The 23 players named in England’s matchday squad which beat Italy on Sunday at the Stadio Olimpico have been retained for training this week in London.
Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby) will also remain with the squad as injury cover for Alex Goode (Saracens) who has sustained a minor ankle injury.
Forwards (14)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Jack Clifford (Harlequins)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Paul Hill (Northampton Saints)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Backs (10)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
13 replies on “England release players for Six Nations fallow week”
Surely not another 6/2 split, I can’t have been the only one taking a large intake of breath when Farrell went off for his HIA. It looked as though Nowell came in at centre and Goode to full back and Brown on the wing, that is a heck of a reshuffle. Or is this a bit of kiddology from Eddie? Might Devoto start to sure up the defence (with Farrell back at 10)?
You weren’t the only one, I’m nervous about seeing people running hard at Farrel. I can’t help feeling devotos stock has risen so greatly since the announcement of the original squad without actually doing anything. Id be worried if he started, can’t even get a start for bath. If you watch the scotland game Farrell goes high in a lot of tackles, I worry henshaw or Roberts may expose him. But in summary yes, the 6-2 split seems an uneccesary risk, especially if you have goode on the bench when we already have Watson (who is a 15) on the wing and two 10s on the pitch. Would feel happier with some centre cover
Seems like a massive risk to go into the Ireland game with a 6/2 split. Especially with the preferred utility back covering 10 and 15 – the two positions where we we already have multiple options on the pitch. Surely we need centre cover? I know Nowell covers 13, but there is literally only one player in the 23 who can play 12, and even then that isn’t his best position.
I just hope that we see Launchbury, Marler and Itoje come in to start the next game.
The team I’d like to see against Ireland:
1) Mako
2) Hartley
3) Cole
4) Launchbury
5) Kruis
6) Itoje
7) Haskell
8) Billy
9) Care
10) Ford
11) Nowell
12) Farrell
13) Joseph
14) Watson
15) Brown
16) George
17) Marler (thought he looked much better coming off the bench)
18) Hill
19) Beaumont (can cover lock, but could always move Itoje there if needed, this preserves the impact that the 6/2 split provided)
20) Clifford
21) Youngs
22) Devoto (must have centre cover)
23) Goode (whilst I’m a long term detractor, I thought he played well at the weekend, although had no defending to do. Brown looks a bit sub par atm)
The thing with Devoto on the bench is he covers 10, 12, maybe 13 at a push. But it would mean a real shuffle around in the back line if Brown went off. Brown goes off, Watson moves to 15, Joseph goes on the wing and Devoto goes to 13, or 12 with Farrell at 13? We know Goode can cover 10, 15, and has played 13 at Sarries before, but Devoto is untested at this level, and throwing him in against Ireland in an unfamiliar position could be another Tait moment!
Personally I wouldn’t want Devoto covering anything other than 12 considering it would be his debut against a good Ireland side.
Which is why I would go with pretty much the 23 that Benjit has selected. There is enough lock cover in Beaumont and Itoje that Lawes is not needed. Goode and Devoto then covers all back positions between them.
One thing I would say is that if Goode can play like he did on Sunday regularly at test level (and defend) then I actually think he could be starting there soon enough. I’ve long moaned about Browns lack of distribution, and it seems to be getting worse. More than that, he no longer seems to make the breaks that he use to either.
I would love to see the team that Benjit has selected, but I can’t see EJ picking Beaumont ahead of Lawes, unless Lawes gets injured.
Brown is certainly not the player he was before his concussion issues. He has become a little one dimensional, and as such predictable. The opposition know he’s just going to run straight back at them, and this means he’s likely to get isolated and turned over.
Goode carries the ball like a fly half, and it keeps the defence guessing whether he’s going to offload or carry right up until he makes up his own mind. And as one of the pundits (think it was Flatman) said, he’s now doing this at full speed, whereas before it seemed a little half hearted. His ability to pass and offload are also a lot better than Brown’s. Not quite as good in defence, but if England can keep defending the way they have so far, I don’t think that will be a problem.
I agree that he’s not been as good since his injury – but only on the attacking front. His defence both tackling and in the air still seems to be excellent.
The oppo has always known that Brown will run straight back at them. He’s never done anything else – but he would always beat at least a couple of tacklers before being bought down and always got the team on the front foot. The difference is that he’s not slipping those tackles at the moment.
But to say he’s being turned over is incorrect. For all his minutes on the ptich and runs with the ball he’s been turned over twice in 2 games. Goode in his 20 or so minutes was turned over once against Italy. And I’ll never forget thegame he started when he was turned over something like 7 times.
Goode did seem better than he has previously but let’s not over-exaggerate. He came on against a knackered Italian side who were pretty much on the ropes. He still managed to fling one god-awful pass, which if he tries that sort of thing against better sides will end up in tears.
Even if Brown isn’t up to his old attacking self, he is still a rock in defence (his aerial ability will be needed vs Ireland) and adds some weight and snarl going forward to what would be a very lightweight backline if Goode starts.
I hope Brown can regain his attacking form
If there is one thing I don’t like about Brown’s play, it’s the fact that he just hardly ever passes the ball, or even looks like he’s going to pass the ball. Every other facet of his game is excellent, but if you don’t even look like you’re going to pass the ball, it makes it much easier to read your play. Brown’s aggression and determination are what get him those extra yards, but just imagine how good he would be if he at least dummied occasionally.
If you could get Goode and Brown in a lab and mix up their rugby DNA, you could have the perfect fullback.
Can’t decide whether its better having Marler starting and MV running at tired defences as a replacement or MV starting to tire defences out and Marler coming on later to squeeze knackered or replacement props.
I think it depends if Mike Ross is fit. If he is, then he won’t be lasting the whole match but he might cause MV some problems at scrum time.
So if Ross is in, I’d start Marler and bring MV on after about 50 mins. If Ross isn’t fit, MV can handle the Irish scrum and then we can bring Marler on later to turn the screw
Would have the following team:
MV / Marler – dependent on Ross
Hartley
Cole
Launchbury
Kruis
Robshaw
Haskell
BV
Care
Ford
Nowell
Farrell
Joseph
Watson
Brown
George
MV/Marler
Hill
Itoje
Clifford
Youngs
Devoto
Goode
Agreed with Benjit on the need for centre cover and though it pains me muchly to write it, Goode looked like he belonged on the pitch for the first time at this level – one appalling pass aside. Still don’t trust his defence or ability under the high ball though, so Brown starts , even though he’s not at his best going forward
If Brookes is back to fully fit he has to either start or bench.
I prefer Benjits lineup because it offers more lineout options with Itoje in although i’m not convinced we will see Beaumont feature in this tournament
There’s still no one better than Brown at the moment. If the wheel ain’t broke don’t fix it would be my attitude with him unless of course he had a complete howler or two. Only other player I’d like to see running ball back (not from 15 but wing) would be Wade (a stuck record for me until he is finally given a chance but is Crocked at the moment). He would terrify any defence. Watching him his defence is significantly better than May’s and possibly Watson’s too.
I also go with Benjit’s selection.What is interesting he has dropped Robshaw and no one including me disagrees.Itoje for sure will become world class.Robshaw is at best 6N standard but way off world class