Autumn International Squad

[morepork]

Like England are actually going to play a proper back row. It'll be Curry plus Screamy McScream Itoje, and someone out of position at the back. Farrell will get in their way charging in for a back shove or something sublimely constructive.

We just ran isolated far too often today. It wasn't that hard for Scotland to pick off. We gave away so many brainless penalties. Again.

[Banquo]

Earl was fantastic. Daly very good too.

Daly's defending at 13 was pants, much better at 15.

Saints will be kicking themselves, but Sarries resilience was amazing. The front row injuries strangely helped them.

As an aside, Mitchell wasnt very good.

[Danno]

We gave away so many brainless penalties. Again.

Wanna be an England fan? We have many penalties to offer.

[morepork]

No Fanks. Too much shouting.

[Danno]

Fair.

[Puja]

Training squad announced again. Radwan and Stuart back in, and Freeman and Murley are still there.

Forwards

Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks), Maro Itoje (Saracens), David Ribbans (Northampton Saints), Sean Robinson (Newcastle Falcons), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks), Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs), Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears), Jack Singleton (Gloucester Rugby), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Hugh Tizard (Saracens), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Jack Willis (unattached).

Backs

Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Owen Farrell (Saracens), Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints), George Furbank (Northampton Saints), Will Joseph (London Irish), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers), Adam Radwan (Newcastle Falcons), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

[Banquo]

surprised Mitchell and Furbank were called up again- not great yesterday. Mind Freeman looked a bit off the pace too I thought. At least two try Guy remains in

[fivepointer]

Its good to see Stuart included. I thought he copped a really nasty long term injury. Radwan scored a sensational try at the w/e. He really is an exciting player.

[Freddo]

Ben Earl not being in the squad is criminal.

It is, but personally I still wouldn’t put him ahead of Curry or Willis.

I’d have those two starting with Earl as the impact from the bench.

This would also be my preferred option.

[Puja]

surprised Mitchell and Furbank were called up again- not great yesterday. Mind Freeman looked a bit off the pace too I thought. At least two try Guy remains in

Not a huge number of other options at 9, even if we were going to dump Mitchell for a poor game. Mind, neither Mitchell nor Furbank will make the XXIII, no matter what they do in training, so it's a bit moot.

Puja

[Banquo]

surprised Mitchell and Furbank were called up again- not great yesterday. Mind Freeman looked a bit off the pace too I thought. At least two try Guy remains in

Not a huge number of other options at 9, even if we were going to dump Mitchell for a poor game. Mind, neither Mitchell nor Furbank will make the XXIII, no matter what they do in training, so it's a bit moot.

Puja

true, except I'm sure both would be more than welcome at club training.

[Mellsblue]

surprised Mitchell and Furbank were called up again- not great yesterday. Mind Freeman looked a bit off the pace too I thought. At least two try Guy remains in

Not a huge number of other options at 9, even if we were going to dump Mitchell for a poor game. Mind, neither Mitchell nor Furbank will make the XXIII, no matter what they do in training, so it's a bit moot.

Puja

true, except I'm sure both would be more than welcome at club training.

They’ll learn more with Eddie in one day than a decade at Northampton, or something like that.

[Danno]

surprised Mitchell and Furbank were called up again- not great yesterday. Mind Freeman looked a bit off the pace too I thought. At least two try Guy remains in

Not a huge number of other options at 9, even if we were going to dump Mitchell for a poor game. Mind, neither Mitchell nor Furbank will make the XXIII, no matter what they do in training, so it's a bit moot.

Puja

true, except I'm sure both would be more than welcome at club training.

We need contingencies for whichever poor sod gets broken during capoeira practice

[Scrumhead]

Its good to see Stuart included. I thought he copped a really nasty long term injury. Radwan scored a sensational try at the w/e. He really is an exciting player.

Yeah. I thought he was out for the long term too. Even if he doesn’t play in the AIs. Having him back for the 6N would be a big boost.

[FKAS]

Its good to see Stuart included. I thought he copped a really nasty long term injury. Radwan scored a sensational try at the w/e. He really is an exciting player.

Yeah. I thought he was out for the long term too. Even if he doesn’t play in the AIs. Having him back for the 6N would be a big boost.

Very much so, Heyes doesn't look quite ready yet. He's only 23 though so no particular concern there. Stuart really came on in the 6N earlier this year and was rock solid in the summer. Be good having him back in to provide competition for Sinckler.

[p/d]

Lets hope Rodd, one of the most unlikely looking rugby player's after Darcy Graham, gets the nod ahead of Mako.

[Scrumhead]

Its good to see Stuart included. I thought he copped a really nasty long term injury. Radwan scored a sensational try at the w/e. He really is an exciting player.

Yeah. I thought he was out for the long term too. Even if he doesn’t play in the AIs. Having him back for the 6N would be a big boost.

Very much so, Heyes doesn't look quite ready yet. He's only 23 though so no particular concern there. Stuart really came on in the 6N earlier this year and was rock solid in the summer. Be good having him back in to provide competition for Sinckler.

Agreed.

In fairness to Sinckler, I thought he was quietly very good on Saturday. His work rate was high and he looked more switched on than I’ve seen him in a while.

[Banquo]

Yeah. I thought he was out for the long term too. Even if he doesn’t play in the AIs. Having him back for the 6N would be a big boost.

Very much so, Heyes doesn't look quite ready yet. He's only 23 though so no particular concern there. Stuart really came on in the 6N earlier this year and was rock solid in the summer. Be good having him back in to provide competition for Sinckler.

Agreed.

In fairness to Sinckler, I thought he was quietly very good on Saturday. His work rate was high and he looked more switched on than I’ve seen him in a while.

Sinckler's been playing a lot better in the last month. I've thought. Went pretty well v Argentina too I thought. Our second choice props the last two weeks have been a big step down- Mako looks like he is past his sell by date; his scrummaging has never been great (though not as poor as stated sometimes) but that seems distinctly weak and he just isn't as present in the loose any more.

[FKAS]

Yeah. I thought he was out for the long term too. Even if he doesn’t play in the AIs. Having him back for the 6N would be a big boost.

Very much so, Heyes doesn't look quite ready yet. He's only 23 though so no particular concern there. Stuart really came on in the 6N earlier this year and was rock solid in the summer. Be good having him back in to provide competition for Sinckler.

Agreed.

In fairness to Sinckler, I thought he was quietly very good on Saturday. His work rate was high and he looked more switched on than I’ve seen him in a while.

Yes Sinckler has played well. I tend to like competition for places though and particularly in the front row for internationals you want to be able to tell your starting guys they've got 50 mins to impress and then the guy gunning for their shirt is coming on. No energy conservation is required.

[twitchy]

Ire vs Aus 3-0 going to h/t.

[Mikey Brown]

I'm not echoing the caption particularly, as this story seems more dumb than 'savage', but thought I'd share.



I mean is he genuinely just a bit troubled? I'm not even trying to say it in a mocking way. Just seems like a bizarre character, and I struggle to believe his endless contradictions and personality switches are all "mind games".

[Timbo]

Yeah, hilariously strange.

As a fan of the team he’s coaching I’m definitely a bit done with all the unorthodoxy now, though.

[Freddo]

No wonder there is such a high turnover of coaches if that's the kind of rubbish they have to deal with.

[Beasties]

What was the gist of it? Link has disappeared.

[Mikey Brown]

Tore in to a coach in front of everyone, apologised privately and gave him a pack of steaks. Opens steaks at home to find they’re sausages (???) and receives a message saying he’s not ready for steak.

Maybe it’s been removed because it’s bullshit, I don’t know, but seems oddly specific to have been completely invented.