Autumn International Squad

[Banquo]

It was bullshit that May never went on a lions tour as well.

I guess in the context of people who have been on a Lions tour, that's probably right. Bit damned by faint praise there, though. He's a good player.

[Spiffy]

It was bullshit that May never went on a lions tour as well.

I guess in the context of people who have been on a Lions tour, that's probably right. Bit damned by faint praise there, though. He's a good player.

I'd say he's better than good. For a few seasons there he looked about the best wing in the Brit Isles, scoring some outstanding tries that others could not have pulled off, and all the while improving as a defender. He's past his peak, but still a threat to any defence when in top form. I'd love to see him get fully fit and play a role for England in the RWC.

[Banquo]

It was bullshit that May never went on a lions tour as well.

I guess in the context of people who have been on a Lions tour, that's probably right. Bit damned by faint praise there, though. He's a good player.

I'd say he's better than good. For a few seasons there he looked about the best wing in the Brit Isles, scoring some outstanding tries that others could not have pulled off, and all the while improving as a defender. He's past his peak, but still a threat to any defence when in top form. I'd love to see him get fully fit and play a role for England in the RWC.

Me too

[Mikey Brown]

So sounds like May out is probable and Arundell out is a possible, if this is anything to go by https://www.rugbypass.com/news/it-didnt ... -arundell/

Who is next in line? Has Watson actually done anything to earn a spot. I assume EJ will call up another centre or something unexpected anyway.

Really feel for May, he has slipped so far since being near our most consistent performer, singlehandedly stealing games for us on occasion. Arundell, if out, will get a ton more chances.

[16th man]

So sounds like May out is probable and Arundell out is a possible, if this is anything to go by https://www.rugbypass.com/news/it-didnt ... -arundell/

Sigh. Makes you wonder why we get so drawn into the squad announcements doesn't it?

[Puja]

So sounds like May out is probable and Arundell out is a possible, if this is anything to go by https://www.rugbypass.com/news/it-didnt ... -arundell/

Who is next in line? Has Watson actually done anything to earn a spot. I assume EJ will call up another centre or something unexpected anyway.

Really feel for May, he has slipped so far since being near our most consistent performer, singlehandedly stealing games for us on occasion. Arundell, if out, will get a ton more chances.

Tbh, that sounds very positive on Arundell. A sprain on the outside of the ankle, might need to be off his feet for a couple of days? Might not be doing running laps on Jersey shoreline with the rest of the camp next week, but I'd be surprised if he's not fit for the first game in a fortnight.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

And now LCD off with some sort of ankle injury.

[Mikey Brown]

Aaaaaand now Faz off with a nasty looking head knock.

[Mikey Brown]

Very curious what we'd be looking at in the backline now. Daly seems a likely call up out general outside backs cover, and even more so if we're missing Farrell's goal-kicking for any length of time.

If Farrell is out for the whole Autumn would we perhaps see a centre called up with Furbank covering 10? Ford is still out. Not sure who would be next in line.

I quite like the look of Smith, Daly, Tuilagi, Marchant/Slade, Murley (it will be Nowell but whatever), Steward

[fivepointer]

Ludlam off early too.

[FKAS]

Very curious what we'd be looking at in the backline now. Daly seems a likely call up out general outside backs cover, and even more so if we're missing Farrell's goal-kicking for any length of time.

If Farrell is out for the whole Autumn would we perhaps see a centre called up with Furbank covering 10? Ford is still out. Not sure who would be next in line.

I quite like the look of Smith, Daly, Tuilagi, Marchant/Slade, Murley (it will be Nowell but whatever), Steward

I hope Lawrence and Marchant are called up personally.

Get a backline of;

9. JVP
10. Smith
11. Cokanasiga
12. Manu
13. Lawrence
14. Marchant
15. Steward

Bench; Quirke, Malins, Murley (maybe Porter if his head's right as it would offer some centre cover).

[Banquo]

Very curious what we'd be looking at in the backline now. Daly seems a likely call up out general outside backs cover, and even more so if we're missing Farrell's goal-kicking for any length of time.

If Farrell is out for the whole Autumn would we perhaps see a centre called up with Furbank covering 10? Ford is still out. Not sure who would be next in line.

I quite like the look of Smith, Daly, Tuilagi, Marchant/Slade, Murley (it will be Nowell but whatever), Steward

I hope Lawrence and Marchant are called up personally.

Get a backline of;

9. JVP
10. Smith
11. Cokanasiga
12. Manu
13. Lawrence
14. Marchant
15. Steward

Bench; Quirke, Malins, Murley (maybe Porter if his head's right as it would offer some centre cover).

Lacking a bit of guile but I’ll go with it . Malins covering 10 would be a better shout if he’d play there recently (has he ). Probably prefer a pure winger over Marchant, but given that midfield he’s a good shout.

[FKAS]

Very curious what we'd be looking at in the backline now. Daly seems a likely call up out general outside backs cover, and even more so if we're missing Farrell's goal-kicking for any length of time.

If Farrell is out for the whole Autumn would we perhaps see a centre called up with Furbank covering 10? Ford is still out. Not sure who would be next in line.

I quite like the look of Smith, Daly, Tuilagi, Marchant/Slade, Murley (it will be Nowell but whatever), Steward

I hope Lawrence and Marchant are called up personally.

Get a backline of;

9. JVP
10. Smith
11. Cokanasiga
12. Manu
13. Lawrence
14. Marchant
15. Steward

Bench; Quirke, Malins, Murley (maybe Porter if his head's right as it would offer some centre cover).

Lacking a bit of guile but I’ll go with it . Malins covering 10 would be a better shout if he’d play there recently (has he ). Probably prefer a pure winger over Marchant, but given that midfield he’s a good shout.

I was thinking we'd only sub Smith in the case of injury so having Malins on the bench covering 10/11/14/15 made sense. Lack of centre options makes it a bit redundant I suppose, unless Porter is fit and even then Murley still deserves a go at the 23 shirt. It's him or Furbank, Furbank has played 10 more recently.

Marchant is good under the high ball, his positioning on the wing also very good. Given the injuries and the fact he's played a number of games starting there this season he'd be good on the wing. As you say gives a counter point to the midfield, Lawrence likes an offload as well so I could see the two combining.

Would give Smith a bounty of attacking threats to utilise ball in hand. If he can't get a tune out of that backline then he probably won't make the 6N squad. If he can get going then away we go, no need for the IC Babysitter.

[Banquo]

I hope Lawrence and Marchant are called up personally.

Get a backline of;

9. JVP
10. Smith
11. Cokanasiga
12. Manu
13. Lawrence
14. Marchant
15. Steward

Bench; Quirke, Malins, Murley (maybe Porter if his head's right as it would offer some centre cover).

Lacking a bit of guile but I’ll go with it . Malins covering 10 would be a better shout if he’d play there recently (has he ). Probably prefer a pure winger over Marchant, but given that midfield he’s a good shout.

I was thinking we'd only sub Smith in the case of injury so having Malins on the bench covering 10/11/14/15 made sense. Lack of centre options makes it a bit redundant I suppose, unless Porter is fit and even then Murley still deserves a go at the 23 shirt. It's him or Furbank, Furbank has played 10 more recently.

Marchant is good under the high ball, his positioning on the wing also very good. Given the injuries and the fact he's played a number of games starting there this season he'd be good on the wing. As you say gives a counter point to the midfield, Lawrence likes an offload as well so I could see the two combining.

Would give Smith a bounty of attacking threats to utilise ball in hand. If he can't get a tune out of that backline then he probably won't make the 6N squad. If he can get going then away we go, no need for the IC Babysitter.

I guess my two reservations are pace and distribution but we aren’t that abundant in pace with Arundell, May out and Watson not picked and can’t think of many proven pacy centres other than Marchant. .

[Margin_Walker]

Seemingly positive news on Arundell. Sounds like he is heading to Jersey. No firm news in the article on any of the other casualties.

The Times understands that Arundell spent much of Saturday having X-Ray and MRI scans in hospital and they revealed he had not sprained or broken his right foot.

Instead he has aggravated an old break, so while the timeline for his recovery is not yet known, as long as the pain eases Arundell will not be out for long.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/engl ... -sfwmf25js

[fivepointer]

Fingers crossed for Arundell.
The one injury that does concern me is LCD yesterday. If he isnt fit, we are looking at 4th/5th or 6th choice at hooker. Do we bring Blamire back - after all, he has got some experience, or Dunn who seems to be back to something like his best. Our options at hooker arent deep.

[Scrumhead]

I wouldn’t be hugely averse to either. Dunn was harshly treated in the past and looks like he’s rediscovered some form this season and while Blamire has mostly featured in the back row, he’s still played pretty well.

I’m hoping it is an opportunity for McGuigan to get a proper chance. I think he could be a late bloomer at test level in a similar vein to Mark Wilson.

[Oakboy]

I wouldn’t be hugely averse to either. Dunn was harshly treated in the past and looks like he’s rediscovered some form this season and while Blamire has mostly featured in the back row, he’s still played pretty well.

I’m hoping it is an opportunity for McGuigan to get a proper chance. I think he could be a late bloomer at test level in a similar vein to Mark Wilson.

McGuigan seems to me to bring everything that LCD does in terms of his all-round game. I think he would be an ideal front row colleague for Genge and Sinckler in terms of attitude, skill-set and pace. (Probably means he'll get three minutes off the bench with two other props.)

[Margin_Walker]

Sound like Roebuck in for May.

[Mikey Brown]

Aaaand there's the curveball.

I mean he's playing well, but he makes the squad better than Daly/Marchant would? Just a matter of keeping Scotland hands off him?

[Margin_Walker]

That's probably part of it, for sure. Guess there's also a case of having a look at someone different in camp.

He clearly isn't going to pick some players this autumn though.

[FKAS]

Three tries in five games before today for Roebuck. Can't say he isn't in decent form. He's definitely got something about him so can't complain too much about that one.

[Mikey Brown]

Three tries in five games before today for Roebuck. Can't say he isn't in decent form. He's definitely got something about him so can't complain too much about that one.

I really like him and wouldn't have complained to see him in initially, I guess I just thought we'd have gone in to RWC mode by this point. Maybe he's genuinely challenging for a starting spot, but feels more like one of those "one for the future" / squad depth selections, and it's a huge amount of experience lost when trading out for Jonny May.

[fivepointer]

Think Roebuck's a good player but Hassell-Collins continues to play well and there is the experienced option of bringing in Daly or MarchANT.

[Puja]

Think Roebuck's a good player but Hassell-Collins continues to play well and there is the experienced option of bringing in Daly or MarchANT.

Hassell-Collins is such a limited player though. Good try scorer, but absolutely does not have the vision and handling for international level.

Puja