RugbyRebels

Stom wrote:Great. Now no Clifford

Feckity-feck. Just when it was going well.

Really, really felt for him. You could see it as he went off. He knows he didn't have many chances left to impress and has been injured at the wrong time yet again. Hopefully not a serious, recurrent injury. Gutted either way.

twitchy wrote:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/ ... -englands/

Starting work at 5am? Feck.

Good news but I thought that ship had sailed when he didn't come on board with Eddie at the start? Has he suddenly become available? Or were there health problems iirc?

In the main Dal Maso will be doing some video analysis, and then will spend a few days each year in camp with England. I think it'd be interesting for Hatley to get another coach to work with, challenge some of his thinking and maybe even learn a little. I quite like Eddie using people for little stints, whether Wilkinson popping in whilst walking the dog or George Smith or Ella, now if we could just get Gary Neville back...

Puja wrote:

Stom wrote:Great. Now no Clifford

Run-off between Mercer and Simmonds for a place in the AIs squad?

twitchy wrote:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/ ... -englands/

Ooh, now that's very good news. Bit of a slap in the face for Hatley, although I won't mind that if it improves our scrum.

Puha

Pretty much ... It's not a good situation, but it could be interesting though. I've been banging on about a plan B for the way we use our 8s for a while, so perhaps the injuries force Eddie to think a bit differently. Fitness permitting, Hughes will undoubtedly start, but Mercer or Simmonds aren't really equipped to do the 'Billy-lite' role, so we'd probably need to develop some different tactics to work around that.

I think we're all curious about how good Mercer or Simmonds could be a test level, so this could be a golden opportunity to give them a go.

Puja wrote:

Stom wrote:Great. Now no Clifford

Run-off between Mercer and Simmonds for a place in the AIs squad?

twitchy wrote:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/ ... -englands/

Ooh, now that's very good news. Bit of a slap in the face for Hatley, although I won't mind that if it improves our scrum.

Puha

It doesn't need to be. If it's done well, you'd hope they'd have Hatley welcoming the input.

I also wonder whether Eddie could go for a 'safe' option and look at either Wilson or Armand covering the entire back row off the bench.

Obviously neither are specialist number 8s, but both have played there and could do a job off the bench to take over from Hughes.

Clearly it wouldn't be ideal if Hughes were to go off injured in the first 5 minutes, but I still think either would do a reasonable job of filling-in.

Wilson should definitely be in the squad and Armand must be very close. I'd be happy to see both of them involved.

I do think Simmonds has a real chance of getting in the squad if he maintain his form, particularly in the HC games.

TBH, I think Wilson, Haskell and Underhill will be fighting for the 20 shirt; whilst Simmonds and Mercer will be fighting for a sport at the training camp (Simmonds favourite to win that battle IMO, older, and getting more game time)

Which Tyler wrote:TBH, I think Wilson, Haskell and Underhill will be fighting for the 20 shirt; whilst Simmonds and Mercer will be fighting for a sport at the training camp (Simmonds favourite to win that battle IMO, older, and getting more game time)

I'd actually see Mercer winning that one - he's Eddie's kind of young prospect. Simmonds might have more game time, but Mercer's potential ceiling is much higher and I can see Eddie wanting to take a look at him like he has done for Marcus Smith.

Puja

Which Tyler wrote:TBH, I think Wilson, Haskell and Underhill will be fighting for the 20 shirt; whilst Simmonds and Mercer will be fighting for a sport at the training camp (Simmonds favourite to win that battle IMO, older, and getting more game time)

...so who will wear 7?

I assume he means one of Hask/Underhill in the 7 shirt.

I've not really seen Mercer at all but heard he's very highly rated, what does he offer?

Is he kind of small or did I just see him being interviewed by a very tall interviewer? (Bayfield or Kay maybe?)

Mercer is about 6 foot 3 but quite slight. It's hard to predict how he will turn out but definitely stood out a mile at age grade scoring for fun.

Mercer is a similar build to McCaw I reckon, thin limbs, but solid core, good footwork, but needs to improve physically to make as big a dent in the senior game, similar to the Curry's for me. AP capable at the moment, but needs more physicality to make the next step up seriously. Underhill and Simmonds both seem to have the necessary physicality, and I reckon that may be the key for Eddie selections.

Banquo wrote:

Which Tyler wrote:TBH, I think Wilson, Haskell and Underhill will be fighting for the 20 shirt; whilst Simmonds and Mercer will be fighting for a sport at the training camp (Simmonds favourite to win that battle IMO, older, and getting more game time)

...so who will wear 7?

Curry, with Hughes and Robshaw he can afford to take a gamble at 7 IMO

Which Tyler wrote:

Banquo wrote:

Which Tyler wrote:TBH, I think Wilson, Haskell and Underhill will be fighting for the 20 shirt; whilst Simmonds and Mercer will be fighting for a sport at the training camp (Simmonds favourite to win that battle IMO, older, and getting more game time)

...so who will wear 7?

Curry, with Hughes and Robshaw he can afford to take a gamble at 7 IMO

Tom, Ben or chicken?

Jesus, Banquo. Have you no shame at all?

Mikey Brown wrote:Jesus, Banquo. Have you no shame at all?

anything to get OTT outrage from you

Banquo wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:Jesus, Banquo. Have you no shame at all?

anything to get OTT outrage from you

That can't be a very fulfilling or challenging pastime for you.

Mikey Brown wrote:

Banquo wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:Jesus, Banquo. Have you no shame at all?

anything to get OTT outrage from you

That can't be a very fulfilling or challenging pastime for you.

true, but hardly a pastime. More a passing whim.

Banquo wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:

Banquo wrote: anything to get OTT outrage from you

That can't be a very fulfilling or challenging pastime for you.

passing.

You may have to use a different word. I'm not sure he'll know of this one.

Fleet.... oh...

Temporary could be an option for a replacement word.

Mellsblue wrote:

Banquo wrote:

Mikey Brown wrote:
That can't be a very fulfilling or challenging pastime for you.

passing.

You may have to use a different word. I'm not sure he'll know of this one.

ephemeral

Lewington really is a good finisher isn't he.

Mikey Brown wrote:Lewington really is a good finisher isn't he.

We currently have loads of good wings who can't tackle.