Marler for England?

First topic message reminder :

A number of pundits, most recently Jerry Guscott on BBC, have stated Joe Marler should play against Scotland in the opening 6Ns fixture, a view supported on these forums by some (hi Robshaw4England). the one thing that these professional pundits have in common is they are all former backs. Are they perhaps blinded by the things that Marler does in loose play?

What does v2 think?

Is it just me, or has Corbs really really trimmed down since joining up with the EPS? He looks a good 10kg or so lighter than when he first joined up. Since he's not the tallest anyway, has his weight loss caused him to lose parity at scrum time?

sirtidychris wrote:PJHolybloke

TBH there aren't many front rows that are easy pickings for your first cap
Wales...a monster lions front row
French..best front row in the world ?
Italy....best front row in the world ?
Scotland....not easy by any means
Ireland....maybe start against Ireland then

Why not just play to a level of quality and intensity among the whole team that means it does not matter if the scrum is struggling or not. Plenty of other teams seem to manage this.

Turning the statement about Scotland and a frontrow battle on it's head. How about for once we go in to that game and don't try to rough them up all 80 and actually run it around a bit? A prop like Marler would help a bit with that.

yappysnap wrote:

sirtidychris wrote:PJHolybloke

TBH there aren't many front rows that are easy pickings for your first cap
Wales...a monster lions front row
French..best front row in the world ?
Italy....best front row in the world ?
Scotland....not easy by any means
Ireland....maybe start against Ireland then

Why not just play to a level of quality and intensity among the whole team that means it does not matter if the scrum is struggling or not. Plenty of other teams seem to manage this.

Turning the statement about Scotland and a frontrow battle on it's head. How about for once we go in to that game and don't try to rough them up all 80 and actually run it around a bit? A prop like Marler would help a bit with that.

More likley that Scotland would look to out England England (as per usual) and tie him up in the tight, and look for as many scrums as possible to wear him out.

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

yappysnap wrote:

sirtidychris wrote:PJHolybloke

TBH there aren't many front rows that are easy pickings for your first cap
Wales...a monster lions front row
French..best front row in the world ?
Italy....best front row in the world ?
Scotland....not easy by any means
Ireland....maybe start against Ireland then

Why not just play to a level of quality and intensity among the whole team that means it does not matter if the scrum is struggling or not. Plenty of other teams seem to manage this.

Turning the statement about Scotland and a frontrow battle on it's head. How about for once we go in to that game and don't try to rough them up all 80 and actually run it around a bit? A prop like Marler would help a bit with that.

More likley that Scotland would look to out England England (as per usual) and tie him up in the tight, and look for as many scrums as possible to wear him out.

So we would have to then better that. And force our tactics on them, just like most other teams do. Look at how Fra, Ire, Wales, SA, Oz or NZ play against them. A mobile prop with a fantastic offloading and support game could well help that as part of a new look modern, young, fit and well trained team. Especially if he is partnered with a hard working veteran like Cole.

Especially if he is partnered with a hard working veteran like Cole

Veteran? Cole is all of 24.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Especially if he is partnered with a hard working veteran like Cole

Veteran? Cole is all of 24.

But he is very experienced compared to the others around him, and it was a bit tongue in cheek. And even if he was 19 Cole just seems to give off that hard working, grafter vibe.

He is experienced but not what I'd call a veteran (especially in front row terms). He may look like Henry 8th but he really is still developing. Agree about the hard working grafter bit, we are seeing more carrying from him this year but he still isn't up to the Castro level.