England backrow for the AIs

First topic message reminder :

So we've speculated about the England back 3 given Foden's unfortunate injury but what about the back row


Johnson, the man with the 6 shirt, is injured, quite badly it seems.
Croft should be back in October but will it be soon enough?
Wood is back but only at 80-85% at his own admission
Robshaw is captain and in form but Wood was first choice before his injury, how does his return affect Robshaw's place?
Morgan is one of Gloucester's most convincing players at the moment but Fearns is looking in form, Vunipola too and so is Guest
Haskell was dropped from the EPS but has made an impact for Wasps. Could Johnson's injury open the way for him again.
Armitage is highly lauded but in France
Waldrum's and Easter are old and unwanted by some but their form at 8 is as good as anyone's
And is Kvesic still England next long term 7? Or is that 8?

Johnson's injury plus the limited playing time and injury of Wood and Croft has made the 6 position (and because Robshaw can cover 6, 7 by extension) very interesting and I'm still not sure Morgan is quite nailed on at 8. What's your back row for Fiji from what we know now?

bluestonevedder wrote:Haha, I think it must be Tipuric yappy!

Tipuric is very much in the mould of Martyn Williams- not huge by any means, and off slight build.

Lydiate is 6'4 and a heck of a tank (110kg?)

Yea the more I think about it the more I think I was thinking about Tupuric quality player though and proof that talent can take any form. Just look at Budgie at Exeter.

Why is it if Lydiate is such a big bloke and quality player I just can't seem to actually remember what he looks like, he is the grey man.

Yeh, Tipuric is great- got a great rugby mind, just like Williams did.

Lydiate is a lot like Richard Hill- the Silent Assassin!

More like Joe Worsley IMO (an under-rated, albeit somewhat limited, player)

You can't deny Borthwick's excellent line-out skills and his absolutely unwavering professional attitude. Yes he's a very underpowered carrier, but he did some very good breakdown and tackling work.

In my opinion what actually did for Steve Borthwick were his defences of utterly woeful England performances in interview. Now I put this down to the truly honourable nature of the man not wanting to malign his colleagues, but it just came across as an excuse for mediocrity and demonstrated that he wasn't really in touch with reality or the rugby public.