England- Players That Can be a Little Peeved

First topic message reminder :

As the title suggests I thought perhaps the best way to analyse the new EPS and Saxons squads, (which is here btw https://www.606v2.com/t39214-englands-eps-and-saxons-announced) would be to look at the players NOT selected who perhaps should have been.

Off the top of my head players who I feel have shown good enough form this season to be selected in either the EPS or Saxons are:
George Kruis (S)
Luke Wallace (S)
Nick Easter (EPS)
Karl Fearns (S/EPS) - Injured
David Attwood (S)
Tom Savage (EPS)
Charlie Matthews (S)
Steffon Armitage (EPS)
Dan Robson (S)
Mat Hopper (S)
Mat Tait (S)
Tom Varndell (EPS)

So should any of these players have been selected in front of the current choices? I feel that in the Saxons there is a bit too much of a lean towards past-it EPS players especially in the pack, rather then giving as many future players a chance to train in the International set up as possible.

So what on earth is Waldrom going to look like once he retires and stops this fitness?!

probably the same, but probably far less injured due to the protection

don't diss the Tank, he regularly topped the charts of the forwards attacking stats

Its not Waldrom looks or fitness that makes me dislike him, its the constant trying to catch high balls with his boobs, which would be good as a party trick on the training field but to see a ball which should have been safely delt with flying back at an onrushing opposition is cringe worthy everytime.

the forwards attacking stats.

But Damage, its the rest of his forwards game that concerns me...

funnyExiledScot wrote:

Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler wrote:I do agree with FES though ( and this is something that used to madden me with Johnsons teams too ) that theres not much point in picking a side against Scotland thats based on trying to nullify their attacking game. They dont have one.

Whoa there - not sure I said that last bit!!

Ok ok 3 tries against the all blacks blah blah

Maybe settle has been picked to man mark mcvisser out of the game.

beshocked wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:I'd personally have picked a few wingers ahead of David Strettle.

Sharples and Wade certainly.

Two right wingers you mean?

Wade is equally happy on the left or the right. He largely plays on the right for Wasps (that could be his or Varndell's preference), but has played pretty much all his age grade England rugby and his 3 non-capped senior matches last summer on the left.

damage_13 wrote:

HammerofThunor wrote:


All true. Which is why Lancaster only picks fit looking players like Waldrum.

yes, Waldrum, who was only second behind an uninjured McCraw in fitness tests when playing for the Crusaders. (and no... not fitness for Pies consumed per minute)

maybe, just maybe, the coaches and staff at the RFU know just a little bit about players fitness and how they fit into the squads than you!

What are you talking about? I said fit looking. The whole point is that Lancaster clearly doesn't pick based on whether someone 'looks' fit, which was suggested as the reason for picking Armitage.

I seeeeee gotchya.

better keep that quiet though in case Cips gets the wrong end of the stick and starts doing more catwalk shows

Strettle has mastered the art of running round players yet only moves a few meters up the field, Sharples has been made a scrape goat which is a shame as his a very good club player who needs a decent run at international level to see what his got.