New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread

[FKAS]

Will Evans is a quality openside in defence but might need to show a bit in attack if he wants to be starting. Definitely deserves to be in the squad.

If we've got Earl and Underhill in the backrow alongside him, does he really need to offer much ball in hand? I'd be happy with him just clearing rucks.

Puja

Felix Jones better have a good attack ready if we're going into the 6N with three opensides. Earl is a decent carrier but he isn't going to go through brickwalls and 6N weather isn't normally pretty. It's not impossible but we'll need some variation from the one out pass or occasional tip on that we ran in the world cup with the forwards.

[Spiffy]

My brain had forgotten completely about Evans. Yes - absolutely he should be in right now. On form it's him and Underhill on the flanks.

Puja

If Earl is to continue at 8, that is one trio of short-arsed loose forwards.

They're all 6ft according to google - while that's not tall in a rugby sense, it's hardly a bunch of midgets.

Puja

When did you last see a back row in top class rugby with none taller than 6 ft ? They are all good players and athletic, but as a unit there is an obvious lack of bulk and line out options. I can't see the conservative Smashed Beak ever selecting that trio.

[Which Tyler]

Leave Evans on the bench for now.
Itoje, Martin
Earl, Underhill, Mercer

Chesum, Evans/Barbeary

[Scrumhead]

Will Evans is a quality openside in defence but might need to show a bit in attack if he wants to be starting. Definitely deserves to be in the squad.

He’s not a notable carrier, but he’s a good link man and has the skills and awareness to make the right decisions ball-in-hand. In some respects, that might make him a better option than others who carry in to contact when they ought to have passed …

I don’t necessarily see him being a starter, but I don’t think he’d let anyone down if he was given a shot.

[Mikey Brown]

To be clear I’d be amazed if he’s even in a wider squad. Surely we’re not going to completely stack it with opensides after how poorly balanced the World Cup squad was?

It is hard to think of many fit and in form 6s though.

[Puja]

To be clear I’d be amazed if he’s even in a wider squad. Surely we’re not going to completely stack it with opensides after how poorly balanced the World Cup squad was?

It is hard to think of many fit and in form 6s though.

But our most fluent performance came in the one game where we did play three opensides. Admittedly, that was only the 3rd place playoff, but it's still something I'd like to see more of.

We do still have to see how well Earl comes back from injury though (and Mercer, for Which's suggestion) - it might be that he's not fully fit. In which case, I'd be very behind Underhill/Evans/Barbeary, at least until all three of those inevitably get injured next week.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

I'd forgotten Earl was injured too.

Good to hear Mercer is fit again, though he does somehow seem to have become a top class international in the time since his one underwhelming England appearance.

[TheNomad]

Good to hear Mercer is fit again, though he does somehow seem to have become a top class international in the time since his one underwhelming England appearance.

I think that's a bit harsh - he's had several years more experience, excelling, in arguably the toughest league in Europe. I think that's fair reason to think he's improved isn't it?

[Puja]

Good to hear Mercer is fit again, though he does somehow seem to have become a top class international in the time since his one underwhelming England appearance.

I think that's a bit harsh - he's had several years more experience, excelling, in arguably the toughest league in Europe. I think that's fair reason to think he's improved isn't it?

Chris Ashton did that and we weren't any more kind to him.

Puja

[p/d]

Good to hear Mercer is fit again, though he does somehow seem to have become a top class international in the time since his one underwhelming England appearance.

Amazing isn’t it.

Hasn’t he got short arms, as such not much of a line out option.

[Mikey Brown]

I didn't mean to suggest he hasn't improved or that he won't be good, but it might take a while for him to find his feet assuming he's even up to it at the top level. It's not meant to be an attack on Mercer (or his short little noodle arms) particularly, but we're in a frustrating position now of trying to make up for several years of slightly sketchy selections without fielding a whole bunch of rookies/debutants in the backrow and three-quarters.

I can't tell if starting with Italy is a blessing or a curse in that sense. Maybe it's a chance for some new guys to get their foot in the door, but that might be the only game where Borthwick looks to experiment a little and it will likely be a side with little cohesion or time together. We seem to have been slow starters in the 6 nations for quite a while now.

[Oakboy]

When is the squad due to be announced? It could be very significant for the future direction of our chances - as much for the needed exclusions as the inclusions.

[p/d]

It will tell us a lot. Is he looking to keep trying to find a partner for Manu or start afresh, does Dombrandt come back in real contention alongside noodle arms or is it still Billy plus a utility back rower
So many questions

[Scrumhead]

To be clear I’d be amazed if he’s even in a wider squad. Surely we’re not going to completely stack it with opensides after how poorly balanced the World Cup squad was?

It is hard to think of many fit and in form 6s though.

But our most fluent performance came in the one game where we did play three opensides. Admittedly, that was only the 3rd place playoff, but it's still something I'd like to see more of.

We do still have to see how well Earl comes back from injury though (and Mercer, for Which's suggestion) - it might be that he's not fully fit. In which case, I'd be very behind Underhill/Evans/Barbeary, at least until all three of those inevitably get injured next week.

Puja

Me too. Although I do think Dombrandt has been unfairly written off.

I’m up for giving Barbeary a shot, but on form Dombrandt deserves a recall.

6 is a problem.

I wonder whether Fitz Harding is an option? I know he mostly plays 8, but he’s spent plenty of time on the flanks too and is probably closer to what we need in the 6 role.

Also, while I’m not in favour of poaching, I believe Roots is England qualified. No idea how though.

[twitchy]

Too early to look at cunningham-south?

[Which Tyler]

I didn't mean to suggest he hasn't improved or that he won't be good, but it might take a while for him to find his feet assuming he's even up to it at the top level. It's not meant to be an attack on Mercer (or his short little noodle arms) particularly, but we're in a frustrating position now of trying to make up for several years of slightly sketchy selections without fielding a whole bunch of rookies/debutants in the backrow and three-quarters.

Thing is, if you want a selection criteria of "not Billy", then our options at #8 are all international rookies.
It doesn't make Mercer (or TWillis, or Earl, or Barbeary, or...) a 30-cap international over night, it's just where we are.

On Mercer specifically, I was far from alone on here in calling for him to be capped before he went to France.

[Mikey Brown]

Is Fitz Harding even EQP? I thought he was from SA/NZ.

I was surprised to hear CSS has a Kiwi accent too. I'd never heard him speak before, but seems he was over there for a good portion of his childhood. I knew he was immensely physical and aggressive, but I've been really impressed with his work-rate and accuracy around the breakdown so far. I thought (perhaps unfairly) he looked a bit wild from the few clips I'd seen at London Irish.

[Mikey Brown]

I didn't mean to suggest he hasn't improved or that he won't be good, but it might take a while for him to find his feet assuming he's even up to it at the top level. It's not meant to be an attack on Mercer (or his short little noodle arms) particularly, but we're in a frustrating position now of trying to make up for several years of slightly sketchy selections without fielding a whole bunch of rookies/debutants in the backrow and three-quarters.

Thing is, if you want a selection criteria of "not Billy", then our options at #8 are all international rookies.
It doesn't make Mercer (or TWillis, or Earl, or Barbeary, or...) a 30-cap international over night, it's just where we are.

On Mercer specifically, I was far from alone on here in calling for him to be capped before he went to France.

Yeah absolutely. That's sort of what I was alluding to in this pattern of selecting players because they are experienced and used to be good 2 seasons ago. Mercer for instance could have slotted in at 8 between a pair of flankers and half-backs with 300 caps between them, but at the moment it would be more like 50 caps if we're lucky.

[Oakboy]

To be clear I’d be amazed if he’s even in a wider squad. Surely we’re not going to completely stack it with opensides after how poorly balanced the World Cup squad was?

It is hard to think of many fit and in form 6s though.

But our most fluent performance came in the one game where we did play three opensides. Admittedly, that was only the 3rd place playoff, but it's still something I'd like to see more of.

We do still have to see how well Earl comes back from injury though (and Mercer, for Which's suggestion) - it might be that he's not fully fit. In which case, I'd be very behind Underhill/Evans/Barbeary, at least until all three of those inevitably get injured next week.

Puja

Me too. Although I do think Dombrandt has been unfairly written off.

I’m up for giving Barbeary a shot, but on form Dombrandt deserves a recall.

6 is a problem.

I wonder whether Fitz Harding is an option? I know he mostly plays 8, but he’s spent plenty of time on the flanks too and is probably closer to what we need in the 6 role.

Also, while I’m not in favour of poaching, I believe Roots is England qualified. No idea how though.

Dombrandt is an enigma. His best is bloody good but two questions remain for me: 1. Can he become a regular certainty for 80 minute performances? 2. Can he make a real impact at international level? The answer to both ought to be 'yes'.

However, is he more deserving of a second chance having failed than others such as Barbeary or T Willis (when fit) are of a first chance? Then again, if it's a choice between him or B Vunipola for a squad place I'd vote for Dombrandt.

[Which Tyler]

Yeah absolutely. That's sort of what I was alluding to in this pattern of selecting players because they are experienced and used to be good 2 seasons ago. Mercer for instance could have slotted in at 8 between a pair of flankers and half-backs with 300 caps between them, but at the moment it would be more like 50 caps if we're lucky.

I'm not prepared to put forward a selection including Vunipola, Youngs and Ford in order to get a cap-count of 300.
None of them deserve to be starting.
In which case, our 6-10 won't have many caps between them anyway.
The difference between a 6-10 with 97 and a 6-10 with 103 caps isn't enough for me not to pick our best (IMO) fit option at 8.

[twitchy]

Is Fitz Harding even EQP? I thought he was from SA/NZ.

Fully english.

[fivepointer]

Is Fitz Harding even EQP? I thought he was from SA/NZ.

I was surprised to hear CSS has a Kiwi accent too. I'd never heard him speak before, but seems he was over there for a good portion of his childhood. I knew he was immensely physical and aggressive, but I've been really impressed with his work-rate and accuracy around the breakdown so far. I thought (perhaps unfairly) he looked a bit wild from the few clips I'd seen at London Irish.

Fitz is born and raised in England. He is a terrific all round player with a very high work rate and low error count.

I'd favour him ahead of Roots who makes a lot of errors and misses too many tackles for me.

Someone who is playing well is Reid at Bath. Another excellent grafting back rower.

If Ted Hill was fit who to play at 6 would be easily solved. He is really the best line out option of all our available back rowers plus he offers loads more.

[Mellsblue]

IMO, Dombrandt, see also M. Smith, needs the team to be set up to make the most of his strengths, ie the opposite of Borthball, or don’t bother picking him.

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah absolutely. That's sort of what I was alluding to in this pattern of selecting players because they are experienced and used to be good 2 seasons ago. Mercer for instance could have slotted in at 8 between a pair of flankers and half-backs with 300 caps between them, but at the moment it would be more like 50 caps if we're lucky.

I'm not prepared to put forward a selection including Vunipola, Youngs and Ford in order to get a cap-count of 300.
None of them deserve to be starting.
In which case, our 6-10 won't have many caps between them anyway.
The difference between a 6-10 with 97 and a 6-10 with 103 caps isn't enough for me not to pick our best (IMO) fit option at 8.

I guess I'm failing to be very clear here. I'm not suggesting we pick that 6-10 combo at all, just that we lost a couple of years of potential selection for someone like Mercer* in a more settled, experienced unit. We've got all these guys like Willis, Mercer, Barbeary, Murley, Atkinson, Freeman etc. who might be playing well enough to deserve a spot, but many of them would be getting introduced to the team alongside other newbies. That's all I was getting at.

*I can't even remember if he was in the RWC training squads or not though, but clearly hadn't convinced Borthwick for whatever reason.

[Mikey Brown]

No idea where I got the idea Harding was a southern hemisphere player from then.

He does look handy, but I've not spotted if he has any particular USP that makes him a better choice than Ludlam for instance. Seems to switch between 7 and 8 mostly for Bristol?