Billy Vunipola's replacement

First topic message reminder :

Assuming Billy Vunipola will be out for the Wales game, who will come in to replace him in the squad?

There's an obvious replacement at starting 8—Ben Morgan. I sincerely hope Lancaster starts with Morgan. I heard someone speculating on BT Sport the other day that he might move Wood to 8 (  ) and bring in Tom Johnson at 6.

But if he does start Morgan at 8, who comes on to the bench? It would make sense for it to be another 8, as both Launchbury and Lawes can cover 6 (Launchbury better than Lawes on last season's evidence) and Wood move to 7 if need be.

So, if an 8 does come on to the bench, who would that be?

Would prefer to see Dickinson based on his Saxons performance and so far this season. Never really though that Johnson has excelled for England even though he's great for his club.

Just how tough are England's systems?? Or are English players particularly stupid?

Other countries have called up bolters to their teams in the past who've done well when joining the matchday squad. But England can't do this, with two full weeks of training?

Tom Johnson is too lightweight for the no8 position and from what i've seen doesn't have the workrate to replace either of the flankers. Kvesic could be really good but it's a total gamble as he's only just found any kind of form.

Tom Wood - 1.95m and 113kg
Chris Robshaw - 1.88m and 112kg
Billy V - 1.88m and 126kg
Ben Morgan - 1.91m and 117kg

Mat Kvesic - 1.85m and 104kg (big difference there!)
Tom Johnson - 1.88m and 104kg (!)

So both those replacements are giving away nearly 15kg if they take over from Morgan at 8! Just stop and think that England's scrum spent a lot of the Ireland game going backwards on its own ball and that who ever plays 8 will need to deal with the hospital ball their going to be getting from that. I can't see Johnson or Kvesic doing well in that situation.

If Ben Morgan is only 117 kg I'll eat my hat....

Yea it is a little fishy....

His replacement is I hear a M1A2 Abrams.

Good luck with that Wales.

ChequeredJersey wrote:Can TJ actually cover 8? Or does he cover it like Wood and Robshaw do?

TJ and Ewers switch on a regular basis for Exe - TJ tends to go to no8 on attacking ball

SecretFly wrote:His replacement is I hear a M1A2 Abrams.

Good luck with that Wales.

Yet another foreign import - figures..

I didn't think Morgan was 6'3 or 117kgs. He seems shorter and heavier to me but we'll never know.

I think Kvesic is a good option out of the two given the amount of game time he's had at 8 and his general work-rate on the floor and carrying are slightly better than TJ's.

Having said that TJ has better hands and vision.

To be frank i'd rather see Dickinson, given his performances for the Saxons. Ewers needs to kick on a bit more first I think.

Carl Fearns would be another great option, his carrying is the best of the lot and he's played a lot of No.8 and flank for Bath. Similar stats to Morgan.

GeordieFalcon wrote:If Ben Morgan is only 117 kg I'll eat my hat....

Think Morgan has already beaten you to it