RugbyRebels

Mikey Brown wrote:Are we assuming Youngs wants to stay with his family? I'm worried Jones is just going to go full first team and not rest any of the Lions guys, not that Youngs even toured.

A bit of a dilemma, really. With an incohesive side based on the 6N performances, would a rest be beneficial or should more practise be the way to go? Unless you think that Farrell returning will solve everything???

It is a dilemma. The pressure is already high. Perform badly and the pressure will ratchet up again.

This is basically the last decent opportunity to start bedding any new players in to the squad, so here needs to be some balance between the tried and tested players and those on the fringes.

Another reason why Quirke and Kelly’s injuries are a real disappointment.

TCurry is due back from injury this weekend apparently.

Puja

Article about Cokanasiga's problems with injury and his mental health and all the stuff that's been going on with his family: https://12ft.io/proxy?q=http://inews.co ... on-1603665

Looks like he's coming out the other side of it stronger, which is good to see.

Puja

Puja wrote:Article about Cokanasiga's problems with injury and his mental health and all the stuff that's been going on with his family: https://12ft.io/proxy?q=http://inews.co ... on-1603665

Looks like he's coming out the other side of it stronger, which is good to see.

Puja

Yeah be good to see him come out the other side and get a full season under his belt... then leave Bath and reunite with his brother...

Yeah it must be strange for Bath languishing at the bottom of the table while their academy side push for a playoff spot. Is Phil Cokanasiga not rumoured to be off elsewhere? I can’t quite remember

Mikey Brown wrote:Yeah it must be strange for Bath languishing at the bottom of the table while their academy side push for a playoff spot. Is Phil Cokanasiga not rumoured to be off elsewhere? I can’t quite remember

Leicester - hence FKAS wanting Joe to join him

Eddie's apparently naming a training squad at some point today: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/ ... -undecided

Guardian reckons Farrell back, but not necessarily captain, and Arundell and JVP in, with Quirke ruled out of the whole tour because of injury. Apparently there will be no players rested for Australia - we're going full bore (with the possible exception of Youngs for personal reasons).

Puja

Puja wrote:Eddie's apparently naming a training squad at some point today: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/ ... -undecided

Guardian reckons Farrell back, but not necessarily captain, and Arundell and JVP in, with Quirke ruled out of the whole tour because of injury. Apparently there will be no players rested for Australia - we're going full bore (with the possible exception of Youngs for personal reasons).

Puja

Times reporting the same names for inclusion.

I'll just be glad if Arundell is in there and Eddie hasn't arbitrarily decided that he has things to learn/he wants him to prove his commitment to England by knowing he won't get a cap till 2024 and still turning down other offers. Those felt like very real Eddie-type things to do.

Puja

Was thinking what a shame it is neither Kenningham or Evans are fit to get a chance in the England games this summer (though Pearson is clearly a talent) and I was looking for any updates on Kenningham's injury.

Last official announcement appears to be from January, stating he's had his operation and has 6 months on the sidelines. No idea what's happened since then, but if all is well he should be nearing fitness towards the end of this season and ideally able to get a full pre-season to be ready for 22/23.

Apparently Jonny May has resumed full training and could be back by the end of the season.

Puja

Not EPS but Jake Polledri has resumed contact training, that's an amazing recovery not everyone was convinced he was going to make.

Great to hear. I hope he can get back to where he was pre-injury.

Scrumhead wrote:Great to hear. I hope he can get back to where he was pre-injury.

I hope we can afford to keep him.... Tuisue was signed I believe in case Jake didn't recover. That signing is going ahead still as far as I am aware. We are losing a few others it seems which might free up enough cash but i'd hate the thought of Jake playing elsewhere after all that has happened.

Gloskarlos wrote:Not EPS but Jake Polledri has resumed contact training, that's an amazing recovery not everyone was convinced he was going to make.

You say not but it's 18 months already. Got to be closing in on two years by next season. Could re-qualify for England if he holds out.

FKAS wrote:

Gloskarlos wrote:Not EPS but Jake Polledri has resumed contact training, that's an amazing recovery not everyone was convinced he was going to make.

You say not but it's 18 months already. Got to be closing in on two years by next season. Could re-qualify for England if he holds out.

Fairly certain based on his previous statements he's happy enough with Italy and his roots were a deciding factor in that.

Gloskarlos wrote:

FKAS wrote:

Gloskarlos wrote:Not EPS but Jake Polledri has resumed contact training, that's an amazing recovery not everyone was convinced he was going to make.

You say not but it's 18 months already. Got to be closing in on two years by next season. Could re-qualify for England if he holds out.

Fairly certain based on his previous statements he's happy enough with Italy and his roots were a deciding factor in that.

Was a bit tongue in cheek after you said not EPS.

Decent article on Joel Kpoku: https://www.rugbypass.com/news/i-was-ki ... poku-lyon/

Not quite clear on the possibility of him playing for France via his Congolese parents? The article references it, but it’s not clear how he’d qualify? Do you get access to a French passport if you’re Congolese?

‘I didn’t really want to go to Bath‘
Wise man.

Scrumhead wrote:Decent article on Joel Kpoku: https://www.rugbypass.com/news/i-was-ki ... poku-lyon/

Not quite clear on the possibility of him playing for France via his Congolese parents? The article references it, but it’s not clear how he’d qualify? Do you get access to a French passport if you’re Congolese?

I don't believe so - wasn't Congo occupied by the Belgians anyway? Maybe it means that one of his grandparents who lived in Congo was French?

Puja

Puja wrote:

Scrumhead wrote:Decent article on Joel Kpoku: https://www.rugbypass.com/news/i-was-ki ... poku-lyon/

Not quite clear on the possibility of him playing for France via his Congolese parents? The article references it, but it’s not clear how he’d qualify? Do you get access to a French passport if you’re Congolese?

I don't believe so - wasn't Congo occupied by the Belgians anyway? Maybe it means that one of his grandparents who lived in Congo was French?

Puja

Colonised by Belgium. The DRC speak French and have close ties with France (particularly trade) so it's possible his Congolese grandparents moved to and acquired passports in France as part of some sort of employment.

I am glad to see him doing well. I think france are in a golden generation and probably wouldn't need him anyway. Always time for him to come back to england.

He’s doesn’t qualify for France, although could obviously go down the residency route in 4 1/2 years.

Thoughts on MacFarland as an England contender? He's Samoan obviously but why would that be an issue. We have a ton of exciting flankers but his Croftiness might be a point of difference?

Not sure if I only noticed it because of mentions on here about Mitchell's fitness, but watching him left in the dust as MacFarland zoomed past him at the weekend did catch my eye.