Easter´s coming but Nick Easter´s gone

Well seeing as it´s Easter this week (and I´m on holiday! woohoo!) I thought I´d put the question to the English posters. At the start of the season when older players like Tindall and Easter were cut, there were quite a few posters on here lamenting the premature demise of Easter. He was said to be the best number 8 in the premiership and he still offered a lot on the field.

Then there were others who said he was too slow and he didn't give the right balance to the backrow.

So after the 6N, do you think it was the right move by Lancaster to make that move and should kudos be given to the man who brought in a lot of new names and seemed to guide them through test rugby very well? Or could Easter, who was a useful player, still make a positive contribution to English test rugby?

Kia

Please, please don't encourage anybody to start arguing that we need Nick (glacial melt) Easter back

Just curious to know whether his supporters agree now it was a good idea.

He is probably well and truly gone after the emergence of Ben Morgan.

Lancaster is unlikely to revert back to Easter regardless how bad things get.

Ben Morgan has done enough to cement his place... for the next tour or 2 at least.

After Morgan though, we're back where we were at the start of the year.... who else is there?


I think Easter would still be useful, but in a coaching type way, rather than in a playing capacity.
His ability to break the gain line, his control in the scrum, and his strength in rucks/mauls (when he makes it there) is something he can teach to other palyers (not just number8's)


England's back row is far from the finished article in my opinion... but it's far better than it has been in the last couple of years.
I'm not sure that Robshaw should be playing 7, but I don't really know who should be, and I'm happy with his contribution as Captain.
Croft isn't a traditional 6, but has extremely useful qualities.
Morgan has shown that he can become a very good 8, but isn't perfect yet.

All in all, Morgan is a good step forward from Easter, and I don't see the need for us to go back to playing Easter any more.
However, the back row in general will be tweaked over time.... but maybe not until we deal with the half backs and 3 quarters.

But Easter is better than Dowson. Kind of odd that by making the wrong choice first up it gave Lancaster the chance to make a really brave decision and replace Dowson with Morgan. Had Easter played and done well against Scotland that wouldnt have happened

Personaly i like Easter and he has done well for england...but yes i think his time is up.

I also think had he not been injured...Jordan Crane would have been starting for England.

Crane, Morgan and Fearns could all be challenging for that spot next season...something we havent had for years!

Easter has probably been the best 8 in the league this year. Possibly because he's had the stability of not being called up.

Easter wasn't a fashionable 8. Occasionally he had absolute mares of games which people remember of the great games he had.

I was surprised Easter was left out, but as some on this fine forum have said it was perhaps as much for his 'old school' attitude as much as his age. For that reason he won't feature with Lancaster in charge.

I do think he has something to offer, as does Connor O Shea given his new 3 Year contract. Harlequins though, see him moving into the SR and that's perhaps where he could feature for England. Covering No.8 and SR. He's good in the lineout, catches well, drives well and has excellent game awareness. It's a possibility anyway and he could add something, but I don't think he'll feature.

Well the Irish game did a lot to suggest that Morgan is a 'keeper'. Prior to that (aside from the offload to Foden) I think Easter would probably have done better.

Easter has been a great player at times - the stats always shows that his work rate tends to be very high and hes also more than competent in the lineout. He doesnt have pace and his record as England captain was pretty appalling. His day internationally is probably done now though