Comments on: An England XV to play New Zealand

By: Dazza

Dazza — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 16:39:25 +0000

With Launchbury out who would you have partnering Lawes. It should be Attwood, but does he provide more impact off the bench? Is Attwood an 80 minute player? Does Attwood cover other positions. Both Lawes and Launchbury can cover 6, as can Kruis if necessary. Another dilemma for Mr. Lancaster to ponder??!!

By: Dazza

Dazza — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 11:57:00 +0000

We saw what they can do on the bigger stage in a recent European game, and defensively it wasn’t good. Taken apart by big French midfielders. Which is why Barritt needs to be in there! Whether it’s at 12 with Joseph at 13 and Eastmond on the bench, or at 13 with Eastmond at 12.

By: Ronnie

Ronnie — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 08:04:17 +0000

Reasonable call.

I have stopped thinking about the middfield, it seems the only players people like are the ones that have never played and people imagine what they would do. I was a huge advocate for 12t’s and that has not really worked out well. The only centre that has consistently done it for England on an offensive stage is Manu. His try scoring record is the best in the squad and he is nailed in. I agree we will need more if we are to win the world cup but lets not change the only cogg we have that works.

Ford is a brave pick, but I cannot see it at the moment, he is too weak defensively. Cipp would be a better bet for a playmaker 10. But we have said enough about that one.

By: Don P

Don P — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 14:21:46 +0000

Reasonable pick. Brave call with Ford @ fly1/2 (still Cip for me, but it ain’t gonna happen I guess) & interesting to see Rokoduguni on the wing. Bigger is better maybe? I’d still like to see Varndell start, but in same cat as Cip I fear. Also I’d go for Mullan to start along with Attwood & Haskell @ 7 with Robshaw @ 6. All fantasy I know, but Mullan’s been around for a while now & seems to be plenty good in the Wasps fr row. As for the other 2, a real chance to see if they can cut it from the get go. The reservation I have in backline in this team of J’s is Barritt @ centre. Goodish on ‘D’, but is he going to create anything when England have the ball? From SL’s pt of view (& of course this isn’t his team), the ? is does he want to go for it & take a chance on some positions v NZ or, as Rountree has said, ‘make England hard to beat’ & go safety 1st? Personally, England should go out with a team to win at all costs & which can likely score tries, as the alt is to grind the ABs & to run at or attempt to run through them… which might work.

By: stu

stu — Sat, 01 Nov 2014 05:38:10 +0000

Rate barritt but would rather see Joseph at 13. I now the 10,12,13 may be a little lightweight that way but would love to see what that club combo can do on a bigger stage.

By: Dek

Dek — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 21:02:14 +0000

Swap Hartley for Webber and Wood for Haskell

By: Dazza

Dazza — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 16:17:32 +0000

Billy is definitely capable of playing 80 minutes, and I think SL will have Haskell on the bench if fit. He is the one player who could cover all three positions. The idea of Wood or Robshaw at 8 is unsettling, but Haskell has played there for England before, and can do the job. Morgan can not play at 6 or 7 though.

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 11:58:56 +0000

I agree with your point on Farrell. Think as he is so physical he has a tendancy to go high and try to wrap up the ball. On someone like Nonu this is usually a mistake.

From what I have seen of Bath (most of the games on BT Sport) Ford often has a back row or wing running the flat line and Eastmond takes it out the back (i.e. fairly deep). He then has time to spot the holes or make further distribution. They do mix it up though with eastmond flat, and another deep runner. It is mixing up the options that keeps teams guessing, allowing spaces to develop.

Having this number of options is what I feel england have missed, being predictable in what will be the first pass out. It does seem that Ford may be the key to this, but it is also partly a question of how the attack is coached.

Not convinced by 36 this season. Your suggestions may work, but I would not be comfortable with 36 in at this point until he has shown a touch more form. Also think his tackling is not particularly good, especially given his size.

By: Dazza

Dazza — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 10:32:24 +0000

That was meant to say “I’d like to see Brown come into the line a bit more”

By: Dazza

Dazza — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 10:05:27 +0000

Apart from Watson on the bench, this is exactly the same squad I put in a post last week!! I really think the combo of Eastmond and Barritt could be the one, but Ford at 10 is a must. Farrell has been slow getting back to his best after returning from injury, and Ford has to start at 10. His combination with Eastmond is key to getting the ball into the wider channels, and Barritt is key to keeping it tight when it’s not on. I’d like to see come into the line a bit more, and have Eastmond drop back into the 15 position. I think Eastmond running from full back with ball in two hands would keep the Kiwis guessing and be a real chance for Eastmond to show what he can do.

By: DanD

DanD — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 08:54:31 +0000

Farrell got bumped by Nonu 3 times, making 3/3 during his NZ game. Farrell is physical in defence, but Burns was far more effective at actually getting Nonu on the ground, And why bother playing Eastmond if you’re going to be Farrell inside of him? Eastmond sparkles from flat passes right on the line from Ford, where he then either finds the gap, or does the same, meaning there’s still plenty of space left out wide due to the fixed defence.

Ford, Eastmond, Barritt (someone needs to run the defence). BB can move to 12 in defence. Or even more exciting would be Ford, Eastmond, 36. 36 can manage the defence and was defending the 13 channel a lot during the 6N whilst he was covering Burrell.

A bit more conservative, but perhaps drawing the best out of 36, would be Ford, 36, BB. 36 doesn’t need to be the main supplier of attack or defence there, and can just get on with his own game, without trying to force things (leading to his high error count). It would also be probably our best possible defensive pairing in the centres.

By: kit

kit — Thu, 30 Oct 2014 23:48:17 +0000

I to was worried about Ford’s kicking ability, but his kicking stats for this season read something like 40 out of 46 which is up around 85%, so I’m increasing less worried about that. The thing I’d worry about most is his tackling, which has also improved this season, I feel at international level (especially against the All Blacks and South Africa) he’ll get steamrollered at least 3/4 times a game which will at some point cost us a try. Having said that I’d still start him because I think he is a quality player and Farrell’s lack of game time goes against him.