England 2019 Six Nations Discussion Thread

[LondonTiger]

First topic message reminder :

Fixtures


Ireland (a)
Saturday 2nd Feb, 16:45 - ITV

Referee: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant 1: Romain Poite (France)
Assistant 2: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)


France (h)
Sunday 10th Feb, 15:00 - ITV

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)
Assistant 1: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
Assistant 2: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
TMO: Glenn Newman (New Zealand)


Wales (a)
Saturday 23rd Feb, 16:45 - BBC


Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
Assistant 1: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant 2: Alexandre Ruiz (France)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)


Italy (h)
Saturday 9th March, 16:45 - ITV

Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)
Assistant 1: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant 2: Andrew Brace (Ireland)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ireland)


Scotland (h)
Saturday 16th March, 17:00 - ITV

Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)
Assistant 1: Jérôme Garcès (France)
Assistant 2: Federico Anselmi (Argentina)
TMO: Ben Skeen (New Zealand)






Squad


For First & Second Tests:

Forwards
Jack Clifford (Harlequins), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Ben Earl (Saracens) *, Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers), Jamie George (Saracens), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Maro Itoje  Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs), Brad Shields (Wasps), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Jack Singleton (Worcester Warriors) *, Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs), Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
Backs
Chris Ashton (Sale Sharks), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Ollie Devoto (Exeter Chiefs), Owen Farrell (Saracens) captain, George Ford (Leicester Tigers), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Dan Robson (Wasps) *, Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors), Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby) *, Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

*Uncapped

Players unavailable due to injury:  Piers Francis (Northampton Saints), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby).

[yappysnap]

Welp thats another thread derailed.

Mods, you asjed about what we want from this site? Well perhaps being able to have threads that aren't taken over by certain posters.

Notice that since Miaow and others have come on here the interaction from the England fans has gone right down. No one can be bothered to argue with his long condescending posts, add in the usual silly comments from others and it becomes more effort then its worth.

Shame as up until this point it was a good thread too.

[No 7&1/2]

It's hard for anyone to really put their hands up against teams like Italy more likely they take a knocking no matter what. I do think it's a game where Robson and Cokanasiga should get a lot of game time though. Easy win beckons to get momentum back for Scotland who will hopefully be coming off a win themselves. We can dream.

[LondonTiger]

Players can make a case for themselves so long as the changes made to the team are not wholesale.

So let's see how Robson goes alongside the first choice midfield for example, rather than putting him alongside a Ford, Te'o, Daly midfield.

[yappysnap]

Do you expect those changes? I hope they're kept to a minimum but I wouldn't mind seeing Robson and Genge start.

[yappysnap]

Part of me wonders if Daly should be dropped too. Jones has done it in the past with other players who have critical weaknesses that need working on, but I guess Jones rates his strengths over those weaknesses.

[Yoda]

Surely now is the time to experiment a little with fringe players. These games should be used as world Cup preparation games with hard opposition hopefully asking us plenty of questions. As for the Welsh wums just do what everyone else does and skip them. It does take along time to skip past miow posts but they are easily ignored.

[No 7&1/2]

Willis has been back 2 weeks, comes off the bench after 5 mins or so today and was simply brilliant.

[LondonTiger]

Willis has been back 2 weeks come a off the bench after 5 mins or so today and was simply brilliant.

I honestly barely noticed him. From my seat Rowland looked prominent, but felt Thompson had more impact on the game than his opponent.

[No 7&1/2]

Anything good at the ruck and it was Willis. Really good carrying too. Ridiculous after 9 months off. I can only suggest a 2nd viewing if you recorded it and I'm sure you'll re-evaluate.

[Pie]

I think it would be a mistake to drop anyone for this match better to send the signal that you are now in the considered for 'Italy as opposition cadre' and you probably dont want to be picked so best make recompense pdq.

[LondonTiger]

Anything good at the ruck and it was Willis. Really good carrying too. Ridiculous after 9 months off. I can only suggest a 2nd viewing if you recorded it and I'm sure you'll re-evaluate.

Not even I am masochistic enough to watch that dire tripe again.

[WELL-PAST-IT]

From the form of the last few weeks, another name to put in the hat is Lewis Ludlam. He seems to be unable to do anything wrong at the moment, 6'4", 17 stone very much the same build as all the other young tyros, excellent in the tackle and a good jackler, saved Saints a couple of times yesterday from an even heavier defeat by tackling ad jackling. Captain for the day as well. He is keeping Gibson/Wood and Brussow out of the team at the moment

[Yoda]

Yes Willis and Ludlow look quality as does Dingwall at saints. England's problem is consistently turning the talent into a hardened international team.

Anyway back to Italy match Robson Ford to start? Or Robson farrell teo to give squad a run. Hopefully see Harry Williams and the baby rhino as well as lcd for longer as we need them tested. Italy will have a decent back row available so not too much tinkering there I hope. Finally a bit of big Joe running around should hopefully allow us to bring something different tactically?

[WELL-PAST-IT]

I would like to see both Sinkler and Genge on the field at the start of a match, just to see how they go together against a team not already tired out. We have lost our two mobile athletic locks in Itoje and Lawes, so we are likely to start with Kruis and Launchbury, we will need some on Sinkler's tackling as they are not the most mobile locks around and tend to do their work close in to the breakdown.

Robson needs a good run just to get used to what ever 10 is playing under match conditions, I would start with Farrell and then swap at half time for Ford. Teo and Slade in the centres and then bring Manu on at 13 just to see how the big boys operate together, or be brave and experiment a bit, Daly 13 Thorley at 15. His running could be devastating verses Italy. Give May another week to heal, we have plenty of wingers who can do the job for Italy, Big Joe and Little Jack are fine.

Back row is best left alone in the absence of any other standout flankers, give Shields a full run out possibly with Wilson on the bench as cover across the whole back row,

[No 7&1/2]

Ha. It was a bit drab at times LT. I'm more thinking this game is setting up vs Scotland. What will Jones want for that. The big guys fit and curry chomping at the bit. I can see tuilagi and curry being rested due to that.

[robbo277]

I think I lean more towards wholesale changes for the Italy game and a rotated team for the Scotland game. So start Robson, Ford, Te'o, Cokanasiga in the backs and Genge, Cowan-Dickie and Shields in the pack, then possibly 1 or 2 if them to retain their places for the Scotland game to give them a run out in a proper team

[lostinwales]

I can see the point for some changes, particularly in starting guys (like Genge) who have been bench warming for most of the championship, but I don't want to see too many changes unless you can guarantee the replacements will give us a 40 point victory.

It is hard with the likes of Italy to avoid the dogfight, but it would be nice to make a statement

[robbo277]

Can't guarantee that the first team will give us a 40 point win. Ireland had a pretty stacked team and didn't beat them by that many. But at home I think even with 10 changes I'd expect a bonus point victory.

[majesticimperialman]

I would not like to see too may changes against Italy. They played some good running rugby against Ireland. Maybe Mike Brown for Dailey, Teo for Manu, Robson for Youngs.

Would like too see the subs come on earlier give every one some quality time.

[Sponsored content]