England - The Next Episode: Part Deux: Phoenix from the Ashes

Flintoff05 wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Mr Bounce wrote:I feel that Marchant and Jack Willis are the only two we're really missing, and Willis plays in such a competitive position, there are a number of players who can do well there: both Curry brothers, Earl (if not at 8), Underhill, Pearson, Pepper and Pollock are all good shouts in the 7 shirt. I know he's regarded as pretty special but is there really such a drop off in talent between him and the others on top form? I'm not so sure.

Marchant IS a miss in my eyes - he was the most talented 13 we had, being both quick and elusive, and having a good rugby brain. It'll be interesting if he comes back into the Premiership next season after his contract is up. That game against the Boks where he was selected at 14, then went to 13 after the injury to Manu, with Slade moving to 12 was an unexpected yet pretty good partnership. The man has talent.

As for this weekend's centre partnership, it seems that England either play a fly half at 12 (Wilkinson, Flood, Hodgson, Farrell) or a 13 at 12 (Slade, Lawrence, Tuilagi, Tindall). WHY ARE THERE NO ACTUAL 12s??!! Hopefully Lennox Anyanwu will develop into the sort of player we've been missing...

Marchant would be a handy player to get back. Hopefully soon after his spell in France has finished. He'd add a possible alternative option to Slade at 13 and there would be a decent balance to him and Lawrence in the centres.

Lennox is likely to be developing at Montpellier so unlikely to trouble England further. Why he'd opt for that toxic environment I'm not sure but that's the rumours. We've got lots of inside centre options coming through, the England A selection next week will be enlightening.

Is Dan Kelly injured? He's not been named in the 'A' squad.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:Very  surprised to see Archie McParland in there, he is still a way behind Tom James in the Saints hierarchy, also surprised not to see George Hendy and Tarek Haffar.