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Bath RFC	InTheFastLane
Exeter Chiefs	Driver - RIP 606
Gloucester	Anonmattyt
Harlequins	Steven_Sharks
Leicester Tigers	LukeLovesLuka
London Irish	stnick88
London Wasps	Arry
Newcastle Falcons	Sgt_Pooly
Northampton Saints	Dammit_Chris
Sale Sharks	SirJohnnyEnglish
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Worcester Warriors	prop_lyd

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Waiting List
1. pullthestrings
2. Bathite

Gaskell is available but it will be fairly big deal for him as I am not actively looking to get rid of him but looking for a different type of player. I will come round with ideas when I can but you can put offers on my page if you like whilst I have my tea

Areas I want to improve are EQ Hookers, Enforcer locks and centre or wing but would consider any decent player.

Anyone watch super tries over the holidays?

The Cipriani one was a belter and Cooper is involved in about 15 of them!

Greenwood & Morris both agree Brad Barritt is the best option for England 12 jersey.

Spilt on 13 with Banahan & Joseph options. Is Joseph even playing?!?!

i did pooly, cipriani's is brilliant shame he doenst do it more often, boys got some gas!

i'd go barritt 12, deserves a chance.
JJ hasnt played in weeks, and isnt back til end of jan.

f off banahan i'd go trinder or farrell

Lol...I'd like to see Trinder outside Barritt but could really see Banahan working. I still think he could be a top centre with his physicality and offload.

yet to see his offload game be effective to be honest

I did watch the Super tries Pooly. Cooper is involved in a few crackers but Genia's was the best for importance and just general difficulty. Rugby league super tries was also very decent.

Greenwood was stressing the EPS isn't just for the 6N but for the next 6 months so that's why he went for Joseph. Talked about the all round game and low error count and he'd like to see Tuilagi at 12.

I must have missed the Tuilagi at 12 bit, don't think he'll work there tbh

He said he'd like him there in long term, didn't necessarily stress immediately.

I think Manu is an ideal 12 if you want the crash ball. I think you have to decide whether you want a 12 who is a 2nd receiver and controller (particularly important in away games I find) or a big guy who guarantees you go forward. I personally think that long term we have far more talent at 13 than we do 12, so getting Manu as a 12 would be a good move I think.

Driver how does prop have 4 injuries and everyone else 3 ? Actually you have 2. Might want to check it mate

It will be interesting to see how Manu develops as I don't think he has the attributes to fully work there at the minute.

We have plenty of options at 12 in 36, Barritt & JTH all of which could really kick on (esp 36) so I wouldn't personally feel the need to shoe horn Manu into the 12 shirt.

All opinions of course, I'd be quite happy to leave Manu at 13 where he looks natural and look to develop a 12.

anonmattyt wrote:Driver how does prop have 4 injuries and everyone else 3 ? Actually you have 2. Might want to check it mate

Didn't even realise I had one more??!!

We should have 2 now....

I think prop bought an injured player from Driver???

I'm completely confused now!! So my 1st player is back now then?! When does King come back and does it mean I need to change my tactics etc?

Where are injuries listed? I have mine on my page and Slater is available this week...

I've changed my tactics for it now with King. Would bring Botha in instead of Andress but that would be unfair on Matt seeing as he's done team and tactics.

As all teams and tactics are in the match thread is updated

Predictions open

Play him if you wish prop !!

Predictions are open now so don't worry Matt, got completely confused this week!!

There is an injuries page I should have paid
More notice I could have played grey

Guess it must be a Forest thing bud

Papers reporting that England midfield will be hodgson Farrell and tuilagi - could be interesting as hodgson has the best passing game of any 10 in the AP (possibly Europe) so could be v good for tuilagi and back three. Lots are saying that sarries have improved his defence too - not so sure

Life is easier for hodgson with barrit who is colossal in defence. I agree with Stuart Barnes on the fact that barrit is not an international though.

I am no hodgson fan because his Game can fall to pieces. The only thing I like about hodgson is his honesty where even he says is tackling ain't great.

Farrell needs to be blooded and also would goal kick as hodgson is a hit and miss kicker.

I will be glad if we don't return to tindall. Hopefully glos will not renew his contract as he really has lost it. We will then be rid of 300k of the salary cap and with les gone another 200k so can make some decent signings

Yeah I'd agree with you on Barrit there - very good club player but dont think he has the attributes to become a top international.

Do wish Hodgson could tackle, if he is playing full of confidence then he's a top, top player but all it takes is one knock during the game and every aspect of his game can fall apart. Never seemed to have the mental strength of a player like WIlko (but then who does).

I'd definitely have Sharples starting - is quite a back three with him, Foden and Ashton. Foden seems to be hitting top form at the moment.

Wonder if there will be any surprises in the squad.

Hodgson's cover tackling is great but its the head on stuff where their is two or three guys running at him where it goes wrong.

Is the EPS announced Monday??

anonmattyt wrote:

I will be glad if we don't return to tindall. Hopefully glos will not renew his contract as he really has lost it. We will then be rid of 300k of the salary cap and with les gone another 200k so can make some decent signings

Like Ben morgan!!

He would suit us well. Our only big ball carrier is Qera and we need some depth in that position

EPS named on the 11th i think, wednesday. might be wrong.

morgans coming to irish!! i hope!

Scarlets coach was saying yesterday how he feared losing Morgan to an English club - just seems like the welsh clubs look after their players a lot better in fitness/nutrition than in england, so maybe it wouldnt be such a bad thing if he did stay there.

dammit_chris wrote:Scarlets coach was saying yesterday how he feared losing Morgan to an English club - just seems like the welsh clubs look after their players a lot better in fitness/nutrition than in england, so maybe it wouldnt be such a bad thing if he did stay there.

I dont think there is any difference fitness/nutrition wise. Wales have caught up with the rest of the world in that respect as they were massively behind. i think its the sheer amount of attritional games the English players play.

Look at the Rabo. you barely ever see a full strength side put out in more than half the games. this keeps them fresh and in good nick for the big games.

I imagine Barritt will get to prove you wrong, Geeenwood is a pretty good backer.

Looks like we might see him straight in:

England forwards coach Graham Rowntree, who has been keeping tabs on Morgan for a year, said: "I'm delighted he's decided he wants to play for England. We've been looking at him a long time.

"We will be looking, without pre-empting selection, to get him involved very quickly," he added ahead of England's Six Nations opener away to Scotland on February 4.

"He's athletic, a big ball-carrying No.8 who is good at lots of things, a good line-out forward and good collision skills,"

Fair enough. I do want to know where we stand on foreign players. I understand Haskell and Cipriani as they are so far away but Palmer surely has to be considered if Morgan is.

Think Morgan will come in under the exceptional circumstances clause as we will want to cap him before Wales do.

Morgan is a good prospect but he isnt the saviour of English rugby by any means. Hasnt had many games against the best back rows in the Rabo so internationals could be a very big step up for him.

barrit reminds me of jamie noon. great defender and not the hands or gas for international rugby. we want some spark or a big ball carrying 12.

barrit is just ok at everything bar defence. has nothing that marks him out.Also he has a south african accent on par with mike Catt

Play him for the Saxons then if he isn't ready for Internationals. If he changes his mind so quickly to Wales then they can have him!

He deserves his chance as the form 12 in the prem and imagine he'll get his chance somewhere along the line.

i agree steven. you have to play for england on merit. we have a big enough pool of players

you could say the same of mike brown who deserves to be in the squad but i would be disappointed if either got a start.

we want to play attacking rugby and utilise our backs. barrit would kill this. might as well play tindall 12 if we play him

disagree there matt, barritt is a better attacker than tindall and has better hands.

Barritt has better hands than Tindall. Best to agree to disagree really

Dewi Morris's EPS

Forwards: Joe Marler, Nick Wood, Dylan Hartley, Joe Gray, Jamie George, Dan Cole, Matt Stevens, Courtney Lawes, George Robson, Dave Attwood, Mouritz Botha, Tom Croft, Chris Robshaw, Tom Wood, Dave Seymour, Thomas Waldrom, Ben Morgan.

Backs: Ben Youngs, Joe Simpson, Micky Young, Toby Flood, Charlie Hodgson, Owen Farrell, Brad Barritt, Jordan Turner-Hall, Manu Tuilagi, Matt Banahan, Ugo Monye, Chris Ashton, Charlie Sharples, Ben Foden, Mike Brown.

Will Greenwood's EPS

Forwards: Joe Marler, Alex Corbisiero, Dylan Hartley, Joe Gray, Jamie George, Dan Cole, Matt Stevens, Courtney Lawes, George Robson, Steve Borthwick, Matt Garvey, Tom Croft, Tom Wood, Chris Robshaw, Luke Wallace, Nick Easter, Ben Morgan.

Backs: Ben Youngs, Joe Simpson, Ben Spencer, Toby Flood, Charlie Hodgson, Owen Farrell, Brad Barritt, Jordan Turner-Hall, Manu Tuilagi, Jonathan Joseph, Christian Wade, Chris Ashton, Charlie Sharples, Ben Foden, Mike Brown.



Not all to convinced it's the time for Jamie George and there is a good chance I wouldn't watch an England game if Micky Young was the 9 and it's to early currently for Ben Spencer I think.

You really have to wonder at these selections sometimes. Wade is miles away from Int rugby, he'd be torn apart!

Even as a big Micky Young fan he's should be nowhere near an EPS, similar with Spencer.

Wood to be starting LH imo, has to be in EPS

Dewi has selected JTH, Barritt, Banahan and Tuilagi as the centres, all bosh merchants no flair really, would not be pleased with that at all.
for me you need one of JTH or Barritt (Barritt on form for me)
Would then have one of Trinder or JJ as back up 13 to Manu.

Micky young is decent but not Eng. quality.
george isnt ready but paice isnt at his best at the moment buckland on better form for irish.
wouldnt go with wade, would prefer to see may

I think Barritt will get the 12 jersey but I don't think he is the man long term.

I watched the rugby club and they all wanted Jamie George in but for me its far too early. Same for wallace.

I have tickets for the England against Italy, Wales and Ireland this year and i would be gutted to see Micky Young anywhere near even the saxons.

would like to see JTH given the start at 12 as he has the offloading game and is a more dynamic attacker although i am still a little unconvinced, however for me is the best option.

much rather see gray in the squad than George.

Borthwick would be a retrograde step also and i think Corbs needs some form to be selected

i would not pick May. think he needs the full season and then picked for summer.

what greenwood said about borthwick was a bit stupid if you ask me, saying borthwick guarantees you set piece and restart ball, but dont give him the ball to carry. waste of a lock. robson is quality in the lineout and at restarts and good in the loose. garvey isnt as good in the lineout as robson but better in the loose.
englands setpiece has never been a massive problem for me it is in the loose and at the breakdown where we suffer.