RugbyRebels

We are screwed if George gets injured.

Stooke maybe to make up numbers?

My memory is gone, did hartley play at the end of the season or has he been out for ages now?

twitchy wrote:My memory is gone, did hartley play at the end of the season or has he been out for ages now?

He was always a week away from playing. I think Northampton had to bring in a loan player for the last two matches...so wasn’t just a match fitness thing. You’d have to think that, at his age, the injury could be career ending.

No Hughes is an odd one. Every time he's fresh back from injury, with no form or fitness, he's in the squad. Now he's actually had a strong finish to the season, he's dropped?

Mellsblue wrote:

twitchy wrote:My memory is gone, did hartley play at the end of the season or has he been out for ages now?

He was always a week away from playing. I think Northampton had to bring in a loan player for the last two matches...so wasn’t just a match fitness thing. You’d have to think that, at his age, the injury could be career ending.

He was technically fit for selection for the last game of the regular season, but Boyd made the very good point that he wasn't match-fit, the incumbents were there for a reason, and he was selecting a team to win, not to promote Dylan Hartley's England ambitions, which is fair enough.

Puja

Scrumhead wrote:Stooke maybe to make up numbers?

Don't forget, Brad Shields is an international quality lock forward.

Puja

Shields ability to bluff his way in to test rugby is international quality, that’s for sure.

Raggs wrote:No Hughes is an odd one. Every time he's fresh back from injury, with no form or fitness, he's in the squad. Now he's actually had a strong finish to the season, he's dropped?

Yep. Not a massive fan overall (or more that I'm not a fan of EJ's selection process you mention above) but he was playing the best I've seen from him since before he got capped and was actually creating all the hype.

I guess you can argue that form now counts for little in October, but he's seemed quite keen on Hughes until this point, so it's odd.

29 man released, apparently for improving individuals so they can compete in the actual rwc camp.

Forwards
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints)
Val Rapava Ruskin (Gloucester Rugby)
Nick Schonert (Worcester Warriors)
Brad Shields (Wasps)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Jack Singleton (Worcester Warriors)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)

Backs
Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Joe Cokansiga (Bath Rugby)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath Rugby)
Dan Robson (Wasps)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

*In for medical treatment
George Kruis (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)


I'd guess the RWC camp will be significantly larger.

Some of that is barking. I mean, I like VRR, Ludlam, and McConnochie as players, but are they really the best options available or the ones most likely to pressurise world cup squad selection? Especially Ludlam - I defy anyone but Eddie not to have Robshaw, BCurry, Kvesic, or Mercer ahead of him. Heck, given the way Harrison finished the season, you'd say he's not even the best EQP back row at Northampton.

No Heinz though - wonder where that rumour came from?

Puja

"England men’s head coach Eddie Jones has announced a squad of 29 players to attend a training camp at Pennyhill Park next week (23-27 June 2019).

Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints), Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath Rugby) and Val Rapava Ruskin (Gloucester Rugby) receive their first call up to an England senior men’s training squad.

The week is the first of two training camps, held at Pennyhill Park and the Lensbury (30 June-4 July), before the first official Rugby World Cup training camp begins on 7 July at the Lensbury.

Players attending the camp at Pennyhill Park will not have featured in the Gallagher Premiership semi-finals or final, outside of Ludlam and Rapava Ruskin. Both players and a small number involved in the Quilter Cup match against the Barbarians will be managed to ensure their post-season active rest periods are fulfilled in agreement with Premiership Rugby and the Rugby Players Association.

George Kruis (Saracens) and Mako Vunipola (Saracens) will be in camp for treatment"

as a long term fan of Val R-R i'm very pleased to see him included. McConnochie has done well.
Disappointed for B Curry and Marchant.
Surprised there is no Robshaw, Hughes or Care.
We'll have to wait and see what other Glos, Saints, Exe and Saracens players are added, but if you dont play for them and you're not in this squad, you can forget the RWC.

Puja wrote:Some of that is barking. I mean, I like VRR, Ludlam, and McConnochie as players, but are they really the best options available or the ones most likely to pressurise world cup squad selection? Especially Ludlam - I defy anyone but Eddie not to have Robshaw, BCurry, Kvesic, or Mercer ahead of him. Heck, given the way Harrison finished the season, you'd say he's not even the best EQP back row at Northampton.

No Heinz though - wonder where that rumour came from?

Puja

57 different sources

Heinz could be added to the squad for the 2nd camp, as could others from Glos. Cips and Thorley perhaps?

So, is Jones on the right track or is he just being cranky? I suspect we are going to under-perform as we have done for some time under his management.

Banquo wrote:

Puja wrote:Some of that is barking. I mean, I like VRR, Ludlam, and McConnochie as players, but are they really the best options available or the ones most likely to pressurise world cup squad selection? Especially Ludlam - I defy anyone but Eddie not to have Robshaw, BCurry, Kvesic, or Mercer ahead of him. Heck, given the way Harrison finished the season, you'd say he's not even the best EQP back row at Northampton.

No Heinz though - wonder where that rumour came from?

Puja

57 different sources

Think Harry Thacker is unlucky to miss out to Tom Dunn, but Hughes not going is good news for Bris.

jimKRFC wrote:Think Harry Thacker is unlucky to miss out to Tom Dunn, but Hughes not going is good news for Bris.

I'm still baffled Thacker wasn't involved in the Barbarians match (on either side, actually). It'd be the absolute least he deserved after the season he's had.

Puja

Puja wrote:

Banquo wrote:

Puja wrote:Some of that is barking. I mean, I like VRR, Ludlam, and McConnochie as players, but are they really the best options available or the ones most likely to pressurise world cup squad selection? Especially Ludlam - I defy anyone but Eddie not to have Robshaw, BCurry, Kvesic, or Mercer ahead of him. Heck, given the way Harrison finished the season, you'd say he's not even the best EQP back row at Northampton.

No Heinz though - wonder where that rumour came from?

Puja

57 different sources

Banquo I've written off. He's a lost cause, but you I expected better of.

Mikey Brown wrote:

Puja wrote:

Banquo wrote: 57 different sources

Banquo I've written off. He's a lost cause, but you I expected better of.

This is what happens when you Puja man under so much pressure by making him a mod.

Banquo wrote:

Puja wrote:Some of that is barking. I mean, I like VRR, Ludlam, and McConnochie as players, but are they really the best options available or the ones most likely to pressurise world cup squad selection? Especially Ludlam - I defy anyone but Eddie not to have Robshaw, BCurry, Kvesic, or Mercer ahead of him. Heck, given the way Harrison finished the season, you'd say he's not even the best EQP back row at Northampton.

No Heinz though - wonder where that rumour came from?

Puja

57 different sources

I’ve heard that Jones didn’t want anybody past their prime. Has-beens, as it were, and has-beens means Heinz.

Heinz and Harrison may yet be named though, semi finalists and all that. VRR and Ludlam are exceptions to a rule.

Mellsblue wrote:

Banquo wrote:

Puja wrote:Some of that is barking. I mean, I like VRR, Ludlam, and McConnochie as players, but are they really the best options available or the ones most likely to pressurise world cup squad selection? Especially Ludlam - I defy anyone but Eddie not to have Robshaw, BCurry, Kvesic, or Mercer ahead of him. Heck, given the way Harrison finished the season, you'd say he's not even the best EQP back row at Northampton.

No Heinz though - wonder where that rumour came from?

Puja

57 different sources

I’ve heard that Jones didn’t want anybody past their prime. Has-beens, as it were, and has-beens means Heinz.

And a million housewives wouldn’t disagree!

Banquo wrote:Heinz and Harrison may yet be named though, semi finalists and all that. VRR and Ludlam are exceptions to a rule.

And Smith, Dunn, and Dombrandt. I can't see him calling in more fringe players/tackle-bag holders later.

Puja

Puja wrote:

Banquo wrote:Heinz and Harrison may yet be named though, semi finalists and all that. VRR and Ludlam are exceptions to a rule.

And Smith, Dunn, and Dombrandt. I can't see him calling in more fringe players/tackle-bag holders later.

Puja

cos of baa-baas. No rule at all then really . Wonder if Lawes is feeling a bit nervous