Flood could now also be out for 6 weeks!

First topic message reminder :

http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12504/7411609/Fitness-fears-for-Flood

Toby could miss the first few 6N games - I guess that opens the door for Charlie Hodgeson to start and for Farrell and Freddie Burns to come into the setup.

It does look like existing EPS members are dropping like flies - Flood, Tuilagi, Deacon, possibly Lawes, Mears, Wigglesworth (granted the last 2 may not have been selected anyway).

Is kicking at Twickenham and Wembley really that different from Murrayfield? Farrell has those experiences under his belt. Doesn't get much more high pressure than a huge final in front of 80k+.

I was there for the final and though the pressure was big it wasn't a great atmosphere. There were too many neutrals there for a day out. I'd expect Murrayfield to be a real cauldron as the Scots will unite where the neutrals at Twickers didn't and vocally get behind the Scottish team.

Btw how does the EPS work in regards to injured players - e.g. Lawes,Flood and Tuilagi? Obviously they would be first choice picks if fit but they are unlikely to be for the first game.

Good question. Could they be left out of the original EPS in order to offer Lancaster a bigger squad when fit (the 6N is an international window so the players have to be released for the games). Then do England have to give those players back to the clubs during the rest weeks as they aren't covered by the international window and the players were only called up and not part of the EPS.

God yeah I keep forgetting its technicaly the same EPS isnt it.

So Tuilgi porobably wont get replaced, Flood youd temporarily replace then swap back in when hes fit?

Surely it boils down to who is playing 10 for their club!!!??

In that case it was either flood or Hodgson...as no one else is doing so.

Thus if FLood is out...then its Hodgson...

He can take the kicks ....but he is an attacking FH so put Barritt and Trinder outside him....and go for the tries anyway....

GeordieFalcon wrote:Surely it boils down to who is playing 10 for their club!!!??

In that case it was either flood or Hodgson...as no one else is doing so.

Thus if FLood is out...then its Hodgson...

He can take the kicks ....but he is an attacking FH so put Barritt and Trinder outside him....and go for the tries anyway....

Burns and Clegg are too, or at least did in the last round of matches.

So is Shingler, is he English qualified?

Id be happy with a Hodgson Barrit Trinder combination though. Hodgsons a good passer, they are good runners. Hes a good enough goal kicker.
Its one of the possibilities.

Sorry Peter, i didnt make that clear, yes there are english 10's getting games...but i meant it should be down to the 10's who are cemented in to that spot for their club.

Clegg is a good young player...but I would say Evans is ahead of him...and i wasnt aware Burns was nailed on starter....

If he is then he should be in consideration....

Sure Geordie.

Then it coems down to what is Lancasters policy, is he really only picking players he thinks will make the world cup 2015 squad? Hes indicated thats the case already.

It then depends how rigid he is with that thinking.

and i wasnt aware Burns was nailed on starter...

He seems to have over taken Taylor as Gloucester as the first choice 10. Seems to be playing well and has good attacking instincts as well as a good kicking game.

Ah right....well then he's got to be under consideration in my eyes then....back up to Hodgson possibly....getting half an hour in the second half...

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Is kicking at Twickenham and Wembley really that different from Murrayfield? Farrell has those experiences under his belt. Doesn't get much more high pressure than a huge final in front of 80k+.

I was there for the final and though the pressure was big it wasn't a great atmosphere. There were too many neutrals there for a day out. I'd expect Murrayfield to be a real cauldron as the Scots will unite where the neutrals at Twickers didn't and vocally get behind the Scottish team.

Aside from the step up in a foreign and hostile environment, I think asking him to kick on his international debut would be a huge and unfair ask. He may well be able to cope, but to my mind it would be an unecessary pressure for a 20yo in his first cap.

Telegraph reporting today following exclusive interview with Flood last night that there has been a dramatic improvement in Toby's knee with the inflammation having gone down & he believes that he could be fit for the Scottish opener!

36s performance today must surely swing the bandwagon in his direction

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:36s performance today must surely swing the bandwagon in his direction

Dont tempt fate.... by the day of the EPS there will be calls for him to not only be included but start at FH and center as he is that awesome, and then it will be englands fault tigers dont win the Jeff as √1296 (sorry GOD) was called to play for england

Then again it was only against the pests, can he do it against a rugby team??

majesticimperialman wrote:This is a real shame about Flood now being on the injured list.But like it has already been said it could well be a bleshing in disguise.It could be a golden opertunity for the likes of Farrel, Burns, to get a chance to show that they can step up to international level......

I agree with you mate. We have not seen anyone step in behind Flood and need to know where England stand.

Here's a thought: What if Tom Homer is played on the wing? He could be used as the second kicker, and would do quite well. Could he play wing at the top level?

Good to see Cockerill saying positive things about Twelvetrees. After seeig that he can certainly play at 12 as a kicking back-up (or even first choice kicker?) for Hodgson. Lancaster has some dilemmas, but at least he has real choices in the centre positions.

Knackeredknees wrote:

Then again it was only against the pests, can he do it against a rugby team??

He did it against the ospreys too......ok your point is still valid

Certainly in the Farrell vs Twelvetrees head to head this weekend Twelvetrees won hands down.

Owen why did you have to prove me wrong by missing so many kicks yesterday? Sigh.

True test next weekend for both though - Saracens vs Biarritz, Ulster vs Leicester

If Twelvetrees can help to guide Tigers through to a victory in Belfast then he should definitely stay at Welford Rd. It would prove he's far too good a player for England to steal then break and return minus form and fitness over a month later!

Sam I think on Wednesday I am going to know what it feels like to be a Tigers fan.

beshocked wrote:Sam I think on Wednesday I am going to know what it feels like to be a Tigers fan.

Come now, people couldn't possibly hate you that much!


J/K Tigers fans!

At least we dont need to worry eh Cumbrian....

Whatever do you mean? Jimmy Gopperth has got to be qualified now, not reckon we might lose him?

I wish we'd lose him off the North Shields piers mate!