england 2015 team

marler hartley corbesiero
lawes launchbury
gaskell wallace
morgan
youngs ford
farrell tuilagi
sharples wade
may england have got so much pace to pick from teams wont compete with them look at glouster v toulouse game may sharples burns were class

I doubt Hartley will be first choice by then - I'd expect either George or Haywood to have the place. LH could be one of several, including Luke Cowan-Dickie or Alex Waller. I think Corbs has settled as a LH now, so I'd expect Henry Thomas or, possibly, Kieran Brookes to be on the TH.

Second row is plausible, but there are lots of candidates. I doubt Gaskell will be at 6, I think it will be Wood. 7 will be one of Wallace, Kvesic, Saull, Walker or Gibson. 8 could be Morgan, Haskell, or (wildcard) Chris York.

SH and FH could be one of several. I wouldn't rule out Ben Spencer or Danny Care being the 9, and if I were to guess our 2015 FH I'd go with Freddie Burns.

If Farell develops an attacking game he could be at 12, but I think Twelvetrees has a real chance to make the place his own. Tuilagi must be favourite for 13, but JJ, Trinder and even Elliot Daly will be pushing hard.

I'd have Yarde instead of Wade on the right wing but it's more likely to be Ashton. There will be plenty of competition at 15 (don't rule out Miller), but I expect it will still be Foden.

And another wildcard, Eastmond to be involved (at 10, 12, 13, or 15).

Couldnt possibly pick a XV this early but here's my attempt at a squad for 2015. (I know theres 34 but i couldnt think of 2 to drop)

Props: Marler/Mullan/Corbisiero
Cole/PDJ
Hookers: Hartley/Gray/George
Locks: Lawes/Launchbury
Attwood/Garvey
Back Row: Croft/Wood
Robshaw/Saull
Morgan
Scrum Half: Youngs/Spencer/Care
Fly Half: Burns/Farrell/Ford
Centre: Twelvetrees/Barritt
Tuilagi/Joseph
Wing: Ashton/Sharples
Wade/Short
Full Back: Foden/May

By that point the majority of these players would have been in the EPS for 2/3 seasons giving them experience of big games. And there is tons of pace in that squad.

If i had to pick a 15 it would be something along the lines of

15.Jack Nowell
14.Ben Foden
13.Jonny May
12.Manu Tuilagi
11.Chris Ashton
10.Owen Farrell
9.Ben Youngs

1.Joe Marler
2.Dylan Hartley
3.Alex Corbisero
4.Matt Garvey
5.Courtney Lawes
6.Tom Wood
7.Andy Saull
8.Ben Morgan

16.Joe Grey 17.Matt Mullen 18.Dan Cole 19.Dave Attwood 20.Chris Robshaw 21.Ben Spencer 22.George Ford 23.Jamie Short


Jack Nowell is a serious talent at 15 and i have him down as my potential superstar for 2015. Very illusive runner , massive boot and solid under the high ball. The Isreal Dagg of English rugby.

I don’t honestly think the team will be that much different from where it is now, there is a core running through the squad that is still pretty young:

Alex Corbisiero
Dylan Hartley
Dan Cole
Matt Stevens
Courtney Lawes
Tom Croft
Tom Wood
Chris Robshaw
James Haskell
Ben Morgan

Ben Youngs
Danny Care
Toby Flood
Manu Tuilagi
Chris Ashton
Ben Foden

I think the youngsters like Marler could come into their own too, although it shouldn’t be assumed that they will be fixtures in the squad by then. There are also always going to be guys that come out of leftfield that get forgotten about around the squad. I’d suggest:

Ed Slater
Carl Fearns
George Lowe
Dominic Waldouck

Dont forget also...

If Lindsay can learn to throw...he's a monster...

Garvey seems to be forgotten - big second row...

Plus between now and then every club will have playerscoming through....

And even from the Falcons academy conveyor belt:

Joel Hodgson is a young Falcons FH with serious talent...but his lack of size means he will move to 9...and could be a playmaking 9 in the french mould...

Catterick - Another creative quality FH

Beaumont Jr - A big athletic second row.

Joe Robinson - Englands own Stephen Ferris

When do you expect Joe Robinson to start getting game time?

I don't think Lowe should be first choice for Quins, so I don't think he should anywhere near the England side given the embarrassment of riches developing at 13. I agree Slater and Fearns could easily be involved though.

Nowell is an interesting prospect. Also from Exeter I have high hopes for Sam Hill (IC) and for Slade (FH).

The current England squad is young, and I'd imagine the RFU are assuming the 2015 side will be largely based on the current squad. It's just I think that in the next cohort of players there is such ability that a few new names will force their way in.

england need to devolp these players launchbury,wallace,marler,morgan,spencer,ford,joseph,burns,may,wade,there england future

Christ Adam waht about the current squad? Arent they suppossed to be the future?

Exactly how many futures do England need to devleope for?

Id hope the current squad forms the backbone of the 2015 squad. If it doenst then someones made a serious cockup.

I agree with PSW. There's far too many new names in that squad I think Adam. Players like Foden, Cole, Wood, Flood, Croft, Ashton and possibly even Robshaw will be the backbone of the 2015 team. Maybe not all of them, but definitely at least a few.

I think regardless of what people say at the moment, Lancaster's chosen a squad with a good balance and blend of youth and experience. Can't wait for next weekend.

I'm not a fan of the crystal ball threads, but he's my guess.....

1.Mullan 2.Hartley 3.Cole 4.Attwood 5.Lawes 6.Robshaw 7.Wood (c) 8.Haskell 9.Youngs 10.Flood 11.Tuilagi 12.Farrell 13.Joseph 14.Sharples 15.Foden

16.Corbisiero 17.George 18.Doran-Jones 19.Parling 20.Croft 21.Simpson 22.Ford 23.May

Exiled, who's the number 9 you've picked?

Ben Youngs. Current Scrum half - plays for Leicester....

On the bench Joe Simpson - scrum half at Wasps and in the current squad.

croft cant tackle he should not be in squad burn and farrell are much better then flood we should not have any leicster players is squad we need attacking rugby players from northampton glouster harlaquins picked

Ben Woods is a flanker! I think you mean Youngs! unless we're doing an Italy and playing a flanker at 9...it worked so well for them

adambarney wrote: we should not have any leicster players is squad we need attacking rugby players

....are you serious?

You do know you have both Youngs and Manu in your squad...? They are both Tigers. Oh, and so is Ford.

Not sure if WUM or just very, very .........

Haha, I agree Carpe. He's shot himself in the foot a bit.

bluestonevedder wrote:Ben Woods is a flanker! I think you mean Youngs! unless we're doing an Italy and playing a flanker at 9...it worked so well for them

Apologies - my mistake!! Of course I meant Ben Youngs. Think he'll have the 9 jersey for quite a while. I know his form isn't what it was, but I like the attitude and frustration that has brought to his game. He'll be back and with a vengence.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

Apologies - my mistake!! Of course I meant Ben Youngs. Think he'll have the 9 jersey for quite a while. I know his form isn't what it was, but I like the attitude and frustration that has brought to his game. He'll be back and with a vengence.

I was concerned at first- I didn't think England rugby had hit so low as to do a Bergamasco! Yeh, I think we could see a fierce rivalry between Youngs, Care and Simpson for a good few years. Youngs has been a bit off, but when he's on form he really is a class act. Except he always seems to lose his head in crucial games in Ireland!

Especially when he claimed Saints played attacking rugby and Tigers don't.

A lot fo conjecture about the number 3 shirt and to be honest unless an injury occurs then Dan Cole has that shirt wrapped up for maybe as long as the next decade. He's been slowly improving for some time and with tightheads not reaching their peak until about 28 he has another 4 years before he peaks.

I'd say fly half is the hardest to predict actually, thus my slightly left field pick of George Ford on the bench.

In truth it could be Burns, Clegg, Farrell or even another like a returning Geraghty or Ryan Lamb. Perhaps Heathcote at Bath.

It's one position where there isn't really an obvious choice going forward. Lots of different options with pros and cons. No standout player making the jersey their own by stringing together 10 or so top class consistent performances.

Cole has been fantastic. Great to see him gaining the hard yards around the park too. Very very useful ball carrier, and his scrummaging is excellent. His time with Castro has benefited both of them, as you rightly pointed out regarding injuries on a previous thread Sam.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Especially when he claimed Saints played attacking rugby and Tigers don't.

A lot fo conjecture about the number 3 shirt and to be honest unless an injury occurs then Dan Cole has that shirt wrapped up for maybe as long as the next decade. He's been slowly improving for some time and with tightheads not reaching their peak until about 28 he has another 4 years before he peaks.

Agreed Sam. The real question for me is who the back-up to Cole will be. This is where Lancaster has got it wrong. Doran-Jones should be in the squad in my opinion. Although Mujati is rightly first choice at Saints, the tighthead side rarely suffers when Doran-Jones comes on. He's a decent scrummager. I don't think you get the same bite from Wilson or Stevens.

On the loosehead side I see another mistake. Corbisiero ahead of Mullan. I think Lancaster should start Mullan and use Corbisiero from the bench. Mullan is a far better scrummager and no mug in the loose, thus my pick of him being the loosehead going forward. Marler could snaffle the bench spot though - a decent impact option.

Mullan is a far better scrummager and no mug in the loose

And did the best tackle ive ever seen a LH do (on james Hook i believe it was)....20m sprint...with a diving try saving tackle...awesome.

Could he be Englands Gethin Jenkins?

He's clearly underrated by the England management.

None of Corbisiero, Marler or Stevens can effectively scrummage at loosehead, not to international standards. That's not to say they won't be able to in the future, particularly Corbisiero and Marler who are both young. They are extremely promising prospects, so I can understand why Lancaster is interested in them both, but I don't see why Mullan isn't currently the pick of the bunch.

I think there are concerns over Mullan's long term fitness, he's had a good deal of problems stemming from shoulder injuries. That is not a good thing for a prop! In terms of ability and form he is the best loosehead option available though.

DaveM wrote:When do you expect Joe Robinson to start getting game time?
I don't think Lowe should be first choice for Quins, so I don't think he should anywhere near the England side given the embarrassment of riches developing at 13. I agree Slater and Fearns could easily be involved though.

Nowell is an interesting prospect. Also from Exeter I have high hopes for Sam Hill (IC) and for Slade (FH).

The current England squad is young, and I'd imagine the RFU are assuming the 2015 side will be largely based on the current squad. It's just I think that in the next cohort of players there is such ability that a few new names will force their way in.

Dave i think next season will be a good one for him....and if as expected we go down i think he'll get more gametime again. He's a big powerful lad...

I haven't seen anything of this Joe Robinson, but hear he's good. What sort of player is he?

funnyExiledScot wrote:I'm not a fan of the crystal ball threads, but he's my guess.....

1.Mullan 2.Hartley 3.Cole 4.Attwood 5.Lawes 6.Robshaw 7.Wood (c) 8.Haskell 9.Youngs 10.Flood 11.Tuilagi 12.Farrell 13.Joseph 14.Sharples 15.Foden

16.Corbisiero 17.George 18.Doran-Jones 19.Parling 20.Croft 21.Simpson 22.Ford 23.May

We are looking 3.5 years into the future, and England's age group sides are very good. I'd expect 3-5 players not currently involved in the EPS or Saxons to have made it to the 1st team by then, particularly in the forwards.

Firstly a proper 7: fortunately England have a number of possibles and I'd expect one of them to have stepped up and taken Robshaw's place in the squad. Henry Thomas isn't far from the EPS now, and with that amount of time to develop I think he'll be pushing Cole very hard indeed. And again in the front row Hartley has been in disappointing form for a long time, and there are options. I wouldn't be at-all surprised if a Launchbury or a Matthews had made an impression on the second row by then either. Finally Fearns looks like a player with the ability to force his way in.

The backs are probably going to be fairly similar to those involved in the EPS and Saxons squads - however I reckon Yarde will be first choice by then.

Yarde? Really? Has he done much in a LI shirt yet?

He's 19 years old, and managed to injury himself early in the season, but the man looks a class apart to me.

Dave,

That is the one area England have said they are focussed on.
Rowntrees interview :

"We know what Saully can do, we have been looking at him for a long time. We are looking to develop that type of player to bring into a senior squad. We haven't got a natural groundhog or ball-stealing seven so we're looking to develop one in the Saxons. Saully fits the bill, so does Matt [kvesic]."

Those are the current two favourites. Its interesting that they have seprated this group out in the Saxons, rather than rushing one guy in they have made a concious choice to do without for now and work closely with those guys to see hwo makes the grade.

Rwontree also has a massive boner for Marler. Lancaster wants a mobile modern front row, he wants Rowntree to make this guy a prop rather than an oversized center standing in the wrong place at scrums.
Hes the guy they intend to be there in 2015. Whether he makes the grade or not is another question.

bluestonevedder wrote:I haven't seen anything of this Joe Robinson, but hear he's good. What sort of player is he?

Ah BSV hes just a young lad 18...6'4 17st...but an aggressive destructive style...he's had great reviews from his club in Kendal (cumbria).

He's not gonna challenge for 2015 i wouldnt think.....but he'll be prime for 2019...

Blimey, 18 years old and he's already 17st and 6'4? He's going to be a monster!

Yeah...sure is...lets hope he is brought through correctly....

That nuthin', check out 18 year old David Sis at LI, 6'4 and 18st 13lbs.

He's a number 8. Potential future monster partnership there. I can imagine a world in which English backrows present a real challenge to their opposition.

Guy Armitage and Anthony Watson are serious talents to look out for in the future.
Armitage from what i've seen plays a lot like Jauzion
Watson looks amazing. He can play wing or fullback, has got fantastic feet and pace.
2015 might be to early for them though.

There sis rather an assumption taht any player coming through into the senior side must currently be under 21.
Theres still guys in the Saxons like Armitage and Monye who have done the business before at international level and who are plenty uyoung enough to be at their peaks in 2015.
Dont write off "return of the Hask" either.

Heck if you asked him Im sure Cipriani would tell you hes first choice 10 too.

Agree about Watson. I'd say he's the most English exciting age group player out there. Guy Armitage doesn't seem to be getting much game time at LI and I think I saw a rumour that he (rather than Delon) might be heading to Toulon.

I'm sure some slightly older players will be in contention for thye 2015 WC. I think the current EPS still has weaknesses in the forwards, and that's why I think there is potential for some of the excellent youngsters around to make an impact over the next few years and get themselves involved.