Comments on: Easter called in to England World Cup squad after Vunipola injury

By: teecee

teecee — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 21:13:00 +0000

Benjit you are on FIRE!!!!!!!!!! Superb!

By: teecee

teecee — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 21:09:19 +0000

Mmmm……….. calling up an international tyro and chucking him in at the deep end. SL is far too canny to do such a……………oh, hang on.

By: stroudos

stroudos — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 14:30:09 +0000

England’s forwards have nowhere near the dominance over their Australian counterparts now that they enjoyed in 2007. That was such an enjoyable game to watch – every other scrum, Sheridan would chew up and spit out another Strayan prop. They were like lambs to the slaughter. What could be romantic than that!

But, I do agree England are likely to have more chance of munching the Oz pack than they do of beating them at the breakdown or out wide.

By: stroudos

stroudos — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 14:22:43 +0000

Could be disruptive and undermine Lancaster; could be disruptive and shake things up, rallying everyone around him.
I understand he was a key member of the leadership group in 2007, who got the boys’ heads on for the Australia match after the 36-0 drubbing v SA. I also understand that that situation was very much a players mutiny against the coaches, where they just sat Brian Ashton down and told him how they were going to play.
At 37, Minty’s got no worries about his future England prospects, so as you say, he’ll have no worries in speaking up if he feels the need or desire too.
Not being funny, I think bringing him in at this stage could be a masterstroke by Lancaster, albeit potentially a Pyrrhic one!

By: Dazza

Dazza — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 11:52:25 +0000

I like the look of your team, but I’m not sure Lawes will be fit for this game. There was a suggestion of him being our for a week or so? If so I would have Kruis on the bench. The call to have no fly half on the bench is a big one, and you would be pinning a lot of hope on Slade stepping up to play 10 if anything happened to Faz.
I would start with Slade even if JJ is fit. The line up of Faz, Burgess and Slade is the most exciting prospect I’ve seen for a while. They seemed to have much better communication than other combinations he’s tried.
Faz needs to start this game purely because of his better defence and better place kicking. Both Foley and Cooper have missed a few kicks so far, and we don’t want to be leaving any points on the field this week!

By: Anarky

Anarky — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 11:23:37 +0000

I think that SL is probably crossing everything he has that JJ is fit, because even though I think he will name Slade (if JJ is injured) I don’t think he’ll really want to..

By: Pablito

Pablito — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 10:48:58 +0000

I think you are probably right Anarky. I’m not sure if JJ is injured or not, some rumours seem to suggest he’ll be ok

By: Anarky

Anarky — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 10:02:46 +0000

Is SL going to abandon his naturally cautious approach to games, against one of the most gifted attacking sides in world rugby?

My prediction – he’s going to name Barritt at 12 and JJ at 13 (Slade if JJ is injured).

By: Benjit

Benjit — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 09:37:57 +0000

If I see Barritt anywhere near this team, I may start supporting the Aussies.

His importance to the defence is very overrated and in no way compensates for paucity of attack. Slade would be lined up and hammered, just as 12t was last Autumn.

Let’s pick players for what they can do and not worry about their limitations.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 09:34:47 +0000

I thought he should have been in as lock/number 8 for Kruis but as you say, he should have been in the squad

By: Leon

Leon — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 09:30:25 +0000

A lot of negative comments about Easter being called up but people need to remember that he almost made the squad first time round after strong showings in the 6N and warm up games.

Obviously gutted to lose Billy but I thought Easter should have been selected over Morgan in the first place.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Tue, 29 Sep 2015 09:29:01 +0000

I think he said the team would be announced on Thurs due to the injuries

So it’ll be leaked today or tomorrow then

(Really wish they’d find whoever continaully leaks the team and string him up from his sensitive bits – even if it is actually SL)