

Watching Wales's defence against Argentina made me regret that getting Sinfield in led to us missing out on Mike Forshaw. I did expect that he was going to be good, given what he did with making Sale's defence so obdurate, but he really does appear to be the second coming of Shaun Edwards so far.

Typical England, tbh. The choice of two famous League names, and we go for the "inspirational leadership" one, rather than the competent one.

Puja

ditto Mike Catt's influence in Ireland. And big Faz, obvs.

Although how many of us objected to them getting the Spanish archer in 2015, saying they were boring, they had no clue, they picked the wrong players, there was no sign that anything would improve?

Puja

[Banquo]

Watching Wales's defence against Argentina made me regret that getting Sinfield in led to us missing out on Mike Forshaw. I did expect that he was going to be good, given what he did with making Sale's defence so obdurate, but he really does appear to be the second coming of Shaun Edwards so far.

Typical England, tbh. The choice of two famous League names, and we go for the "inspirational leadership" one, rather than the competent one.

Puja

ditto Mike Catt's influence in Ireland. And big Faz, obvs.

Although how many of us objected to them getting the Spanish archer in 2015, saying they were boring, they had no clue, they picked the wrong players, there was no sign that anything would improve?

Puja

yes....three things though; Burt was too inexperienced as a head coach when he started so couldn't have helped them overly; our structures leading up to the national side are nowhere near as sorted; and thirdly, and related, they have players who are in a groove of play and who need no 'motivation'. And they are 8 years more experienced than then, So four things

[Mellsblue]

Watching Wales's defence against Argentina made me regret that getting Sinfield in led to us missing out on Mike Forshaw. I did expect that he was going to be good, given what he did with making Sale's defence so obdurate, but he really does appear to be the second coming of Shaun Edwards so far.

Typical England, tbh. The choice of two famous League names, and we go for the "inspirational leadership" one, rather than the competent one.

Puja

ditto Mike Catt's influence in Ireland. And big Faz, obvs.

Yep. I’m looking forward to Sinfield taking over from Edwards after RWC 2027 and suddenly becoming the best defence coach in the world. It is very altruistic of us to give all these EQ coaches an apprenticeship in international coaching and then let them feck off round Europe to help improve foreign teams and players. We deserve some credit for it.

[FKAS]

Watching Wales's defence against Argentina made me regret that getting Sinfield in led to us missing out on Mike Forshaw. I did expect that he was going to be good, given what he did with making Sale's defence so obdurate, but he really does appear to be the second coming of Shaun Edwards so far.

Typical England, tbh. The choice of two famous League names, and we go for the "inspirational leadership" one, rather than the competent one.

Puja

The Welsh defence looked increasingly less good as the game went on and once Reffell went off and the dual threat at the breakdown with him they looked in trouble. I think Forshaw was a good acquisition by Wales but calling him the second coming of Edwards is a bit much. Argentina had more joy with the Welsh defence than they did ours. Could say the same for Fiji.

[Epaminondas Pules]

So who impressed you in round one?

For me Dombrandt, Mercer, Barbeary and Fisilau all had big games at 8.

Thought Riley and Baxter were good in the Quins front row.

Spencer obviously.

Freeman and Ibitoye both stood out, as did Josh Hodge and Wyatt. Slade and Skinner had some lovely moments.

[Stom]

So who impressed you in round one?

For me Dombrandt, Mercer, Barbeary and Fisilau all had big games at 8.

Thought Riley and Baxter were good in the Quins front row.

Spencer obviously.

Freeman and Ibitoye both stood out, as did Josh Hodge and Wyatt. Slade and Skinner had some lovely moments.

I only saw the Quins game, and for me the standouts were the aforementioned Dombrandt and Mercer, plus Northmore.

[Puja]

Agreed with all of those. On the unheralded side, Painter did an excellent job on the tighthead for Exeter. Be very good if they can get some of his unused potential out. Thought Tuima showed up well at lock, although probably not in context of being a potential international.

Puja

[Epaminondas Pules]

So who impressed you in round one?

For me Dombrandt, Mercer, Barbeary and Fisilau all had big games at 8.

Thought Riley and Baxter were good in the Quins front row.

Spencer obviously.

Freeman and Ibitoye both stood out, as did Josh Hodge and Wyatt. Slade and Skinner had some lovely moments.

I only saw the Quins game, and for me the standouts were the aforementioned Dombrandt and Mercer, plus Northmore.

Yes, forgot Northmore. He did look good. More powerful than you expect, if that makes sense.

[Stom]

So who impressed you in round one?

For me Dombrandt, Mercer, Barbeary and Fisilau all had big games at 8.

Thought Riley and Baxter were good in the Quins front row.

Spencer obviously.

Freeman and Ibitoye both stood out, as did Josh Hodge and Wyatt. Slade and Skinner had some lovely moments.

I only saw the Quins game, and for me the standouts were the aforementioned Dombrandt and Mercer, plus Northmore.

Yes, forgot Northmore. He did look good. More powerful than you expect, if that makes sense.

Also seems to have added more pace again, which is great news.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Fin Baxter had another good game. Really starting to come into his own. Showed some lovely hands and solid at scrum time, with a number of good interventions in the tight. Wouldn;t be surprised to see him in the 6 Nations EPS if he carries on like this.

[Epaminondas Pules]

And gutted for Josh Hodge! Hopefully he's got away with a lighter dislocation.

[FKAS]

And gutted for Josh Hodge! Hopefully he's got away with a lighter dislocation.

So unlucky. He was in great form for the game and a bit he played. Looked like he was going to have a real break out season.

[Puja]

And gutted for Josh Hodge! Hopefully he's got away with a lighter dislocation.

5 months and surgery, poor sod: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67219482

Puja

[FKAS]

And gutted for Josh Hodge! Hopefully he's got away with a lighter dislocation.

5 months and surgery, poor sod: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67219482

Puja

Ouch, poor fecker. Just when it looked like he was going to break through and be box office.

[twitchy]

Huge blow for exe as well.

[Epaminondas Pules]

And gutted for Josh Hodge! Hopefully he's got away with a lighter dislocation.

5 months and surgery, poor sod: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/67219482

Puja

That's terrible luck! Poor fella!

[Puja]

Thought this was quite interesting - RFU putting together focussed training camps for the most promising 16-19 y/o props, hookers, and locks to create a production line of front five forwards: https://12ft.io/www.telegraph.co.uk/rug ... world-cup/

Seems unnaturally forward thinking and joined up for English rugby. Let's just hope half of them don't get poached by the Welsh.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Didn't we talk about it a few weeks ago? Or was that on a different board?

Either way, it's a really good idea, and reports from Bath's contingent were really positive about it afterwards

[Puja]

Didn't we talk about it a few weeks ago? Or was that on a different board?

Either way, it's a really good idea, and reports from Bath's contingent were really positive about it afterwards

Entirely possible - my memory issues mean I get new joy out of discovering things for the first time that I've already talked about at length previously.

I'm assuming Sela was one of the attendees - do we know who else was on the list?

Puja

[Which Tyler]

My apologies, I had simply forgotten about your memory issues.
I don't recall there being a full list of invitees, but something like 50-60 of them

[Puja]

My apologies, I had simply forgotten about your memory issues.
I don't recall there being a full list of invitees, but something like 50-60 of them

Eh, I don't expect people to have others medical issues memorised! I'd forget to get offended anyway.


Back on the subject of current EPS options, we've not really mentioned Fisilau in our various discussion of the 8-shirt, but he's having a storming start to the season. Could be a very difficult decision for who plays in the 6N if he, TWillis, Mercer, and Dombrandt all keep up their form, along with the option of Earl.

Puja

[Danno]

I think Earl is perhaps too versatile for his own good. Plays 7, 8, a jngf 12. He's 7 at Sarries but we don't want him there for Eng as things stand because he's not destructive enough compared to the kamikaze kids or the talent coming through. And I don't really want him at 8 just now when we have to try a couple of guys that have proven themselves in arguably the most competitive league in the world.

If Curry, Curry, Pearson, Underhill, Hill, Ludlam, and even, say Kenningham stake claims on the flanks then I only want an out and out 8 like Mercer, T Willis, or even have a look at CCS against Italy.

He's a great 20.

[Mikey Brown]

My apologies, I had simply forgotten about your memory issues.
I don't recall there being a full list of invitees, but something like 50-60 of them

Eh, I don't expect people to have others medical issues memorised! I'd forget to get offended anyway.


Back on the subject of current EPS options, we've not really mentioned Fisilau in our various discussion of the 8-shirt, but he's having a storming start to the season. Could be a very difficult decision for who plays in the 6N if he, TWillis, Mercer, and Dombrandt all keep up their form, along with the option of Earl.

Puja

Not seen him play but he’s very young and inexperienced isn’t he? I feel like picking a player before you’ve seen how they deal with second season syndrome or recover from their first big dip in form isn’t worth it when you have those other options to try first.

Has he got any particular USP over the others?

I don’t see the issue with Earl’s versatility at all. I don’t realistically see him being looked at as an 8 for much longer, it was just a useful option when Borthwick completely fucked his squad selection.

[Which Tyler]

Not seen him play but he’s very young and inexperienced isn’t he? I feel like picking a player before you’ve seen how they deal with second season syndrome or recover from their first big dip in form isn’t worth it when you have those other options to try first.

This for me - give players a chance to suffer and recover from Second Season Syndrome (I love that this has become a thing I've even seen away from this board now), or not suffer and move up a gear, before selecting for international squads (vs BaaBaa.s aside).
Invite to training sessions? sure, but not with a view to capping them any time soon.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Backrow is going to be really tough!

The incumbents Curry, Underhill, Earl, Ludlam and then new players putting hands up like Pearson and Pepper, Mercer, Willis, Dombrandt, Fisilau. Then returns to fitness of Willis J, Curry B and Hill, plus people like Will Evans who should be in the conversation.

Oh for that potential depth elsewhere!