England XV On Form

England XV due to premiership form so far this season...

15. M.Brown (Quins)
14. M.Jess (Exeter)
13. J.Joseph (Irish)
12. L.Burrell (Saints)
11. C.Wade (Wasps)
10. F.Burns (Gloucester)
09. D.Care (Quins)

08. B.Vunipola (Wasps)*
07. C.Robshaw (Quins)
06. C.Fearns (Bath)
05. G.Robson (Quins)
04. T.Savage (Gloucester)
03. D.Wilson (Bath)
02. J.Gray (Quins)
01. M.Vunipola (Saracens)

16. D.Hartley (Saints)
17. J.Marler (Quins)
18. D.Cole (Leicester)
19. G.Kitchener (Leicester)
20. J.Simpson (Wasps)
21. T.Flood (Leicester)
22. A.Goode (Saracens)

*Tempted to pick Easter, but due to the fact he hasn't got an international future I left him out...

Thoughts? Will many of these players who are on red hot form get a chance in the Autumn internationals?

Savage, Fearns and Burrell have been particularly outstanding. Savage would fill the role of an enforcer lock; a real grunt, who carries and tackles hard with a high work-rate. Fearns is a stereotypical blindside, huge work-rate, big hits and strong carries. Whilst Burrell's early season form could see Joseph staying at 13 and Tuilagi moving to the bench to accomodate Burrell at 12.

My Team for game vs Fiji

15. M.Brown
14. C.Ashton
13. J.Joseph
12. L.Burrell
11. U.Monye
10. T.Flood
09. D.Care
08. B.Morgan
07. C.Robshaw (c)
06. C.Fearns
05. G.Parling
04. T.Savage
03. D.Cole
02. D.Hartley (vc)
01. J.Marler

16. J.Gray
17. A.Corbisiero/M.Vunipola
18. D.Wilson
19. C.Lawes/G.Kitchener
20. J.Haskell
21. B.Youngs/J.Simpson
22. F.Burns
23. M.Tuilagi

Very interesting post - most particularly because I agree with the form players but it's still potentially miles away from the unit that Lancaster will actually choose. The idea of Andy Goode in an XXXXXXXXXL England shirt, for example...

First I would seriousley question a fasir few of your nominations for the form team.

Secondly if you always pick on perceived form you will always be chopping and changing the team which is a recipe for failure.

I think Lawes is putting his hand up now.
Hartley has an injury as does Gray..so it surely paves the way for Tom Youngs.

Id also be very inclined to start Burns at 10 for the Fiji game. Hes been playing very nicely...

BUT as these AI's mean something this time...World Cup seedings...i suspect it will be senior players only except for injuries...i still think it will be something like

1 Marler
2 Hartley (Youngs off the bench)
3 Cole (Wilson off the bench - to see his form)
4 Lawes
5 Parling
6 Wood probably edges due to Lineout
7 Robshaw (C)
8 Morgan

9 Care
10 Flood
11 Monye
12 Barritt
13 Tuilagi
14 Ashton
15 Brown

I have a feeling Lawes will be considered more of a blindside option at the moment, he's been playing well there for Saints and their scrummaging seems somewhat underpowered when he's at lock.

Can't argue with the majority of the form players there I must say. I think Burrell is starting to get a lot of praise, but in reality he's only started four games and has looked good in three. It's much too early for any inclusion on that front with both Barritt, Allen and Twelvetrees way ahead of him in the 'try them out' stakes.

Savage has been going very well for Glaws and with a full season playing like that will surely feature come the Argentina tour. Particularly if Dorian West gets the job. The only thing I would add to that is that he's playing in a pretty heavy-weight pack at present alongside the monster Jim Hamilton.

I think my Fiji game (allowing for some form and some consistency players) would look like this:

1. J Marler
2. T Youngs
3. D Cole
4. C Lawes
5. T Palmer
6. C Fearns
7. C Robshaw
8. B Morgan
9. D Care
10. F Burns
11. N Abendanon
12. B Barritt
13. M Tuilagi
14. C Ashton
15. M Brown

16. R Buchanan 17. A Corbisiero 18. D Wilson 19. J Launchbury 20. T Wood 21. L Dickson 22. T Flood 23. J May

I'd like to see Youngs, Lawes and Fearns get a start together and see what they add to the pack alongside Morgan. I think we'll see the best brought out of Morgan when he's not the only go-to man with Manu.

Freddie Burns has once again put in some of the best FH performances in the AP so far and he deserves a start for his tactical kicking as well as attacking vision and pace.

The backline I have kept fairly obvious as I was to develop them all as a unit rather than throwing in individuals to see what they produce. I have gone for Abendanon on the wing as he's an exceptional talent and would be a like for like replacement for Foden.

Some wildcards on the bench. We're getting very thin at hooker and i'll stick my head above the parapet now and say that Joe Gray aint an international hooker. Buchanan on the other hand has turned in some great performances for Quins.

I have only seen JJ in one full game & a few highlights but he looked lost in the LI back line. I rate him but I don't think he has hit his straps this season?
I'm ready to be corrected on that one by the way.

I read somewhere that Lancaster was more concerned with developing the team long term ie. WC 2015 rather than finishing in the top 4 IRB rankings. His argument being you will have to beat the best to win the WC. So we may see some experimentation this Autumn perhaps?

Currently JJ is playing like he doesn't have anyone around him. No passing, little communication etc.

Tbh at the moment i'm not sure who'd be 13.

Stick with Tuilagi for the moment...starting against FIji...and have Burns at 10 so Manu might actually get some ball in positions he can cause the opposition damage like through gaps at pace...not just being a cannon ball in to lots of forwards...

robshaw4england wrote:Will many of these players who are on red hot form get a chance in the Autumn internationals?

Er, no. Only players in the EPS will be considered. Speculative team lists like these are always ignoring this point.

But if there are injuries players can be promoted...and we have a number of injuries...fortunately players like Fearns etc who are in form are in the full EPS.

Team for the Fiji game

1 Marler
2 Youngs
3 Cole
4 Attwood
5 Lawes
6 Wood (C)
7 Fearns
8 Morgan / Crane

9 Care
10 Burns
11 Thompstone
12 Barritt
13 Tulagi
14 Ashton
15 Brown

Thompstone??? A hatrick against Exeter in a thrashing doesnt make him deserve a spot.

Wade and Varndell have been good form english wingers. Yarde been playing well also.

Shouldn't Jonny be at 10

Nah, Jonny's not quite up there anymore. Should make the Lions though.

A lot of people seem to think the Fiji game will be used to blood a lot of youngsters, but historically the perceived easier game of AIs has always been pretty much seen the main side play, especially when it's the first game. I'd fully expect the starting XV against Fiji to be the 1st choice where possible. So despite the excellent form of some players, I really cannot see them being involved with England yet.

Aw i was just sparking a debate...

I too see it being nothing more than the nearest to first choice as possible....espeically as it all affects the seedings for the world cup (some see that as important others dont)

I do think however if the likes of Fearns, Burns, Attwood and Tom Youngs etc etc keep up there excellent early season form they should be considered for the bench to give them some experience.

Strick,
Whilst Thompstone was a little tongue in cheek...he was very much on the radar for his performances for LIrish...so dont be to quick to ?? me.

Also...Ill be picky...Whilst im a huge fan of Wade he has huge defensive and positioning issues...and Varndell has missed the boat altogether being the laziest guy in british rugby. He had all the attributes to be a serisouly good international...but poor attitude kicked that to touch. Id rather Thompstone by a country mile over him!

Sorry Geordie wasn't trying to stop the debate

Your forgiven HKC...