Narraway called up to replace Wood

Doesn't appear to be mentioned on here yet, but Narraway has been called up to replace Wood according to the BBC. Not what I'd expected. Thoughts?

Urgh!

If Narraway looked like he might be a world class 8, then I would be fine with the selection, but he's doesn't. And so yet another opportunity to get a much needed openside some international exposure or just training with the senior squad is bypassed.

One of Narraway or Waldrom should have been in the original squad in place of Callum Clark, so I think Wood's injury has given Lancaster a chance to right that wrong.

While it would be nice to have an out and out 7 in the squad, I don't think we have one that is demanding selection, so I don't think calling one up would be the right course.

Narraway isn't demanding selection either though, he's been pretty average.

It's clear from Lancaster's initial selection that Narraway is unlikely to make a match day squad above Morgan or Dowson. Nor is he one for the future, so surely it's better to see how an openside prospect trains with the squad.

If I was an openside in this country with national ambitions I'd start demanding my club put any number but 7 on my shirt, the national coaches seem to consider it an evil taint.

[quote="stlowe"]Narraway isn't demanding selection either though, he's been pretty average.

It's clear from Lancaster's initial selection that Narraway is unlikely to make a match day squad above Morgan or Dowson. Nor is he one for the future, so surely it's better to see how an openside prospect trains with the squad.

If I was an openside in this country with national ambitions I'd start demanding my club put any number but 7 on my shirt, the national coaches seem to consider it an evil taint.[/quote]

Or check where my granny was born

I disagree I think Narraway is in very good form for Gloucester, he was outstanding against Toulouse. I doubt he'll get a look in, with the squad - but he deserves the selection as much as Dowson/Clark.

I'm surprised at the Narraway hate. He's been pretty solid this season and was simply outstanding against Toulouse on Friday.

Think it's a good move.

I think Narraway has been inconspicuous all too often this season, particularly for a club captain, probably his worst season for a while. Beyond that I found him pretty unconvincing in his last set of Saxons performances and I don't think he's physical enough an 8 to partner the senior side flankers we are likely to start. To my eyes he's really failed to step up and develop these last couple of years.

I agree with robbo that another 8 in the squad from the start would have been nice (Clark looks more and more like a superflous and not noticeably demanding selection), but at least we already had one 8. There wasn't however a true 7 from the start, and with the best approximation to one being injured, that's the role that should have been filled.

I have to say I'd not have brought an 8 on board, seems unnecessary as Dowson, Morgan and Robshaw can all play there. If a 7 gets injured (who can't play 8) then replace him with a 7.

Wood can play 8, even Dayglo was calling for him to be developed there. I wouldn't see Robshaw's best position at 8 either, so a specialist 8 in the form of Narraway isn't such a bad idea I don't think.

He was indeed excellent for Glaws at the w/end but Narraway's at his best in an open running game, linking really well with the backs and utilising space well. I don't see him as an international 8 however, he's just not physical enough. Particularly against the likes of Heaslip, Piccamoles/Bonnaire, Parrisse, and yes even the deity that is Faletau...

Narroway went missing for the whole start of the season, he's now finding a bit of form, but not for the whole 80 and sadly nothing like as good as one certain over 30's form at the moment. Sadly the form 8 in England isn't the right choice apparently.

I'm about to make a massive leap and please feel free to pull it apart but maybe Easter is in excellent form because he is no longer under any pressure to perform for the EPS. He must have known it was on the cards the day that they flew back from NZ. Might have been the release he needed just to play his game. Probably not though...

Does anybody know to whom the comment we just lost 35 grand or however much it was attributed. I heard a rumour it was Easter and for that reason was dropped by Lancaster. Any substance to this story or is this another case of someone starting a sentence with Apparently...

Most repriots seem to think it was Easter but the way it came out and was reported comepltly lose the context of what was said. it was leaked deliberatly to make the squad look bad and shift pressure onto Johnson and the players. Theres some nasty stuff gone on at the RFU thats a lot worse than someone making a jokey comment about being annoyed by losing 35 grand.

I think he probably wouldve been droped anyway. Lancaster has been quite open about ditching the over 30's and probably oppossed him being in the side in the first place. Even Johnsons didnt want Easter hwne he first took over, he just ended up being lumbered with him then sticking by him. Its not like this was a world class player whod been part of the 03 squad, like Cueto its a guy who had his moments but never really convinced anyone he was quite the player England want

I think Easter was dropped more for his attitude and personality more than anything else. Will Greenwood when commentating the other week said that he is not particularly awkward but different, whatever that means. After what happened in NZ Lancaster wants to build the whole team spirit / pride thing up and I think Easter just didn't really fit into that.

It can't just be to do with age as he's miles ahead of any other English 8 at the moment and it's not like we have much strength in that position anyway. If that was the case then Palmer is only 1 year younger (and was always going to picked by all accounts) and Dowson wouldn't be in line for a debut at 30.

B91212 wrote:I think Easter was dropped more for his attitude and personality more than anything else. Will Greenwood when commentating the other week said that he is not particularly awkward but different, whatever that means. After what happened in NZ Lancaster wants to build the whole team spirit / pride thing up and I think Easter just didn't really fit into that.

It can't just be to do with age as he's miles ahead of any other English 8 at the moment and it's not like we have much strength in that position anyway. If that was the case then Palmer is only 1 year younger (and was always going to picked by all accounts) and Dowson wouldn't be in line for a debut at 30.

Yes but both Palmers and Dowson are capable of playing for England into the next world cup. Its not alwatys just yerars age, thedse guys also have a "player age" base don their fitness levels and injuries which indicates when their perfomenaces are likely to drop off. Genticaly people age at differnet rates too, the England medical staff will have a good indication of who is capable of being Simon shaw and who isnt.

Lancaster was very explicit that he was only going to pick players whe thought able to make the next world cup squad.

It may well be that he had other reasons for not picking Easter too though, and his attiude/personality may have been part of that. Purely from a squad make up view I would have thought he had a chance of being retained, England have a huge void in experince at 8 with Haskell gone and Narraway initially a Saxon.

Fair point on players making the world cup, although it is a big ask for a backrow forward to be still playing at that level aged 34, especially one that hasn't even made his debut yet. Goes to show how much faith Lancaster has in Dowson I guess (as a Saints fan he should have been an England squad member for at least the last 2 years anyway).

There's probably some truth in the fact he's not feeling the pressure now as well.

It is strange when the form player by a country mile isn't picked, but then you never know one of the newbies may have a stormer and tbh i think Haskell will be exactly what we need when he returns, he just better play 8 in SupRug and not 6/7!

Haskell will be on the bench for the Highlanders, they've already got a pretty tidy back row trio.