England's next EPS due soon.

First topic message reminder :

Well it has been a good Summer for the development of the England team as 2015 comes ever quicker into sight. Twelve players with RWC aspirations (ie not Matt Stevens) featured for the Lions. Most of those will have seen their game improve - possibly none more than Owen Farrell. Training day in, day out with such good players for so long has to help.

The remaining players delivered everything we could have asked for in Argentina, whilst the juniors managed to win the JWC. We are truly starting to look as if there is competition for every place.

On July 5th 2012, Stuart Lancaster named last season's squad. He will shortly name this seasons. Most of the 33 players are probably fairly predictable, yet even so it should have a rather exciting look to it.

I suspect the squad will look something like:

Props (5): Cole, Corbisiero, Marler, Vunipola, Wilson
Hookers (3): Hartley, Webber, Youngs
Second Row (4): Attwood, Launchbury, Lawes, Parling
Back Row (6): Croft, Morgan, Robshaw, Wood, Vunipola (+ 1 from Clark, Haskell & Kvesic)

Half-Backs (5): Care, Farrell, Youngs (and two from Burns, Dickson & flood)
Centres (4): Barritt, Tuilagi, Twelvetrees (and one other from Eastmond, Joseph or Tomkins)
Wingers (3): Ashton, Wade, Yarde
Full Backs (3) Brown, Foden, Goode


It is possible to pick two decent teams from that, and so long as Lancaster picks specialists rather than trying to shoehorn players in, we could have a pretty decent season.

Hound of Harrow wrote:PC - I don't believe there is an 'easier way round' GS opportunity. The wins have to be earned wherever you play. No such thing as a devalued GS in my book.


History also shows us that France win the 6N after a Lions year. Although they look to be in disarray atm.

As I said, I hope Lancaster gets his players to the right level to close out the deal if we get to that point.

Clearly I disagree, 'arnd. If England beat France in the first and toughest game of the tournament, then they have the advantage of W&Ir at home.

Italy away shouldn't be a problem and Scotland's depth is so parchment-thin that there isn't any - and they've got half a season to survive before going to Dublin before the HQ game.

England have their best chance of a GS since the mugging of the innocents at Lansdowne.

Easily.

Portnoy's Complaint wrote:

England have their best chance of a GS since the mugging of the innocents at Lansdowne.

Easily.

Or the best chance since the mugging of the out-of-positioned in Cardiff?