Who's on the plane?

by **Ozzy3213** Tue 11 Mar 2014, 5:29 pm

First topic message reminder :

I know that this is probably getting ahead of ourselves, and I know technically we won't be going anywhere by plane, but I wondered who in the England squad are certs for the World Cup at this stage. Obviously there will be injuries that rule some out, but presuming everyone is fit, here's my take on things.

It's a 30 man squad, which is tight in terms taking adequate cover for all positions. In 2011 Johnno went with 3 hookers, 4 props, 4 locks, 4 flankers, 2 number eights, 3 scrummies, 2 outside halfs, 3 centres and 5 back three players. I suspect that Bomber will take 5 props, and it may be in the back row that we go one light, as he considers that both of our first choice locks can cover the blindside.

So here's where I think we are at...

Hooker
On the plane: Dylan Hartley
At the departure gate: Tom Youngs
Searching for last minute tickets: Rob Webber, David Paice

Hartley now is undisputed first choice. His basics at hooker are far in advance of Youngs, and the Saints man is on the plane, so long as he doesn't do anything stupid between now and then (not a given!). Youngs as one foot in the squad, but needs to perform. His one saving grace is that Bomber is loyal and I don't think actually fancies many of the other hookers. He'll need to have a look at some and decide who his number 3 is, and I suspect it will be one of the guys who faced off against Argentina in the summer.

Props
On the plane: Joe Marler, Mako Vunipola, Alex Corbisiero, Dan Cole, David Wilson
At the departure gate:
Searching for last minute tickets: Henry Thomas, Matt Mullan, Paul Doran-Jones, Nathan Catt

This for em is cut and dried. Barring injury these 5 guys are certainties, and rightly so. Three are Lions, and Marler and Wilson have shown continued improvement in their games in the last 12-18 months, so much so they could reasonably argue their case to be first choice ahead of the others. This is a position of strength for England if all are fit. Sadly, there is a real drop off from them to the next in line, which means we all need to keep our fingers, toes and everything else crossed that they do stay fit.

Locks
On the plane: Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes
At the departure gate: Dave Attwood
Searching for last minute tickets: George Kruis, Graham Kitchener, Ed Slater, Geoff Parling, George Robson

Launch and Lawes are developing very nicely into a top class pairing they are definites. Attwood is clearly rated by Bomber, and is probably in the squad. Now, the real question for me is whether or not we will take a 4th lock, or Bomber will hedge his bets and take Croft as the 4th lock covering the blindside as well. None of the other options jump out at me demanding inclusion, and I wouldn't be too unhappy if Croft is included in this way.

Back Rowr
On the plane: Chris Robshaw, Tom Wood, Billy Vunipola, Ben Morgan
At the departure gate: Tom Johnson
Searching for last minute tickets: Matt Kvesic, Tom Croft, Calum Clarke, James Haskell, Sam Dickinson, Will Fraser.

The four who have started games this 6 Nations will undoubtedly go, and the England management like what Tom Johnson brings, so he has a real opportunity if he continues his good club form with the Chiefs. Bomber seems to love Calum Clark, but time is running out for him to make an impact. Haskell seesm very out of favour and Kvesic, Dickinson and Fraser are all inexperienced at the top level. I can see Croft going as a lock/back row option.

Scrum Half
On the plane: Danny Care
At the departure gate: Lee Dickson, Ben Youngs
Searching for last minute tickets: Richard Wigglesworth, Joe Simpson

In reality I think it will be the three current EPS 9's who make the final cut, but only Care has done enough recently to be absolutely certain of a place. Youngs if he can regain top form means we have 2 real top class 9 options. Sadly, for me Dickson is a great club player and not international standard (I would prefer Wigglesworth), but I suspect he will be there when push comes to shove.

Outside Half
On the plane: Owen Farrell
At the departure gate: George Ford
Searching for last minute tickets: Freddie Burns, Stephen Myler, Danny Cipriani

Farrell is a given, and Ford is clearly in Bombers plans after his comments about him being pencilled in to start at least 1 and maybe 2 tests this year. Myler is the solid but unspectacular back up option, with Cipriani, and Burns on current form absolute wildcards!

Centres
On the plane: Manu Tuilagi, Billy Twelvetrees, Luther Burrell
At the departure gate: Brad Barritt
Searching for last minute tickets: Kyle Eastmond, Henry Trinder, Jonathan Joseph, Joel Tomkins

I wasn't sure on Burrell pre 6 Nations, but have been massively impressed with him, and I get the feeling Bomber has been as well. I'm not sure if we will go with 3 or 4 centres in the squad, and if it's 4, I think it could be Eastmond, as it would mean 1 less back 3 player, and he covers the wing as well.

Back Three
On the plane: Mike Brown
At the departure gate: Alex Goode, Marland Yarde, Christian Wade, Jack Nowell, Jonny May, Chris Ashton
Searching for last minute tickets: Ben Foden, Anthony Watson

Loads of competition in the back three and only the very impressive Mike Brown is guaranteed a place in the squad. It's then any 3 or 4 from the rest, dependant on what Bomber decides with the centres. I'd go with just the 3 centres, and my four from these would be Yarde, Wade, May and either Nowell or Foden, just can't make my mind up whether to go with youth or experience. Hopefully Bomber won't have the same problem.

So there you have it, in my mind 18 of our 30 man squad are decided upon. The next 12 months will decide on who the other 12 are, and hopefully some of the guys mentioned above will really put up there hand and make it a really competitive squad. Roll on World Cup 2015.

by nathan Sat 15 Mar 2014, 4:19 pm

Sgt_Pooly wrote:
nathan wrote:
Sgt_Pooly wrote:Yea agree, Youngs is way off Int quality.

Hopefully Webber will get a good run of games.

I agree in that your not worth debating with.

Tigers fan?

Yes, you already know that.......

Football fan?

by Sgt_Pooly Sat 15 Mar 2014, 4:24 pm

Not at all.

I have an opinion of Youngs that clearly upsets you. He's a very poor thrower at Int level, I don't think this is controversial.

I'm an England fan, I want the best for them. If he was a Falcons player I'd have exactly the same opinion.

by nathan Sat 15 Mar 2014, 4:34 pm

Of course it doesn't upset me, we all have an opinion. You've made your mind up rightly or wrongly and won't listen to anyone's reasons.

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