EPS Watch / Player Form Thread

[fivepointer]

He's some athlete but already capped by Samoa.

[Puja]

Thoughts on MacFarland as an England contender? He's Samoan obviously but why would that be an issue.

You mean apart from the fact that he's recently capped for Samoa and appears to have no English connection at all?

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Beat me to it. He’d be years off re-qualifying and TBH, while he’s a great find for Saracens, I don’t think we need him for England.

[Mikey Brown]

Thoughts on MacFarland as an England contender? He's Samoan obviously but why would that be an issue.

You mean apart from the fact that he's recently capped for Samoa and appears to have no English connection at all?

Puja

Ah. Well there we go. Seeing "he has trained with the Samoan 7s team" in my 8 seconds of research suggested to me that was as far as his international honours had gone. He just looked like such an Eddie sort of bolter.

[Puja]

Beat me to it. He’d be years off re-qualifying and TBH, while he’s a great find for Saracens, I don’t think we need him for England.

And you can't requalify on residency, IIRC - you can only represent a second nation through ancestry.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

He might only be referring to being unavailable for Bristol’s last fixture, but Kyle Sinckler has posted that it’s the ‘end of his season’. Might be Stuart and Heyes in the 3/18 shirt in Australia.

[Danno]

He might only be referring to being unavailable for Bristol’s last fixture, but Kyle Sinckler has posted that it’s the ‘end of his season’. Might be Stuart and Heyes in the 3/18 shirt in Australia.

I wouldn't complain. Heyes is worth a look and it might inspire Stuart to step up some - he and Sinkler are on a par formwise as things stand (both a bit* poo) A shot at the starting shirt could boost him.

*Being nice.

[Scrumhead]

Agreed. Although personally, I’d hope it’s an opportunity for Will Collier. He’s had a brilliant season and does the basics very well. He might not have Sinckler’s hands or be a notable carrier, but he’ll get the better of most looseheads at scrum time and will put in a shift around the park.

[Danno]

I'd be perfectly happy to see him get a shot. As you say, nothing flashy but he won't let you down at the basics. Runs some good lines at times as well

[Puja]

Really interesting Squidge video:


A rather click-baity title of "So I think England are going to win the 2023 World Cup. Here’s why. | An Eddie Jones Deep Dive" but it's a very good analysis of the "unstructured attack" that we heard about and why it's not actually unstructured, but a system that changes on the fly. Also makes a very solid case for why Smith/Farrell both will work and is utterly necessary for England to progress. Bit worried that he's cherry-picked examples to suit his thesis, but Squidge a) does have pretty good form in knowing his stuff, and b) is Welsh and is more likely biased against England than towards.

Puja

[Puja]

Sinckler officially ruled out of the tour. Not great news, but I guess a good opportunity to get more experience into Stuart and Heyes.

Puja

[FKAS]

Sinckler officially ruled out of the tour. Not great news, but I guess a good opportunity to get more experience into Stuart and Heyes.

Puja

I disagree. Good news, Sinckler has barely been fit all season and the two understudies could use more experience at international level in care of an injury at the world cup. Sinckler can have the summer off, get right and do a full pre season.

[Which Tyler]

Sinckler officially ruled out of the tour. Not great news, but I guess a good opportunity to get more experience into Stuart and Heyes.

I disagree. Good news, Sinckler has barely been fit all season and the two understudies could use more experience at international level in care of an injury at the world cup. Sinckler can have the summer off, get right and do a full pre season.

Bad news that it's injury enforced, good news that he's getting a rest.
Could do with more of the first XV doing that TBH

[Danno]

Wasn't sure where to post this, but Tom Youngs' wife has passed away

https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/61735100.amp

Poor guy.

[TheNomad]

Unbearably sad - I can't imagine how I would react to the same news

[Mikey Brown]

Zach Mercer wins Top14 with Montpellier. Looked very lively in the highlights, though I guess that's never been his problem.

[Puja]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/62317303

Ewels set to miss most of the season with 9-12 month recovery expected from knee surgery. He's far from the board's favourite player, but that is awful news for a hard-working pro. Poor sod.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah that’s tough, particularly with Bath (surely) looking to turn things around this season. He clearly has great value as a leader for them.

[FKAS]

Yeah that’s tough, particularly with Bath (surely) looking to turn things around this season. He clearly has great value as a leader for them.

Bath's second row resources aren't great either. Attwood returning helps but like Spencer needs to be managed and Williams is a liability. Young Richards might get more opportunities than he thought alongside McInally.

[Which Tyler]

Young Richards has 21 senior matches under his belt now, he should be expecting plenty of game time regardless.
We're looking for a injury replacement for Ewels.
McNally, Attwood, Spencer, Williams and Richards isn't bad stable of locks IMO, especially with Williams just starting his 2nd pre-season as a lock.
If we can get 1,000 minutes or so out of Attwood/Spencer between them, then we should be "fine" at lock.

The locks' problems last year were A] coaching, B] environment/mentality C] the rest of the tight 5 around them D] that Spencer was only around for 400 minutes E] that Williams had only just converted to lock and F] Richards was learning on the job.
A has changed, B should have changed with it, C really should have changed D would be ridiculously unlucky if it hasn't changed, especially with the addition of Attwood, E has changed and F has changed.
And that's before we use Ewel's injury joker card.

[FKAS]

Spencer is a really good player when he's fit but he's not really been fit and playing regularly since 2018/19. If he manages to be fit and firing for the season it'll certainly help.

Mike Williams is a liability. Big, strong and could tackle a tank but just concedes so many dumb penalties. Hands like frying pans. If have happily driven him to his new club after his second season with Tigers. Not one you want to rely on.

Richards should expect some action but he might go from 21 appearances total to more than that next season. He looked good for the England under 20s in the summer and not many from the squad can say that.

Coaching might be the big one, van Graan has plenty of work to do but he likes a tough pack and strong defence which are good places to start on a rebuild.

[Which Tyler]

Joe Cokanasiga in a surgical boot. No idea when or what the injury, but plausibly during the season and waited until post-tour for an operation.

[FKAS]

Joe Cokanasiga in a surgical boot. No idea when or what the injury, but plausibly during the season and waited until post-tour for an operation.

Might be preventative. Was images of his brother in one a couple of weeks back but the videos of pre season show him back out and in the thick of it more recently.

[Puja]

Joe Cokanasiga in a surgical boot. No idea when or what the injury, but plausibly during the season and waited until post-tour for an operation.

Might be preventative. Was images of his brother in one a couple of weeks back but the videos of pre season show him back out and in the thick of it more recently.

I mean, he's worn one for so long at this point that it might just be his most comfortable worn-in footwear.

Sad news if he is injured again. Poor sod deserves some kind of a run of luck at some point.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

If it's being used preventatively, then the entire medical team needs to be sacked ASAP, and their new head has only been in position for 5 weeks.

For someone like Coka, it really shouldn't be used as a precaution either, as that's a massive nocebo that will likely do far more harm than benefit.