Geoff Parling, John Eales in an England shirt

Geoff Parling, John Eales in an England shirt

Post by mckay1402 Today at 11:13 am
England like big hard enforcers in the second row. England don’t like their second rows to have too much ball in hand. England like second rows who do donkey work and not much else (unless there’s a fight and then they want them to get stuck in).

Stockton on Tees wouldn’t normally be associated with producing skillful players of the Union game, however in 1983 a boy was born who is on the verge of becoming something great for England. Geoff Parling has come out of nowhere this season to become a Lions tourist at the first opportunity.

Parling has been a Tiger with Leicester since 2009 and made his debut against his former club Newcastle. In his first season at Leicester he was voted newcomer of the year.

Had it not been for neck injury in 2010 Geoff might have made it into the full England squad sooner as he had already played for the England A team and was due to tour Australia.

In 2012 Geoff was finally called up to play for England, all be it as cover for Louis Deacon. He did well enough to earn a start against Wales in the Six Nations and he finished the tournament in pole position at lock.

It would seem that international rugby suits Geoff because in the 2012/13 season he has been superb for England. He helped them get some steam up to a potential championship winning match with Wales and even in that loss was the only player to really stand up and give the Welsh a bash. Against Wales he showed the skills and passion that will be vital to the Lions. He was running until the end and was always there to mop up loose ball. His pace and strength enables him to power through a defence and over the gain line. At half time Geoff could clearly be seen laying down the law to the rest of the team. Now he has been included in the Lions tour party. Some England fans think that he is lucky to be in ahead of Joe Launchbury but he absolutely deserves his place even on the showing against Wales alone.

The 2013/14 season is going to be huge for Geoff. His athleticism and skill on the ball will prove a great asset to Warren Gatland and the squad on the hard pitches in Australia. At this stage it is too early to predict a starting team, although it is the favourite game on all rugby forums. Geoff may not be first on most peoples team lists but he will start at least one test against Australia. He would be an ideal foil to either Paul O’Connell or Alun Wyn Jones. With a Potential back row of Warburton, Heaslip (or Faletau) and Tipuric, a second row of Geoff Parling and Paul O’Connell is enough to get the rugby juices flowing.

He is not a usual England lock. He’s not a Beaumont or a Johnson. He’s no Dooley or Ackford. What he is is new to England. He is more of an Eales than a Bayfield.

To compare him to John Eales may be a large statement but for the modern game he is perfect. Running, passing and breakdown play are imperative to be a great forward. John Eales had all of that in abundance and if he can add the goal kicking then Geoff Parling really would be John Eales in and England shirt.

Geoff Parling is nowhere close to being a Nobody...

neither was John eales at the start of hours international career. parling had the skills to be a great England player and I think he bears comparison to a played like eales.

I must be honest here and say of all the locks in Europe this season it is young Launchbury who has impressed me the most, that I thought most likely to make the Lions of the England Locks and is the biggest surprise in his omission.

Also looks most likely to become the next great English second rower.

But wonderfully interesting OP. good read cheers.

The problem for Launchbury is that he has not really featured much in the lineout at club or int level this season. On a purely statistical basis Parling (first numbers) stacks up well to Launchbury (2nd). For whatever reason Launchbury is more noticeable. As to comparisons with Eales. well Parling is nowhere near as good - but is certainly of a similar style.

5 Matches 5
1 Tries 0
5 Points 0
0 Try assist 0
0 Kicks From Hand 0
11 Passes 6
0 Yellow cards 0
0 Red cards 0
23 Carries 23
55 Metres carried 19
3 Clean breaks 0
1 Offloads 0
4 Defenders beaten 1
50 Tackles 51
4 Missed tackles 5
0 Penalties conceded 1
5 Turnovers conceded 2
14 Line outs won own throw 6
2 Lineout steals 0

LT who are the left and right in your stats?

Parling is left, Launchbury right.

Interesting as the stats seem to show the opposite to what everyone see's when watching both players.

Maybe it is a factor like temperament, or collectiveness, or better decisions making, even things like for example, which tackles are worth making that stats don't show that is so apparent to the viewer?

It is interesting that the stats kind of back up what I think. Parling is a better and more visible player than Launchbury and was clearly the best England player by a mile against Wales.

http://sportsjacket.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/geoff-parling-john-eales-in-an-england-shirt/

mckay1402 wrote:It is interesting that the stats kind of back up what I think. Parling is a better and more visible player than Launchbury and was clearly the best England player by a mile against Wales.

To be honest Robshaw also played well in Cardiff.

he may have but parling was the only one that really stood out to me.

Didn't England have the worst lineout retention rate in the six nations?

Ashton is Campese is an England shirt.

Geoff is often overlooked because he has the same head down work hard for the team attitude on and off the pitch, he really couldn't give a toss about media adulation he just wants the team to win. It's why he's so popular at Tigers.

I wouldn't over sell his skill base though he has got good handling skills.

t1000advancedprototype wrote:Ashton is Camp in an England shirt.

v2journal.com/15/post/2013/05/geoff-parling-john-eales-in-an-england-shirt.html

maestegmafia wrote:

mckay1402 wrote:It is interesting that the stats kind of back up what I think. Parling is a better and more visible player than Launchbury and was clearly the best England player by a mile against Wales.

To be honest Robshaw also played well in Cardiff.

Beat me to it...Robshaw was very good against Wales.