RugbyRebels

It's a bit early to begin a thread for this fixture, but I've just read on Midi Olympique that the French coaching staff have been invited to train / coach the Barbarians against England on June 19th before the French leave for two tests in Japan.

Here's the link (for the francophones among you!) https://www.rugbyrama.fr/rugby/xv-de-fr ... -explique-

Uh-oh

Dan. Dan. Dan. wrote:Uh-oh

Another defeat looms?

I wonder if it'll be Eddie that runs that game or if he'll decide to do what's usual and defer to a subordinate. If so, he might want to be careful about handing the reins to Cockerill for fear that he'll get a taste for it - Cockers isn't exactly devoid of form for staging a coup from underneath a poorly performing head coach and it would be the cost-effective option for the RFU...

Puja

Puja wrote:I wonder if it'll be Eddie that runs that game or if he'll decide to do what's usual and defer to a subordinate. If so, he might want to be careful about handing the reins to Cockerill for fear that he'll get a taste for it - Cockers isn't exactly devoid of form for staging a coup from underneath a poorly performing head coach and it would be the cost-effective option for the RFU...

Puja

Crikey, Cockers as england coach isn't something I'd really thought about.

Banquo wrote: Crikey, Cockers as england coach isn't something I'd really thought about.

Not something I want to think either either, for that matter

Which Tyler wrote:

Banquo wrote: Crikey, Cockers as england coach isn't something I'd really thought about.

Not something I want to think either either, for that matter

Could be exactly what England need, although I'm not sure that those in the upper echelons of the RFU (are the still called "Blazers"?) would be too pleased if Cockers were to be appointed. Then again, Eddie wouldn't hesitate to call a spade a spade, so maybe they're both cut from the same cloth?

Cockers in charge might be fun. Yep, i'm warming to the idea.

Fun in the way the dentists is fun?

Yeah after a week in Cockers gentle care they'll be desperate to get back to Eddie's injury filled sessions all right.

With no JWC this summer perhaps the RFU will use those coaches for the Baabaas game so that the senior coaches can concentrate on the trip to Australia.

What happens if the Barbarians produce a good, cohesive performance under the French management after two training sessions and a few pints at the pub? The RFU give Jones more time, presumably, 3 years since 2019 being insufficient.

Depends on who actually coaches, what players they have at their disposal and what kind of team England will put out.
Selections are always compromised due to club commitments, so its making do with what players are available and that rules out those in the Prem final and likely the semi finals.

fivepointer wrote:Depends on who actually coaches, what players they have at their disposal and what kind of team England will put out.
Selections are always compromised due to club commitments, so its making do with what players are available and that rules out those in the Prem final and likely the semi finals.

I think those who aren't badly banged up from the Semis come in. Depends when England want to bring the squad together. If they don't include players from the semi final teams I suppose they could get everyone together a week earlier.

You know what’s weird? Some part of me thinks Cockerill would actually be really good for this group of players.

It’s a weird one … usually no-one cares about this fixture, but when you’re coming in to it off the back of two defeats and a poor 6 Nations, it takes on a bit of a different level of significance.

Given that a good chunk of our first choice players are likely to be in the play-offs, I would still use it as a chance to look at some of the fringe players without an outside chance of being involved in Australia/possible RWC bolters.

On the assumption that the top 4 stays the same (which it probably won’t) I’d like to see something like:

1. T. West / W. Goodrick-Clarke
2. G. McGuigan / J. Blamire
3. W. Stuart / P. Hill
4. S. Robinson / A. Coles
5. D. Ribbans / E. Stooke
6. T. Hill (c) / M. Reid
7. B. Curry / T. Pearson
8. T. Willis / A. Barbeary
9. A. Mitchell / B. Spencer
10. J. Umaga / F. Smith
11. O. Hassell-Collins / O. Thorley
12. M. Ojomoh / M. Atkinson
13. P. Odogwu / F. Dingwall
14. J. Cokanasiga / A. Radwan
15. T. Parton / T. Freeman

I think that’s a nice squad and a great set of backs for some Barbarians rugby.

Could be the perfect game for the likes of Barbeary and OHC.

Scrumhead wrote:It’s a weird one … usually no-one cares about this fixture, but when you’re coming in to it off the back of two defeats and a poor 6 Nations, it takes on a bit of a different level of significance.

Given that a good chunk of our first choice players are likely to be in the play-offs, I would still use it as a chance to look at some of the fringe players without an outside chance of being involved in Australia/possible RWC bolters.

On the assumption that the top 4 stays the same (which it probably won’t) I’d like to see something like:

1. T. West / W. Goodrick-Clarke
2. G. McGuigan / J. Blamire
3. W. Stuart / P. Hill
4. S. Robinson / A. Coles
5. D. Ribbans / E. Stooke
6. T. Hill (c) / M. Reid
7. B. Curry / T. Pearson
8. T. Willis / A. Barbeary
9. A. Mitchell / B. Spencer
10. J. Umaga / F. Smith
11. O. Hassell-Collins / O. Thorley
12. M. Ojomoh / M. Atkinson
13. P. Odogwu / F. Dingwall
14. J. Cokanasiga / A. Radwan
15. T. Parton / T. Freeman

I think that’s a nice squad and a great set of backs for some Barbarians rugby.

Could be the perfect game for the likes of Barbeary and OHC.

I'd want (and expect) to see Arundell in there as well. Hugely early, but it's the kind of game where he could thrive and I want us showing a sustained interest in him to ward off any further Scottish poaching attempts.

Puja

Scrumhead wrote:It’s a weird one … usually no-one cares about this fixture, but when you’re coming in to it off the back of two defeats and a poor 6 Nations, it takes on a bit of a different level of significance.

Given that a good chunk of our first choice players are likely to be in the play-offs, I would still use it as a chance to look at some of the fringe players without an outside chance of being involved in Australia/possible RWC bolters.

On the assumption that the top 4 stays the same (which it probably won’t) I’d like to see something like:

1. T. West / W. Goodrick-Clarke
2. G. McGuigan / J. Blamire
3. W. Stuart / P. Hill
4. S. Robinson / A. Coles
5. D. Ribbans / E. Stooke
6. T. Hill (c) / M. Reid
7. B. Curry / T. Pearson
8. T. Willis / A. Barbeary
9. A. Mitchell / B. Spencer
10. J. Umaga / F. Smith
11. O. Hassell-Collins / O. Thorley
12. M. Ojomoh / M. Atkinson
13. P. Odogwu / F. Dingwall
14. J. Cokanasiga / A. Radwan
15. T. Parton / T. Freeman

I think that’s a nice squad and a great set of backs for some Barbarians rugby.

Could be the perfect game for the likes of Barbeary and OHC.

Where is Jack Willis?

I wouldn't go so extreme, while I'd go more extreme in some cases.

If Obano is fit, he'll surely be in at 1.
I'd have Launch in there, no matter.
JWillis. Maybe even go for the full Wasps backrow of Shields, JWillis, TWillis, Barbeary
Quirke at 9. Mitchell can bench.

I'd expect Orlando Bailey to be in there over Umaga given Bailey has been in a lot of the training squads recently and Umaga was dropped pretty quick after his turnstile defending last summer. Bailey and Finn Smith would be two young tyros worth getting some England experience into early.

Yes. That’s fair. Didn’t think of Bailey or Arundell TBH.

@Stom - I deliberately left out anyone who I expected to be in the senior squad for Australia i.e. Quirke, Jack Willis.

As much as I’ve done a complete 180 on Shields, I think there’s more to be gained from Hill or Reid as future options at 6.

I left out Obano and Lawrence because I had no idea on their return dates.

Would like to see Fitz Harding get a run out, assuming he stays fit and maintains his fine form. One or both of the young Sale wingers might be worth taking a closer look at.

Would like to see Freddie Clarke involved if Glous fail to make top 4.

There's no way they'd take McGuigan over Blamire as it would raise questions as to why Eddie has made such a weird call for so long. Tom Willis at 8 is a good shout. You don't think Barbeary would make the summer tour?

Peej wrote:There's no way they'd take McGuigan over Blamire as it would raise questions as to why Eddie has made such a weird call for so long. Tom Willis at 8 is a good shout. You don't think Barbeary would make the summer tour?

It's a Barbs game, no store is ever set by them, not least because of the finals getting in the way "preventing" the top players being selected.

Danno wrote:

Peej wrote:There's no way they'd take McGuigan over Blamire as it would raise questions as to why Eddie has made such a weird call for so long. Tom Willis at 8 is a good shout. You don't think Barbeary would make the summer tour?

It's a Barbs game, no store is ever set by them, not least because of the finals getting in the way "preventing" the top players being selected.

Maybe McGuigan will be picked by the Barbarians. As a 'mature' hooker clearly not wanted by Jones, it would be a reasonable shout as, traditionally, they always select at least one uncapped player.

Oakboy wrote:

Danno wrote:

Peej wrote:There's no way they'd take McGuigan over Blamire as it would raise questions as to why Eddie has made such a weird call for so long. Tom Willis at 8 is a good shout. You don't think Barbeary would make the summer tour?

It's a Barbs game, no store is ever set by them, not least because of the finals getting in the way "preventing" the top players being selected.

Maybe McGuigan will be picked by the Barbarians. As a 'mature' hooker clearly not wanted by Jones, it would be a reasonable shout as, traditionally, they always select at least one uncapped player.

I can see McGuigan working well in a Baabaas team as well. He likes to carry and get around the park.