Chances are that Stuart Lancaster already knows the vast majority of his EPS squad – to be announced next Tuesday – but there will still be several players hoping for a big performance in the European Cups this weekend to convince him that they are worthy of a place. Here are five who will be looking to thrust themselves to the forefront of Lancaster’s thoughts:
1. Kyle Eastmond (Bath)
Ok, so Eastmond’s probably not fighting for his place in the EPS – he should certainly be named in it. That said, centre is an oversubscribed position, although given his form in the Premiership so far it’s difficult to see Eastmond not being picked. What he is hoping to do is get himself a starting slot in the Autumn internationals. He has probably been the form centre in the Premiership so far this season, outperforming rivals Billy Twelvetrees and Luther Burrell. Lancaster favours a distributor at 12, something Eastmond certainly can do, and despite his diminutive stature he is a robust defender. Bath face a tricky away trip to Scotstoun this weekend to play a Glasgow team on the up, and a good performance from Eastmond in what is a tough place to win will do his England chances the world of good.
2. Christian Wade (Wasps)
England’s wing spots are starting to look oversubscribed. Wade faces competition from Rokoduguni, May, Nowell, Yarde, Watson and Ashton, and you can rest assured that there won’t be seven wingers in a 33-man squad. Since his return from injury this season Wade has done lots of things well, showing the try-scoring knack we all know he has, but his defence has again been suspect at times, a problem his critics have often levelled at him. This weekend’s game against Leinster – European heavyweights, despite a poor start to the season – provides the perfect opportunity on the biggest club stage for him to prove to Lancaster that his defence is solid. If he can do that, he deserves a shot at one of England’s wing spots after being cruelly denied by injury so often in the past.
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3. Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks)
Rumours have been doing the rounds this week that Cipriani is set to be excluded from the senior England squad with Farrell, Ford and Myler the chosen three fly-halves, despite the Sale man’s impressive cameos on the tour to New Zealand last summer. Cipriani’s resurgence at the Sharks has been refreshing to see for all England fans, with his maturity and improved defence impressing the most. There were always rumours of a rift with Lancaster since they worked together in his Saxons days, at a time when Cipriani was at his most troublesome. He has one more shot this weekend, against Munster, to convince Lancaster that he is worth taking another punt on.
4. Alex Waller (Northampton Saints)
Injuries are a savage part of professional rugby, but it is a sad truth that there is invariably someone who benefits from them. In the case of Alex Corbisiero’s knee troubles, that man is Alex Waller. Northampton’s reserve loosehead prop was a revelation last season, doing enough to tour New Zealand with England in the summer, and with Corbisiero on the sidelines once again, Waller has another shot at an England squad place – especially with Mako Vunipola also sidelined and Joe Marler making a slow start to the season for Quins. There is a place there for the taking, and a good performance in Paris at the weekend could cement Waller’s place.
5. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
This is the longest shot of the lot, but Stuart Lancaster has not been afraid in the past to throw a youthful curveball into his squads. He is a fan of the Exeter way of doing things, and Slade has been mightily impressive in the Chiefs’ backline this season – especially when you consider he has been playing out of position at 13. It is exactly that versatility that could work in his favour. Working against him this weekend is the fact the Chiefs are in Challenge, rather than Champions, Cup action – although they do face an away trip to France, never an easy assignment. Another classy performance, in what will be a febrile atmosphere down in Bayonne, and he could force his way into Lancaster’s 33.
By Jamie Hosie
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Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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Henry Slade has always been geared towards making him a kicking centre and his partnership with Sam Hill (another future England star in the making) is one of the chief (no pun intended) reasons for Exeter’s great start to the season. I don’t think either of them are ready for the step up just yet, but next season it’s entirely possible!
Jamie, are you saying that Slade is a long shot becuse he’s playing in the Challenge Cup. If so does this mean you don’t think 12T will be in the England squad? He’s not looking too great this season, and with the likes of Eastmond and Burrell playing better, in better teams will he be left out?
Not sure about Eastmond and Tuilagi together, but Eastmond with Barritt at 13, could work really well. Barritt will help defensively, and he does have the ability and strength to get over the gain line. Barritt is another leader on the pitch, and if Ford or Cipriani are playing at 10, Lancaster may need one in his back line.
Mmm it’s not quite the same situation, because Twelvetrees has been established in the England squad for a while now, whereas Slade is trying to break his way in. I think 12T will be in the squad, but Eastmond deserves the starting spot given the way he’s started the season. 12T has never impressed so much that he’s really made that England 12 shirt his own, either, so he can’t really have any qualms.
Also disagree re Eastmond and Barritt! I do rate Barritt but not sure he’s the right man to play with Eastmond. Joseph has looked so good outside him at Bath this year because he’s a strike runner, and someone that can feed off Eastmond’s quick feet, distribution and knowledge of space. That screams Tuilagi to me!
Slade is being rested this week
Cip excluded? Should be the starter as he has SKILL. Farrell is trusted by SL tho & suits the ‘English’ temp. Lancs doesn’t like or trust Cip methinks. Shamr for E. Gd 2 Eastmond @ centre, as has potential, skill factor that 12T’s lacks (butchered that try with an open line for G! Eyes off ball!), but who to play besiide him? Brave & try Joesph? Unlikely. Tui or Burrell? Anyway back to Wade. Must have a run out? No opp yet, but with some space?! Others don’t know so well, so can’t raelly say.