Englands Locks - The dilema

First topic message reminder :

There are a few areas in the team that we are struggling with...but one position we have ridiculous strength in depth is Second Row...and after Attwoods fine AI's, Kruis's introduction and good performances the competition for the starting spots is really on. Even further down the line we have players like Stooke and Barrow who are cracking young prospects.

Simple question - Who is your first choice combo and why?

Lawes
Launchbury
Attwood
Parling
Slater
Kitchener
Stooke
Barrow
Anyone else?

As an outside I have to say you would be mad not to pick Lawes and of the rest Lauchbury looks the pick of the bunch.

The far more interesting problems are 6 to 13

Lawes, the self named enforcer of the England rugby team, give me a break, there are a lot better locks in England than him, and they have all been mentioned on this thread as well, also they do not feel the need to go around telling everybody how much of an enforcer they are, only to then get the ball ripped off them by a centre and cost their team a try.

More made up cowpat from his Lordship

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/international/courtney-lawes-denies-being-englands-enforcer-by-claiming-id-probably-be-the-smallest-one-in-the-world-8921775.html

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/other-sports/368785/England-hardman-Courtney-Lawes-out-to-bury-Wales

There you go hammer, let's just pretend I am making it up.

Anyway, Attewood and Parling are England's best bet at second row.

Dowlais, you obviously only read the headline and not the article (again).

Using the Daily Star as a rugby source is quite revealing though

Lawes is in fine form and has been for some time now.

Courtney Lawes wrote:I like to get around the park and get at fly-halves, making big tackles. If I see a hit, I will go for it.

I have been injured doing it before but the injuries have not put me off that aspect of the game. You have to be brave to play rugby and I still like to hit hard.

I have the pace which makes me a little different from most second-rowers So I like to use it when I get the chance.

The Daily Star (yes, he referenced the Daily Frickin Star) wrote:One Welsh newspaper claimed he is one of only three among Lancaster’s men who could get into the Wales team they face today.

But Lawes, 25, has no time for mind games.

Courtney Lawes wrote:It is a compliment but at the same time I know what I need to do in terms of my game and the coaches opinion is all I need to take in. This is an exceptional England team we are building here. We are ready to go to the next level. We are young but we have so much experience.

It is a great thing that Stuart Lancaster has done. He has been brave. He has got the young boys in and said, "Look, you can stand up to the rest of the world."

We have done really well and our experience, especially from the Irish win, is going to kick on now.

Courtney Lawes wrote:You have got to have your line-out working. If you play in some games where the line-out is not working, then you appreciate how important it is.

That is why I do as much homework as I can. Four or five hours of line-outs a week.

Daily Star wrote:Lawes is convinced his line-out partnership with 6ft 6ins Wasps man-mountain Joe Launchbury can cut their Welsh rivals down to size today.

Courtney Lawes wrote:Joe’s an enforcer and when he comes out of his shell he’s going to be an incredible player.

I said to Stuart that me and Launchers are going to be a pair and I will call the line-outs.

Those are all the Lawes quotes in that article you posted. Where does he call himself an Enforcer? So yes, I will act as though you are making things up. If you have trouble reading and digesting information I apologise (you've never given that impression, you come across as a lazy headline reader)

Anyway, Attewood and Parling are England's best bet at second row..


I know you want to beat them in the World Cup but I dont think your double bluff will work

Agreed Hammer - below - fixed

That's a horrible green - much nicer (and welcome back)

Launchbury definitely out

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/30533194

HammerofThunor wrote:Launchbury definitely out

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/30533194

*sigh....

Bets on Manu breaking down again as soon as he is back aswell?

Poor Joe! He's out injured and to make matters worse look at the photo some wum on the BBC posted for that article!

Lock is a bit of a dilema, but at least from a position of reasonable strength for England. Lawes had a great game against Australia, but I still like the idea of a bit more beef in the second row with an Attwood or Slater.  Playing (when fit) Launchbury and Attwood together would be an interesting experiment to see if England lose much in line-out capability or in the loose. Playing or at least trying Launchbury in the backrow does not seem crazy either.

I was surprised with the choice of Kruis over Kitchener.  I feel Kitchener is the more mature of the two, and Kruis is not quite ready yet, even though he did not play badly.

Of the up and coming bunch, several look promising but I think none of these will play this side of the world cup.  Matthews is looking better this year, but I wonder what sort of player he would be if he bulked-up a stone or two?

Stooke was perhaps Gloucester's best forward last year, can anyone tell me why he is third choice lock at the moment?

CB Don't forget Dom Barrow...he's an absolute beast for us at Second Row.