Keeping the Wheels on - AKA England's next EPS

First topic message reminder :

After a remarkable finish to the Autumn series Stuart Lancaster and his coaches next mission will be the new years EPS. Chosen in January it will not be open for change until Sep that year (except swaps for injuries) so he'll need to plan well and pick not only on current form but prior experience and future potential.

In the final game of the AI's the starting team that day showed the route that England rugby needs to take on the pitch; hard and aggressive up front with the pack sharing the duties of fetching, carrying and rucking amongst a core group of multi skilled players rather then selecting various specialists for one or two specific roles. In the backs we say a few glimpses of the Catt/Farrel/Lancaster triumvirate in action with Youngs getting some quick ball and kicking well, and the 10 drawing his centres up to the line at pace and actually giving Tuilagi good ball to use. The left wing and full back then create momentum from the back by beating their first man when countering and staying tall in the tackle to wait for support.

Of course there were players who failed to cover themselves in glory like wise others who were never deemed good enough to get a chance or who were only in because of multiple injuries. These I expect to see fall by the road side next year.

The current England Elite Player Squad

Forwards (17)
Props
Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Joe Marler (Harlequins), David Wilson (Bath Rugby), Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Hookers
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Rob Webber (Bath Rugby) Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers), David Paice (London Irish)
Locks
Mouritz Botha (Saracens), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Tom Palmer (London Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers) Joe Launchberry (London Wasps)
Flankers
Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints), Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints) James Haskell (London Wasps)
No 8's
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby), Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers)


Backs (15)
Scrum Halfs
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), Danny Care (Harlequins)
Fly Halfs
Owen Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
Centers
Anthony Allan (Leicester Tigers), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins), Johnathen Joseph (London Irish) Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)
Wings
Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints), Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby), (Ugo Monye (Harlequins))
Fullbacks
Mike Brown (Harlequins), Ben Foden (Northampton Saints), Alex Goode (Saracens)

Players in italics were the latest changes allowed through injury or retirement (potentially the most likely to lose their spots again).

So to me the bulk of that 32 man squad looks about right, there are still quite a few players that are potentially a little worried about their places now:

Mako Vunipola (only came in for an injured Corbs but didn't look too comfy at times)
Rob Webber (Youngs looked a lot better and Hartley is still first choice)
David Paice (only came in for an injured Webber, didn't play better then Youngs or Hartley)
Mauritz Botha (just not an international lock, shown up completely by Launchberry)
Tom Palmer (anonymous around the park and not good enough at lineout time)
Courtney Lawes (injured a lot, is he big enough to partner Parling or athletic enough to partner Launchberry)
Tom Johnson (just doesn't play the style that England seem to need)
Tom Croft (injured and does his style fit England)
Phil Dowson (over 30 and can't make the match day 23)
James Haskell (Only came in for injuries, not sure if he did enough to stay)
Thomas Waldrom (pushed out of the starting lineup and hardly likely to make the bench)
Lee Dickson (can't make the match day 23)
Anthony Allan (can not make the 23, average club player)
Brad Barritt (bar one game looked out of his depth, potentially a new Noone)
Jordan Turner Hall (Like Barritt but less pace and no real vision, injured at a bad time)
Chris Ashton (A media darling but lazy in defence and pretty anonymous in most games, riding on rep at the moment)
Ugo Monye (only called up for injuries, didn't do enough)
Charlie Sharples (poor defence let him down)
Ben Foden (unlucky with an injury and now has two critical players in front of him)

Now I don't think all of these players will go, but there are a few who are near certainties.

Yappysnap's Elite Player Squad
Forwards (17)
Props
Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Joe Marler (Harlequins), David Wilson (Bath Rugby), Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby)
Hookers
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Locks
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers), Joe Launchberry (London Wasps), David Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Flankers
Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints), James Haskell (London Wasps)
No 8's
Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby), Billy Vunipola (London Wasps)

Backs (15)
Scrum Halfs
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), Danny Care (Harlequins)
Fly Halfs
Owen Farrell (Saracens), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
Centers
Brad Barritt (Saracens), Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), George Lowe (Harlequins), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby), Kyle Eastmond (Bath)
Wings
Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints),Christian Wade (Wasps)
Fullbacks
Mike Brown (Harlequins), Ben Foden (Northampton Saints), Alex Goode (Saracens)

The changes are
David Wilson did enough to get in to the EPS permanently
Nick Wood comes in to replace Vunipola as a trial
Tom Youngs replaces Webber as very real competition for Hartley
Dave Attwood comes in for Palmer to add some bulk and physicality if needed
James Haskell takes Johnsons place as he adds a bit more physicality and covers the back three
Billy Vunipola is trialled in Waldroms place to see his carrying game
Freddue Burns gets a permanent spot for Hodgeson
George Lowe, Billy Twelvetrees and Kyle Eastmond all come in to the squad to trial different attributes in the centres as well as cover the wings if needed.
Christian Wade comes in on the wing

ChequeredJersey wrote:I don't understand what more Brown can do to figjtfor his spot

Totaly agree 100%

Brown's got to be at 15 for me now chequered. He's simply the best 15 England have - rock solid under the high ball, good in defence, very strong in tackle area, clever in attack and a huge left boot. Get Brown at FB then Foden in the left wing to add some pace to the back 3.

I understand that Goode will not be avalible for the start of the 6ns. So Brown to start at 15 Foden on the bench.

+ 1 for Brown - great player. Keep him on the wing if you want Goode. Give Ashton the elbow to free up room for some new blood.

majesticimperialman wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:I don't understand what more Brown can do to figjtfor his spot

Totaly agree 100%

Play against a good side who are actually trying like Foden did?
Interesting that Saracens left out Goode altogether though, is he injured? Surely a better player than Wyles

Castres try in Europe? And Connacht don't? Not sure that comment was worthy of you PSW, came across as flippancy for flippancy's sake without any validity or constructiveness

ChequeredJersey wrote:Castres try in Europe? And Connacht don't? Not sure that comment was worthy of you PSW, came across as flippancy for flippancy's sake without any validity or constructiveness

OK they tried last year

Yeah id have Brown over Foden to start the 6n.

And id prefer two wingers...Ashton for the moment but his place is under threat. Wade would start for me...yes hes positioning defensively is not brilliant...but sod it the guy is simply electric in attack......sometimes we worry so much about defence we miss everything positive that players can oiffer

Also regarding the second rows...ive been hugely critical of our second row combos for years now...but then Kay and Johnson were a fearsome combo to replace.

BUt Parling and Launchbury really showed they can take us forward. Parling was imperious in the lineout in the AIs...but his work rate and carrying impressed me aswell..obviously having played alot of rugby at 6 has influenced that. Launchbury...well need anything be said.

If Lawes can hit full potential then he will certainly come into the equation especially if he can learn to control/run the lineout....like he appears to be doing. But for the moment i think we have hit on a cracking combo that we should work with.

Lawes was Saints best player against Castres and really effective in the lineouts, his tackling is just immense as well

I think the squads are good. The EPS now has very few players I'd take serious issue with (compare this with the situation 3 or 4 years back), and there are some very exciting players in the Saxons.

Strength in depth is continuing to improve - for instance there are a good number of 7s and a huge number of possible OCs in the two squads.

Interesting to note that Lancaster will be approaching club coaches to help on the Argentina tour, obviously won't be from the teams in the final and probably not from any coaches involved in the play offs though. Apparently he's spoken to Booth and Baxter so far (I cringe at both).

http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/story/175643.html

Oh and there will be mid week games too!

Will be a great tour for the young prop forwards.sink or swim!!!

yappysnap wrote:Interesting to note that Lancaster will be approaching club coaches to help on the Argentina tour, obviously won't be from the teams in the final and probably not from any coaches involved in the play offs though. Apparently he's spoken to Booth and Baxter so far (I cringe at both).

http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/story/175643.html

Oh and there will be mid week games too!

Just out of interest why do you 'cringe' at Rob Baxter? He seems to have the same ethic as SL wants in the England set up and you can't say he hasn't worked wonders at Chiefs? Seems a bit of a weird comment but maybe i'm just biased?

Effervescing Elephant wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Interesting to note that Lancaster will be approaching club coaches to help on the Argentina tour, obviously won't be from the teams in the final and probably not from any coaches involved in the play offs though. Apparently he's spoken to Booth and Baxter so far (I cringe at both).

http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/story/175643.html

Oh and there will be mid week games too!

Just out of interest why do you 'cringe' at Rob Baxter? He seems to have the same ethic as SL wants in the England set up and you can't say he hasn't worked wonders at Chiefs? Seems a bit of a weird comment but maybe i'm just biased?

I'd agree with Effervescing there, I rate Baxter as a coach. He's done wonder at the Chiefs. Yes they work with a very simple game plan but it's one that works very well and he has got their side playing pretty impressively. People often comment that Tom Johnson isn't great with ball in hand but he epitomises their game plan in that he very rarely loses the ball in contact and offers himself to carry a lot more than most 6's in his mould would. The vast majority of Exeters forwards get through big workloads but stick to the basic and do them very well. You can't really argue with the success he's had in the last few seasons.

sickofwendy wrote:Will be a great tour for the young prop forwards.sink or swim!!!

Indeed...just for arguments sake...say Corbs and Cole go to Australia.

That leaves us with the following:

LH's
Matt Mullan
Mako Vunipola
Catt

TH's
PDJ
Shaun Knight
Henry Thomas
Dave Wilson

Could be a real chance for Big Davey Wilson to put down a marker. He's been a solid bench option, but rarely gets a start. I think he's a very decent scrummager, and is starting to show more in the loose.

It could be yes...but i keep hearing big things about Shaun Knight from the Glos fans...and a good showing by him and Mr Wilson could be in a bit of trouble...especially with Sinkler, Scott Wilson etc all progressing nicely aswell.

Havent seen anything of Thomas this season...hows he looking?

Pretty sure he's injured GF, and hasn't been playing. Not sure how long it has been/will be. Think the Sale front row has been Buckley and Jones primarily recently. If it's long term injury, the summer tour could come to early for Thomas which will be a shame. Though, I think he's named in the Saxons?

Yeah hes in the Saxons squad...which is an odd call if he hasnt been playing much.

GeordieFalcon wrote:

sickofwendy wrote:Will be a great tour for the young prop forwards.sink or swim!!!

Indeed...just for arguments sake...say Corbs and Cole go to Australia.

That leaves us with the following:

LH's
Matt Mullan
Mako Vunipola
Catt

TH's
PDJ
Shaun Knight
Henry Thomas
Dave Wilson

Don't forget Marler at LH, Lancaster and Rowntree seem to rate him though I'm not convinced personally.

Ah yes i completely forgot about him...how did i manage that.

He'll start in Argentina i would suspect...with PDJ and Davy Wilson battling for that TH spot.

And the hooker spot between Youngs and Gray.

Marler will come good, he is able to get a very long bind which has the potential to make him a very good scrummager, it’s just a question of patience at the moment. He just needs to learn what to do when things aren’t going his way.

I think Thomas is in there because any young tight head is seized upon with a certain level of immediacy. I’m a bit worried about his injury record for someone so young though.

Most props don't come into their own until they are a bit older than Marler, so he's well ahead of schedule

id rather have Marler than Vunipola at this point.

Come on guys! The Scottish lads are laughing at us here, their squad thread is up to 8 pages now. With the size of our poster base we are very much underperforming here!

Quality, not quantity mate. Scots have greater need for lots of hot air.

There isn't as much to debate with our selection compared to the Scottish 'situation' we shall refer to it as and Wales' injury crisis. I say we just start complaining about stuff from a couple of years ago to spice things up again.

Anyone heard that Lancaster is thinking about calling Ayoola Erinle into the squad to replace Tuilagi. Apparently Manus ability to catch is having a negative influence on the squad....

On that note, any news on how Tuilagi is after the Ospreys game? I know Cockerill said he was fine but he always says that. Also I thought I saw Tom Youngs going off injured?

yappysnap wrote:Interesting to note that Lancaster will be approaching club coaches to help on the Argentina tour, obviously won't be from the teams in the final and probably not from any coaches involved in the play offs though. Apparently he's spoken to Booth and Baxter so far (I cringe at both).

http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/story/175643.html

Oh and there will be mid week games too!

I don't think i'd be cringing about Baxter. I think he's done blindingly well with the bulk of a squad that has come from the Championship. Let's also bear in mind that Exeter are joint top try scorers in the league with Quins and lost out by a single point away to Leinster.

Baxter would actually be my first choice for forwards coach with Dorian West close behind.

king_carlos wrote:There isn't as much to debate with our selection compared to the Scottish 'situation' we shall refer to it as and Wales' injury crisis. I say we just start complaining about stuff from a couple of years ago to spice things up again.

Anyone heard that Lancaster is thinking about calling Ayoola Erinle into the squad to replace Tuilagi. Apparently Manus ability to catch is having a negative influence on the squad....

That can't be right, I heard he was bringing back the Tindall and Noon heavy mob.

In all honesty, we've had to watch some dross over they years. Isn't it nice to feel positive for a change?


Here's something to scare you:


England
FB 15 Ugo Monye
RW 14 Mark Cueto
OC 13 Dan Hipkiss
IC 12 Shane Geraghty
LW 11 Matt Banahan
FH 10 Jonny Wilkinson 75'
SH 9 Paul Hodgson 75'
N8 8 James Haskell
OF 7 Lewis Moody
BF 6 Tom Croft 62'
RL 5 Steve Borthwick (c)
LL 4 Louis Deacon
TP 3 Duncan Bell
HK 2 Dylan Hartley 68'
LP 1 Tim Payne 63'

Replacements:
HK 16 Steve Thompson 68'
PR 17 Paul Doran-Jones 63'
LK 18 Courtney Lawes
FL 19 Joe Worsley 62'
SH 20 Danny Care 75'
FH 21 Andy Goode 75'
CE 22 Ayoola Erinle

Classy side that

It's the way we put a clear out and out winger at 15 and stalled his career whilst starting a player who has played a lot of FB for his club and had a better positional game and kicking game but was in poor attacking form at wing that I most like

Tba if Lancaster had half the injury problems Johnson did he'd probably be calling up dodgy old premiership middleweight like Dowson Dickson Dickson Bartit johnson and Waldrom...hang on...
Wasn't monye playing most of his rugby for quins at 15 around that time? And is it so different to Lancaster picking a converted fly half at 15 and brown on the wing as an alternative to playing a converted sh on the wing who won most of his caps at 15?
It's also worth noting that side did not feature Ian balshaw at fullback.

IIRC Quins were asked to play Monye at FB in the first part of that season by England. Fair enough re Brown/Foden but IMO FB is much much more specialised than wing

That's true about the injuries, we have been remarkably lucky with them so far. It used to seem like the squad would be crippled every six months/ year just in time for the Autumn internationals and Six Nations.

I really don't think there is a comparison between Goode and Monye at fullback, Goode has been playing there for years now as has Foden. I guess you look at it as a gamble when playing players out of position, Brown on the wing has been a far greater success than Monye at fullback was.

I wasn't criticising Johnson by the way, I think he helped lay a lot of ground work for Lancaster at a time when there was a dearth of experience/ talent at his disposal.

The thing is, that team actually had a number of pretty good individuals...Haskell, Moody, Deacon, Borthwick (top class lineout guy)Hartley...Cueto was just a yard of pace short of abslutely class, Monye is a quins fan favorite, Banahan is making big improvements as a 12 etc etc...

But i wouldnt swap from where we are now....

king_carlos wrote:

Effervescing Elephant wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Interesting to note that Lancaster will be approaching club coaches to help on the Argentina tour, obviously won't be from the teams in the final and probably not from any coaches involved in the play offs though. Apparently he's spoken to Booth and Baxter so far (I cringe at both).

http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/story/175643.html

Oh and there will be mid week games too!

Just out of interest why do you 'cringe' at Rob Baxter? He seems to have the same ethic as SL wants in the England set up and you can't say he hasn't worked wonders at Chiefs? Seems a bit of a weird comment but maybe i'm just biased?

I'd agree with Effervescing there, I rate Baxter as a coach. He's done wonder at the Chiefs. Yes they work with a very simple game plan but it's one that works very well and he has got their side playing pretty impressively. People often comment that Tom Johnson isn't great with ball in hand but he epitomises their game plan in that he very rarely loses the ball in contact and offers himself to carry a lot more than most 6's in his mould would. The vast majority of Exeters forwards get through big workloads but stick to the basic and do them very well. You can't really argue with the success he's had in the last few seasons.

Looking back on it cringe should only have been about Booth, just my trypping getting the better of me. Engage brain next time! Baxter would be a handy man to have in the side, I can imagine him being very good for the youngsters coming through too.

Playing devils advocate though he's a head coach right? Not a particular specialist in the backs, forwards, defence etc? He has not Int experience and has a very simplistic game plan which we've seen doesn't hold up against the bigger teams out there. So would he be able to bring anything new or useful to the side? Not trying to slag him off or anything but does any one think he has any technical skills that Lancaster doesn't already have eg work ethic and being very likeable?

Oh and how about this as a blast from the past?

Ireland v England 2007

England: Morgan (Gloucester; Tait, Newcastle, 29); Lewsey (Wasps), Tindall (Gloucester), Farrell (Saracens), Strettle (Harlequins); Wilkinson (Newcastle), Ellis, Leicester; Perry, Bristol, 68); Freshwater (Perpignan; White, Leicester, 44), Chuter (Leicester; Mears, Bath, 72), Vickery (Wasps, capt), Deacon (Leicester), Grewcock (Bath; Palmer, Wasps, 54), Worsley (Wasps), Lund (Sale; Rees, Wasps, h-t), Corry (Leicester)

Where are they now eh?

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:

majesticimperialman wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:I don't understand what more Brown can do to figjtfor his spot

Totaly agree 100%

Play against a good side who are actually trying like Foden did?
Interesting that Saracens left out Goode altogether though, is he injured? Surely a better player than Wyles

Goode is injured. Definite doubt for the 6 nations. Think he'll miss the Edinburgh game too.

You are indeed correct. Told you so springs to mind with certain fans. I knew Quins would do the double because they weren't complacent this time.

yappysnap wrote:

king_carlos wrote:

Effervescing Elephant wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Interesting to note that Lancaster will be approaching club coaches to help on the Argentina tour, obviously won't be from the teams in the final and probably not from any coaches involved in the play offs though. Apparently he's spoken to Booth and Baxter so far (I cringe at both).

http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/story/175643.html

Oh and there will be mid week games too!

Just out of interest why do you 'cringe' at Rob Baxter? He seems to have the same ethic as SL wants in the England set up and you can't say he hasn't worked wonders at Chiefs? Seems a bit of a weird comment but maybe i'm just biased?

I'd agree with Effervescing there, I rate Baxter as a coach. He's done wonder at the Chiefs. Yes they work with a very simple game plan but it's one that works very well and he has got their side playing pretty impressively. People often comment that Tom Johnson isn't great with ball in hand but he epitomises their game plan in that he very rarely loses the ball in contact and offers himself to carry a lot more than most 6's in his mould would. The vast majority of Exeters forwards get through big workloads but stick to the basic and do them very well. You can't really argue with the success he's had in the last few seasons.

Looking back on it cringe should only have been about Booth, just my trypping getting the better of me. Engage brain next time! Baxter would be a handy man to have in the side, I can imagine him being very good for the youngsters coming through too.

Playing devils advocate though he's a head coach right? Not a particular specialist in the backs, forwards, defence etc? He has not Int experience and has a very simplistic game plan which we've seen doesn't hold up against the bigger teams out there. So would he be able to bring anything new or useful to the side? Not trying to slag him off or anything but does any one think he has any technical skills that Lancaster doesn't already have eg work ethic and being very likeable?

Don't disagree with that yappy, although he is gradually changing our game to a more attacking format with a more complicated game plan. We really needed the simple game plan to allow us to consolidate our position in the league.

I think its very hard to be critical of Exeter or Baxter....theyve done excellent...the sum is greater than the individuals.

So first 6n game is looking like...(my prefered in brackets)

1 Marler
2 Hartley (Youngs)
3 Cole
4 Launchbury
5 Parling
6 Wood
7 Robshaw
8 Morgan

9 Care
10 Farrell (Burns)
11 Foden (Wade)
12 Barritt (Twelvetrees)
13 Tuilagi
14 Ashton
15 Brown

I reckon injuries aside that will probably be the team Geordie, Lancaster doesnt seem like a man to chop and change.

I think Baxter would be a very good fit with this current England team, but I think he is a similar character to Lancaster, so maybe someone a bit different would be needed too?

Also was that 2007 team above that bad really? There are some plodders in there but also some very good players. The results say differently of course...

Bit worried about Ashton. He was poor vs Racing Metro.

Cumbrian wrote:

king_carlos wrote:There isn't as much to debate with our selection compared to the Scottish 'situation' we shall refer to it as and Wales' injury crisis. I say we just start complaining about stuff from a couple of years ago to spice things up again.

Anyone heard that Lancaster is thinking about calling Ayoola Erinle into the squad to replace Tuilagi. Apparently Manus ability to catch is having a negative influence on the squad....

That can't be right, I heard he was bringing back the Tindall and Noon heavy mob.

In all honesty, we've had to watch some dross over they years. Isn't it nice to feel positive for a change?


Here's something to scare you:


England
FB 15 Ugo Monye
RW 14 Mark Cueto
OC 13 Dan Hipkiss
IC 12 Shane Geraghty
LW 11 Matt Banahan
FH 10 Jonny Wilkinson 75'
SH 9 Paul Hodgson 75'
N8 8 James Haskell
OF 7 Lewis Moody
BF 6 Tom Croft 62'
RL 5 Steve Borthwick (c)
LL 4 Louis Deacon
TP 3 Duncan Bell
HK 2 Dylan Hartley 68'
LP 1 Tim Payne 63'

Replacements:
HK 16 Steve Thompson 68'
PR 17 Paul Doran-Jones 63'
LK 18 Courtney Lawes
FL 19 Joe Worsley 62'
SH 20 Danny Care 75'
FH 21 Andy Goode 75'
CE 22 Ayoola Erinle

Thinking back that doesn't even seem like the worst that will have played. That side does sum up the poor selection going round at the time though, many talented players but very poorly put together with even worse timing. Tim Payne never should have got the caps he did, Bell did his best in an injury crisis, Hartley was a pillock back then, Borthwick offered lots in the line-out little elsewhere, Deacon has improved massively since, Haskell was too inexperienced for 8 at Int level, Banahan was a lump who is now improving again and Monye at FB....

GeordieFalcon wrote:I think its very hard to be critical of Exeter or Baxter....theyve done excellent...the sum is greater than the individuals.

So first 6n game is looking like...(my prefered in brackets)

1 Marler
2 Hartley (Youngs)
3 Cole
4 Launchbury
5 Parling
6 Wood
7 Robshaw
8 Morgan

9 Care
10 Farrell (Burns)
11 Foden (Wade)
12 Barritt (Twelvetrees)
13 Tuilagi
14 Ashton
15 Brown

Personally I think Alex Goode will be fullback. He is due to return to action next week and is the man in possession of the shirt. This will leave Foden on the bench and Brown back on the wing.

I am beginning to wonder if Tom Youngs has done enough to displace Hartley too. He has shown himself to be a better carrier and his lineout work has seemed okay from what I recall. He is also the man in possession; I think Hartley has a hell of a fight on his hand to get the shirt back.

Can’t really argue with the rest of your team considering Corbisiero’s injury.

I reckon

1 Marler
2 Hartley
3 Cole
4 Launchbury
5 Parling
6 Wood
7 Robshaw
8 Morgan

9 Youngs
10 Farrell
11 Brown
12 Barritt
13 Tuilagi
14 Ashton
15 Goode

Will start. Would be fairly happy, would like Burns on the bench though. Would also prefer T Youngs starting.

Cumbrian

I was under the impression that Goode would def miss the first game...but if hes fit...then yes he will be FB and Brown on the wing.

I actually prefer Youngs...i think he really added to our ball carrying in the forwards that put us on the front foot. But i know Hartley is liked by the coaching staff...and reports are he is back to his "abraisive best" so i thought Lancs may well go back to Hartley.

Either way there wont be many changes to that which went out for most of the AI's and started v NZ. Only injuries will change things...and hopefully we'll see Twelvetrees and Burns coming off the bench...

I am generally happy with where England are at coming into this 6N and provided we don’t get down to an injury induced 3rd XV situation between now and 2nd February I think we should show up ok. I don’t see us getting humped by anyone. While France are the team to beat, they just don’t travel so well to Twickenham and I believe that Ireland away in Dublin will be the toughest match. Apart from the odd win, they have had the wood on us going all the way back to 2003. My great fear is that they will tap into their primeval energy supplies for this one and come out firing and win all the collisions.

One way we might be able to counter this is with a 6 - 2 forwards backs split. I say we take as much as possible the starting side from the NZ game and then have Marler (assuming Corbs can play), Hartley, best TH (Wilson?), Lawes, Haskell and Clark on the bench to ensure that we're blasting hard in contact through to the 80 minute mark.

Youngs and Burns to provide backs cover from the bench. With most of our backs being able to cover an additional position or two we could probably get away with this.

Still this is the game I fear the most.

This would be my England XXIII to face Scotland:

1.Corbisiero 2.Hartley 3.Cole 4.Lawes 5.Parling 6.Wood 7.Robshaw (c) 8.Morgan 9.Youngs 10.Farrell 11.Foden 12.Barritt 13.Tuilagi 14.Ashton 15.Brown

16.Marler 17.Youngs 18.Wilson 19.Launchberry 20.Haskell 21.Care 22.Burns 23.Joseph

I've assumed that Goode is injured, otherwise I'd start him and move Brown to left wing where he played so well against NZ.

Things shaping up for England. Sadly, very sadly in fact, there isn't a cats chance in hell of Scotland breaking the losing streak at Twickenham dating back to 1983.