RugbyRebels

Mikey Brown wrote:

Puja wrote:So, just to confirm, we've got Underhill, TCurry, BillyV, and Ludlam all under 26. And we've also got BCurry and JWillis who we know are excellent. And this weekend Earl and Hill were superb, along with Sam Simmonds and Dombrandt.

Anyone remember when we were so short of back row that we played locks there?

Puja

It’s mad thinking a couple of those guys are barely ever going to get a look in.

I was more struck by watching the highlights and thinking just how far down the pecking order Will Evans now is.

Puja

Poor Old Wilson

At risk of summoning the backrow opine god, is Mercer a specialist 8 or does he/can he cover 6?

Danno wrote:Poor Old Wilson

At risk of summoning the backrow opine god, is Mercer a specialist 8 or does he/can he cover 6?

Mercer has played 6, 7 and 8 for Bath.

He’s a good athlete with enough pace to be a credible flanker but I think he’s best as a wide-running, Read style 8.

We seem to have a huge amount 6's and 7's coming through. Not so many 8's.

Scrumhead wrote:

Danno wrote:Poor Old Wilson

At risk of summoning the backrow opine god, is Mercer a specialist 8 or does he/can he cover 6?

Mercer has played 6, 7 and 8 for Bath.

He’s a good athlete with enough pace to be a credible flanker but I think he’s best as a wide-running, Read style 8.

This, he's also learning from one of the best wide-running 8s in the business, with a similar physique and almost identical height/weight stats - he also spent a few years being coached by another of the greats.
He usualy plays BSF when Faletau's fit, but has been known to displace Taulupe to the bench based on form; he's also started the odd game here and there at 7 when tactics (or injuries) demand; and has covered 7 many more times.

Sounds v. promising. I'm hoping for a bit of a shakeup in a few positions once this damnable WC is out of the way

Two tests vs Japan.

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/n ... an-in-2020

Danno wrote:Sounds v. promising. I'm hoping for a bit of a shakeup in a few positions once this damnable WC is out of the way

Yeah...

But they're all in the backrow!

We've somehow got to accommodate a hell of a lot of flankers. Some good players will miss out.

Wish we had the same at SH.

After the WC we should do a squad breakdown.

twitchy wrote:Two tests vs Japan.

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/n ... an-in-2020

That's good news. It'll never happen, but it'd be nice if we had a midweek game against a local T3 side as well, like Hong Kong or Russia (in an eastern city).

Puja

twitchy wrote:We seem to have a huge amount 6's and 7's coming through. Not so many 8's.

Not many 8s like Billy, though I reckon if we can ensure the back row has enough ballast we'll be OK. For instance, if you had Hill (he's so rapid for 6ft 5), Curry, Willis, each would bring a bit of carrying to the party. Add some dynamic front rows (like Genge, Sinkler etc.) and locks (Itoje etc.) and you've got a pack that provides go forward ball.

Is that wishful thinking?

Puja wrote:

twitchy wrote:Two tests vs Japan.

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/n ... an-in-2020

That's good news. It'll never happen, but it'd be nice if we had a midweek game against a local T3 side as well, like Hong Kong or Russia (in an eastern city).

Puja

Can I assume if HK that would be them flying into Japan and not us going there and back betwixt tests? No idea if anywhere on the east coast of Russia is a rugby city, if not it could have all the appeal of Saracens playing London Irish in Portland

Digby wrote:

Puja wrote:

twitchy wrote:Two tests vs Japan.

https://www.skysports.com/rugby-union/n ... an-in-2020

That's good news. It'll never happen, but it'd be nice if we had a midweek game against a local T3 side as well, like Hong Kong or Russia (in an eastern city).

Puja

Can I assume if HK that would be them flying into Japan and not us going there and back betwixt tests? No idea if anywhere on the east coast of Russia is a rugby city, if not it could have all the appeal of Saracens playing London Irish in Portland

On a google search, it appears nowhere on the east coast of Russia has a team in their top division. So probably not a good idea.

We could either have a warm-up in HK the week before or have a larger squad for a dirt tracker side to travel midweek.

Puja

Puja wrote:

Digby wrote:

Puja wrote:
That's good news. It'll never happen, but it'd be nice if we had a midweek game against a local T3 side as well, like Hong Kong or Russia (in an eastern city).

Puja

Can I assume if HK that would be them flying into Japan and not us going there and back betwixt tests? No idea if anywhere on the east coast of Russia is a rugby city, if not it could have all the appeal of Saracens playing London Irish in Portland

On a google search, it appears nowhere on the east coast of Russia has a team in their top division. So probably not a good idea.

We could either have a warm-up in HK the week before or have a larger squad for a dirt tracker side to travel midweek.

Puja

Given current troubles, an England sports team in HK could allay everyone’s fears that rugby doesn’t receive enough media coverage.

Mellsblue wrote:

Puja wrote:

Digby wrote:

Can I assume if HK that would be them flying into Japan and not us going there and back betwixt tests? No idea if anywhere on the east coast of Russia is a rugby city, if not it could have all the appeal of Saracens playing London Irish in Portland

On a google search, it appears nowhere on the east coast of Russia has a team in their top division. So probably not a good idea.

We could either have a warm-up in HK the week before or have a larger squad for a dirt tracker side to travel midweek.

Puja

Given current troubles, an England sports team in HK could allay everyone’s fears that rugby doesn’t receive enough media coverage.

I wouldn't want to split the group for all that travel even without the possibility of martial law, riots, and being used as a political tool by all sides involved. Unless we send Lenny and Farrell as ambassadors to negotiate a bright new future

Mellsblue wrote:

Puja wrote:

Digby wrote:

Can I assume if HK that would be them flying into Japan and not us going there and back betwixt tests? No idea if anywhere on the east coast of Russia is a rugby city, if not it could have all the appeal of Saracens playing London Irish in Portland

On a google search, it appears nowhere on the east coast of Russia has a team in their top division. So probably not a good idea.

We could either have a warm-up in HK the week before or have a larger squad for a dirt tracker side to travel midweek.

Puja

Given current troubles, an England sports team in HK could allay everyone’s fears that rugby doesn’t receive enough media coverage.

... good point.

Puja

Didn't seem worth cluttering up a match thread with this, but I enjoyed it. Not that DC is biased or anything.

Ryan Lamb comes out of retirement. Has EJ made a mistake naming his team for NZ so early?

https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest- ... -scarlets/

Mikey Brown wrote:Ryan Lamb comes out of retirement. Has EJ made a mistake naming his team for NZ so early?

https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest- ... -scarlets/

Ah yes, England's answer to Arwel Thomas

TheNomad wrote:

twitchy wrote:We seem to have a huge amount 6's and 7's coming through. Not so many 8's.

Not many 8s like Billy, though I reckon if we can ensure the back row has enough ballast we'll be OK. For instance, if you had Hill (he's so rapid for 6ft 5), Curry, Willis, each would bring a bit of carrying to the party. Add some dynamic front rows (like Genge, Sinkler etc.) and locks (Itoje etc.) and you've got a pack that provides go forward ball.

Is that wishful thinking?

Not particularly.

Ben Earl had another good game for Saracens today, picking up two tries and some good turnovers. He’s another who’s a kind of 7.5 (he was wearing 7 but packing down at 8 on a good few of the attacking scrums) in the mould of Clifford or Mercer.

I’d say bigger number 8s like Billy are less common now as carrying is increasingly being shared out across forward packs. It seems there is a trend to more dynamic, athletic 8s with good all round skills rather than bulk and heavy carrying being first priority.

Saw Jack Willis today and he’s got a lovely set of stitches in his left knee. Would be surprised to see him play this week.

Out of all the post World Cup possibilities, I'm mostly looking forward to the irony of England taking a blindside in Ted Hill and converting him to lock.

Provided it doesn't punch a hole in the fabric of time and space and leave me with the head of a wasp, I shall call him the anti-Lawes.

I said this in the match thread, but Saints were very good last night. Hard to watch as a Quins fan, but great to see some young English talent playing good attacking rugby.

Henry Taylor had another good performance and if he carries on like this, I’ll be very happy. I still think Alex Mitchell is the one to watch at Saints, but in his absence, Taylor’s been a real silver lining.

Grayson was excellent. I haven’t seen much of a running game from him, but aside from that he has all of the goods and is very composed for such a young guy.

Furbank also had another really strong performance. Seeing him play reminds me of Foden before he went off the ball. If he continues like this, he could be a really promising 15 for England.

Though a massive amount holds down to Hutchinson pulling the strings both on and off the ball in midfield.

That may be true in terms of the overall quality of Saints’ attack, but I’d argue that the decision-making and execution from Furbank has been very good and Grayson is nailing pressure kicks and is really showing up in defence. I’m not sure Hutchison can claim ‘massive’ credit for their individual skills.