3 or 4 Locks?

The selection of the forwards I think mainly depends on how many locks England take, with 4 props and 3 hookers definitely going. There is a possibility of Tom Croft covering the 4th second row position and leaving an extra back row space for Fourie or Robshaw to take up.

For this to happen it would eliminate the chance of Shaw or Botha being in the squad, Shaw offering experience that the team at crucial times desperately lack and Botha is in excellent form. However there is doubt whether Shaw could actually play 80 minutes of test match rugby? Also would you want a most likely starter to be covering for a position when he is going to be in the front line for most of the tournament?

I definitely think that if only 3 locks go Robshaw should be in the squad ahead of Fourie but I am not sure if we really need an extra back rower in that squad. I think we have plenty of flankers with Lawes able to cover their if needs must. The only back row position that might need covering is 8 but we do have Haskell and if he was put in we would still have 3 flankers available. Would Robshaw really make a difference to the squad he is a good player but he won't be starting. I fear he may just be a spare part.

So for me I would take 4 locks and take Shaw, because of his experience and ability to make an impact off the bench.

The four locks should be Lawes, Deacon, Palmer and Botha.
On fform, they are all great players. What happened to Attwood? Is he injured/banned or just not in the squad?

Attwood got injured right at the end of the Churchill Cup. I'd love to see a Croft/Robshaw flanker partnership, but if he's going to just end up not getting a game I'd rather he was back at Quins. Haskell's off for a year and I can't see Moody or Easter playing much for England after the world cup, so the back row selection come 6 Nations time could be very interesting. Maybe Waldrom will end up getting a game.

Has to be 4 locks. As neither Attwood or Borthwick are in the England squad, Botha has to be picked as the form player in my opinion.

Essentially with Shaw vs Botha it is experience vs form and as I personally believe form is more important I would go for Botha.

I simply can't see Shaw lasting for 80 minutes. He will be 38 years old at the time of the world cup.

I think we'll have more of an idea after the first warmup match.

I'd go with 4 locks and 5 backrowers. You don't want to be in a position where Croft is having to cover lock.

Second row; Palmer, Lawes, Deacon, Shaw
Backrow; Moody, Croft, Easter, Haskell, Wood

Harsh on Robshaw but he has no test experience and unless he makes himself undroppable from a sensational friendly vs Wales I'd leave him out until the 6N. I think in the Botha vs Shaw battle Shaw's experience is a benefit to the squad overall. Neither fourth choice will see a great deal of action and I think Shaw is likely to add more off the bench if needed and be a greater addition on the training ground. If it was head to head on who would be a starter between Shaw and Botha then I would go Botha but it's not and Botha is a test rookie competing for a bit part position in the squad.

4 locks for me, doesn't make sense for Croft to be effectively covering lock on the pitch. I'm a firm believer that a 30 man squad should be made up by the formula of first 22, plus a reserve bench of 7 plus 1 'wildcard' and that means taking 4 locks.

Toadfish

Who would your 4 locks be?

I think Lawes, Deacon and Palmer are nailed on and then it's just a choice between Shaw and Botha for the 4th choice i suppose it depends who is going to be more beneficial to the squad, Shaw has been in and around the england squad for as long as I can remember but Botha has had an extremely good season. It doesn't really bother me either way which of the two ends up going I think they will both do the job when required.

Lawes, Palmer & Deacon for sure. I would have said Shaw for the 4th spot but time might be getting on so happy for it to be Botha. Will leave that one for MJ to see how they are doing in training!

formerly known as Sam wrote:I'd go with 4 locks and 5 backrowers. You don't want to be in a position where Croft is having to cover lock.

Second row; Palmer, Lawes, Deacon, Shaw
Backrow; Moody, Croft, Easter, Haskell, Wood

Harsh on Robshaw but he has no test experience and unless he makes himself undroppable from a sensational friendly vs Wales I'd leave him out until the 6N. I think in the Botha vs Shaw battle Shaw's experience is a benefit to the squad overall. Neither fourth choice will see a great deal of action and I think Shaw is likely to add more off the bench if needed and be a greater addition on the training ground. If it was head to head on who would be a starter between Shaw and Botha then I would go Botha but it's not and Botha is a test rookie competing for a bit part position in the squad.

Exactly where I would end up, although it's a very close call between the form of Botha versus the experience of Shaw. I'd certainly go with 4 specialist locks though, and that's certainly the group of back row players I'd take.

I would probably look at the following players.

4. Lawes
5. Palmer
6. Croft
7. Moody
8. Easter

18. Wood
19. Haskell

25. Deacon
26. Robshaw

So Wood and Haskell on the bench with Croft covering lock, and Deacon and Robshaw as immediate injury replacements if required (into the matchday 22).

Given that Johnson has retained Shaw, Botha, Robshaw and Fourie (competing for one position) I really don't know which way he'll go with it.

Sam I can't really argue with your choices though would personally have Botha instead of Shaw.

Would understand that MJ might want Shaw's experience though.

I heard that Shaws shoulder was so munched up he could only pack down on one side... he's falling apart, don't take him.

I think 3 specialist 2ndrows will be most teams option then a 4th who can cover there and backrow.

Wales I expect will take AWJ, Davies and Charterris with R Jones giving us the 4th/backrow option.