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Waiting List
1. pullthestrings
2. Bathite

The Hopper article is actually very well written - really like Stuart Barnes articles in the Times. He makes some good points.

From everything that I have read Lancaster is going to pick a lot of players who can play rugby as opposed to athletes and big men like Johnson did - would imagine no place for the likes of Banahan, which is good news for England!

Think England will play with a really high tempo, based on securing top quality lineout ball and field position with Farrell's boot and then attacking at pace with strike runners like Tuilagi and Foden.

I can see 36 being included, did well in the Saxons in the summer under Lancaster

I dont think 36 is ever going to make it to the top of his game if he stays at Leicester - has to move club - he has all the attributes to be a top international . He's got the size, power and pace to threaten defences, but its his reading of the game that most impresses me - much rather him than Barritt (who Lancaster seems to be considering for the 13 shirt if Tuilagi is out from what I;ve seen in media talks) and JTH - the latter I think needs to stay in the Saxons.

Amazing how different QUins become when Evans is out injured - gets their backline ticking.

I disagree chris. 36 will flourish at Leicester at 12 outside Flood or Ford in time.

Cockerill has Allen as his favourite 12 though Steven - I'd have 36 every time, but for some reason Cockerill doesnt start him when everyone is fit and I dont understand it.

Barcella has rejected Toulon apparently

Looks like you might nick this steve. Homer has missed 3 kicks, unheard of!

Would be a huge huge win if we get it. Although not pretty by the sounds of it.

Macleod is very very underrated!

Bad career move but got to respect Barcella for that, Biarritz have stuck by him

Sale aren't going to have many better chances of an away win this season. We have made some real progress!

Paice lucky to not get red according to the radio berkshire

Could of gone either way mate. Second half u were better but wasn't the best game. Peel wasn't great but McLeod did well. Andy Powell and Buckley terrible. Au'va is a talent.

Has Barcella been injured again ?? He was on bench this weekend and not played for a while before.

Biarritz out of relegation position now and should avoid it. Tons of quality

More good news for SJE http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3551_7417297,00.html

He keeps both him and care for 6n

Be interesting to see the Paice incident as they said it was bad on the radio. Bet he gets cited. #dirtylondonirish

I think its a blessing and a curse when players are injured for internationals.

Say for example Priestland was injured for 6n then he would be availible but wouldn't be seen playing. I'd much rather him have 5 stormers for Wales and come back in really top form than have him availible all through but not considered a in form.

double edged sword really.

Wasnt that bad, but a yellow yes. Gibson off injured to add to the list!

How did Sisi do when he came on nick?

Auva'a is getting a cult hero status already. Shame is I don't see where he and Seymour fit into the same backrow let alone Fourie as well.

How was Vernon? I really really like him and would like to see him at 8.

Yeh vernon was decent. When is fourie back? Your back row options are immense. Sisi didn't look out of place at all. Garvey different gravy, consistently our best player.

Fourie told me on twitter it shouldn't be too long. I'd guess he may [play some part in our game v Brive.

Sheridan and Fourie both due back imminently I read.

What would be your first choice back row? Shame there was so many players missing for both teams today, Sheridan, cueto, fourie, Seymour, tagicakibau, hape, Bowden, ansbro, Joseph, hala'ufia

I have no idea who our first choice would be.

I'd hazard a guess at 6. Vernon 7. Fourie 8 Powell

Mine would be

6. Auva'a 7. Fourie 8. Vernon.

I suspect it would be horses for courses selections if they were all ever fit.

That Auva'a looked great against Tigers, right little nugget

Alex Grey had a good game today, wasnt out muscled and is a smart player. needs to improve his carrying though.

http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/story/157185.html

interesting

Sheridan ???? I thought he would struggle to ever come back. Interested to see how he goes

He has played for the Blues before. Just want him on a long term deal.

36 out of contract this summer. Didn't realise that.

Cockrill reckons they'll have Allen & 36 tied down next week

Telegraph reported this Friday Matt:

"Sale prop Andrew Sheridan will play no part in the Six Nations championship even though he is due to return to action for his club a week before the tournament begins on Feb 4.

Sheridan has not played since being forced out of the World Cup after damaging his neck and shoulder in the opening match against Argentina. The 32 year-old’s future was questioned after the latest in a succession of problems with his neck.

England have decided to let the highly regarded prop concentrate on club rugby even though his experience would be invaluable.

“Sheri just needs to see out the rest of the season for Sale and we’ll see where he is in the summer,” Graham Rowntree, the England forwards coach said."

Stuart Lancaster. “If you want, and I do, to operate with a ball-playing 12, you want someone who can, and has, played 10, but who is equally comfortable playing 12. Without putting him on a pedestal, someone like Owen seems to be doing that particularly well at the moment.”

Pretty sure that Owen Farrell will be lining up as England's no12 come 6Nations from that.

I'd much rather 36 personally. More creative, better carrier and more flair.

Thing is Farrell has great goal kicking and if hodgson is playing its needed

I'd like to see a backline come 2015 of

9.Ben Youngs
10.George Ford
11.Chris Ashton
12.Owen Farrell
13.Manu Tuilagi
14.Sam Tomkins (If he makes the switch)
15.Ben Foden

Farrell - Twelvetrees

12 Matches 11
2 Tries 4
121 Points 87
5 Try assist 2
31 Carries 78
73 Metres carried 235
2 Clean breaks 4
1 Offloads 3
3 Defenders beaten 11
75 Tackles 64
15 Missed tackles 7
8 Penalties conceded 2
9 Turnovers conceded 6


These stats make for interesting reading.

They both play a different style which for me is the deciding factor.

Id rather England played with players with more pace and flair. Farrell type players have got us nowhere. Let's play players who are exciting. Get 36, May etc involved and play better rugby. Doubt Lancaster will do it but it's what I'd like to see.

It's a strange one as i think Farrell plays in a limited game plan at Saracens and doesn't really seem to be asked to move the ball he's just there as a rock in defense and to kick the goals. Hodgson , Barritt and Goode pop up in first receiver quite a lot as there the guys who will distribute the ball.

agree luke

LLL - Farrell has got a sublime pass - think he is a very good second receiver and quite creative.

Think Lancaster will get the more creative players in the back three with Sharples, Ashton and Foden - reckon Hodgson and Farrell combined at 10-12 could be pretty good for us and with Farrell you also have someone with a kicking game that suddenly puts us right up there with other nations and will win a lot of territory battles.

I rate Farrell highly. Just ether England go in a different direction.

I hope that Twelvetrees continues to develop, think he could be an ideal inside centre for England - just think he should really now be a starter for Tigers otherwise he wont get a look in for England - he reminds me a bit like Greenwood in terms of his size and running style.

Trouble is that I've noticed that his decision making isnt in the same class as Farrell's, but think that is only due to him not getting more first team games and being moved around by Cockerill too much.

He's had a few knocks this season, he's played pretty much whenever he has been fit.

he has played really well - always causes defences trouble and he's got a very good eye for the try line. He is very good at getting himself into the right place and the right time (just like Greenwood).

guess you can't pay him a better compliment than comparing him to Greenwood - he was my favourite back to watch.

he just needs to nail down that starting shirt at Tigers and stop moving between the 10 & 12 shirt. he made some really bad decisions yesterday, lots of very stray/wayward passes - not very like him, but think it comes down to not getting enough matches.

I think 36 will be in the EPS. Lancaster worked with him in the Saxons in the summer and he played well.

Did anyone see the rugby highlights last night?

what did you think of the Paice yellow card? fair decision for me, wasnt a red.

At last Carl Hayman back in form - anyone see the Clermont v Toulon game? Joe El Abd, the former Bristol player was very good too, played at no6 - anyone lacking an English foreign might want to put in a bid for him there.

Considering selling Matt Stevens, but would need a decent replacement in the front row.

Think 36 is still quite raw despite being a talent. Farrell looks the more complete package.

same with May at gloucester. People say he should start ahead of Morgan or JSD etc but this is not the case. his stats are probably awesome and he is defence is great but he still needs to be given time and allowed to develop properly through gloucester and the saxons.

I would start him at 12 for glos ahead of Tindall though

joe el Abd is a pretty ordinary player although can do a job