Saxons vs Scotland A

http://www.rfu.com/news/2013/january/news-articles/310113_saxons_teamvscots

England Saxons side to face Scotland A

15 Elliot Daly (London Wasps) 14 Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby) 13 Joel Tomkins (Saracens) 12 Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins) 11 Tom Biggs (Bath Rugby) 10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers) 9 Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)

1 Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors) 2 Joe Gray (Harlequins) 3 Paul Doran-Jones (Northampton Saints) 4 Graham Kitchener (Leicester Tigers) 5 George Robson (Harlequins) 6 George Kruis (Saracens) 7 Will Fraser (Saracens) 8 Jordan Crane (Leicester Tigers, captain).

Replacements: 16 Rob Buchanan (Harlequins) 17 Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby) 18 Kieran Brookes (Leicester Tigers) 19 Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers) 20 Jamie Gibson (London Irish) 21 Joe Simpson (London Wasps) 22 George Lowe (Harlequins) 23 Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby)

Jordan Crane again leads out the Saxons with both May and Mullan coming into the starting line up. Quite a good mix of youth and experience in that team though I'd have liked us to have had a look at a different 12.[list=1][*]

Interested to see how Fraser, Kitchener, Tomkins and May go. Don't think Daly is our best option at full back but with Foden back saints, Armitage in self imposed exile, Miller on the wing in an team with no form, I can't think many others... Bendy? Arscott Brothers?

Bench looks good too, there looks to be some impact there, all with something to prove

Sam, pls can you correct your title?

Ameded.

I would have liked to seen Daly moved to 12 and Miller going to 15 for this game. Give the side more cut and thrust as opposed to bosh and kick. It might not have been a bit of a gamble but if the England setup are going to go round telling young players to move from the clubs that developed them in order to chase first team rugby they could freshen their team up a bit.

You think Daly could play 12? I think of him as more a slippery OC?? With Miller, he definitely looks good going forward, has he got the defensive capabilities of an international 15? Is there anyone else off the radar that has something to offer if injuries should arise?

Daly has the handling skills and dangerous footwork, alongside a boshing 13 like Tomkins I reckon he'd cause some problems.

The full back pecking order seems to be Goode, Brown, Foden, Abendanon, Daly, May and Miller. Should Morgan ever be match fit and get a string of games together he'd be in the mix as well I suspect with Tait also on the radar.

I'm looking forward to seeing Ford against Heathcote. Given the current speculation, that matchup has new significance!

ford is diffrent class better then flood already.

But sadly he isn't. His points kicking is wildly inconsistent and he fades badly towards the end of games. Given longer at Tigers I think he would have secured the 10 shirt and forced out Flood whose contract is up in 2014. Ford's form has not been good though he is certainly class.

He better get praying that Bath get the cheque book out for a decent backrow and a quality replacement for Classens otherwise Ford will be showing nothing more than how a 13 stone 5 foot 9 fly half can be ragdolled when given slow ball.

I've been impressed by Heathcote in Bath colours and, bar an absolute shafting by the BBE in Aberdeen, he's been a good player for them this year...

Ford has all the talent but Heathcote has ousted Donald Duck, and while that's not a big deal, he's still No.1 for his club at the minute!

It'll be interesting from a Scottish perspective as to whether Heathcote decides to move if the Ford move is confirmed... I'm sure Edinburgh would welcome him with open arms....

Has he ousted Donald? I thought Donald had picked up an injury hence his half time subbing and Heathcote starting in the Amlin and LV cup. Donald has been persevered with despite poor form for much of the season with Heathcote forced too the sidelines.

Think you could see Chisholm or OLH on the radar in a couple of years, ESP if Brown keeps going away on England

Chisholm looked hot before his injury, how's he coming along Chequered?

He's only just back! Came off the bench against Welsh, but the backs there were mixed in that they broke the line at will but couldn't pass or catch the ball

Good looking team

Going by Miller's form for Sale he shouldn't be a Saxons 15 until he's learnt to tackle and catch a high ball.

Agree Chisholm will be one to watch next season hopefully.

formerly known as Sam wrote:Has he ousted Donald? I thought Donald had picked up an injury hence his half time subbing and Heathcote starting in the Amlin and LV cup. Donald has been persevered with despite poor form for much of the season with Heathcote forced too the sidelines.

He hasn't really, Heathcote was injured until late october and since then he has generally been the bench option for the league games.

Will be interesting to see how they go up against each other though, Ford certainly outshone McHeathcote in the LV semi final last year.

I want Heathcote to be Edinburgh's priority signing next summer. We'll swap him for Piers Francis.

Clearly Laidlaw is going to need to focus completely on 9 now, as it's clear that the Scotland powers that be want him there (although who knows what the next head coach will think), so we'll have Rees, Laidlaw plus a youngster covering 9, and Heathcote, Hunter and Leonard covering 10. Perfect.

Has Kieran Brookes played at all for Leicester this season?

ChequeredJersey wrote:Think you could see Chisholm or OLH on the radar in a couple of years, ESP if Brown keeps going away on England

He's electric with ball in hand- pace and a mean side step. He still lacks a lot under the high ball, and is a long way behind Brown, who I think is the best FB in the league.

OLH could have an international future mind.

Quite like the Saxons squad, not too many changes, but great to see how May gets on.

bluestonevedder wrote:

ChequeredJersey wrote:Think you could see Chisholm or OLH on the radar in a couple of years, ESP if Brown keeps going away on England

He's electric with ball in hand- pace and a mean side step. He still lacks a lot under the high ball, and is a long way behind Brown, who I think is the best FB in the league.

OLH could have an international future mind.

Quite like the Saxons squad, not too many changes, but great to see how May gets on.

OLH is still very early in his conversion from 7s to the full game, and it shows. Chisholm is a much more rounded prospect; he's like a quicker version of Brown, which is very promising for both Quins and England. If he has fully recovered from his injury and can stay fit, I'd expect him to be pushing very hard for a starting wing spot before too long and maybe even taking time of MB at fullback.

Our options (quins' and England) in the back 3 for the next few years look fantastic. OLH and Chisholm will have the help of playing with Brown, who is now excellent at the all round nuances of FB play and having Connor to develop them as he has developed Mike

Has Kieran Brookes played at all for Leicester this season?

He's been injured for large periods. Been on the bench a few times, not sure if he got on. Had a loan spell at Doncaster in the Championship to get his match fitness back. If the rumours are true and he's signed for Bath he won't play again. If he is staying at Tigers then expect him on the bench next week.

Good start boys.

Maybe George is learning why Cockers is still developing him rather than starting him. Heathcote is winning the battle early doors but Ford is mentally strong so IS expect him to fight back.

Hope Joe Gray is ok, it's not looking good at the minute.

He is so unlucky, every time he starts to look decent he picks up a bit of a knock.

Poor defence there from England.

It was just good to see him walking off under his own steam.

Crane is playing well, his form has been a while returning but he is starting to impress again.

English defence is pretty poor early doors. May and Tomkins both stood up by Tonks there.

That wind might give Ford a little excuse.

Surprise surprise, Tonks gets the ball and does something amazing. Hope Johnson is watching

From what I see on Twitter Tonks is having a stormer? Was ridiculous he wasnt in the main team training squad

He is RDW, watching game online. Kennedy just made a good break! Sadly no one there for final pass

He's made a decent run and he's kicked well, I would say stormer is overstating it a little.

formerly known as Sam wrote:It was just good to see him walking off under his own steam.

Crane is playing well, his form has been a while returning but he is starting to impress again.

English defence is pretty poor early doors. May and Tomkins both stood up by Tonks there.

Crane is playing better than most, but I wouldn't say he's playing well, the whole team have been pretty shoite first half. Very poor performance with not one player putting their hand up for senior selection so far!

Yeah stormer is probably a bit strong, but he's playing very well. Grove has looked good too as has lawrie.

England backline has been woeful. Ford is trying to play flat whilst Tomkins is trying to play deep and JTH is wandering around like he's lost. The forwards are being forced to carry too much, they are getting fair ball and making decent yards but the backs are wasting the possession. Ford needs to start bringing Biggs off his wing and getting his centres to run some dummy lines.

More crossing from the Scots

Sorry but this ref is Frak Poopie!! About as clueless as that Frak mike jockey Barnes!!! " you can clearly see eng 2pop up and the Scottish front row stay down" as the screen shows the Scottish hooker up first and a prop before the English hooker.

Both useless wastes of Frak oxygen that are ruining my Friday night

Stop forcing it! For Christ sake, just go through the phases!

What's the score and what's the time on the clock?

Thanks

England 6 - 13 Scotland (64 minutes gone)

Their hooker went up first!

That is a Frak joke.

Cumbrian wrote:Their hooker went up first!

Face it this Muppet ain't going to give us Poopie!

And that Frak monkey Barnes is just agreeing with everything he signals

I despise toadie, he is so obviously bitter that he didn't win more caps.

Come on Scotland!!!

Why does Buchanon insist on standing up at every scrum, stay in and f***ing push!

Amazing Robson has lasted this long, he's not done anything for about 20 minutes. Lowe has at least added some organisation to that backline.

13 men Scotland, that's the game gone for us

OMG what a knock on by England!!!!!!!!

Frak useless. All he had to do was catch it.

Yeeeeeeeeeeeees!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!