Comments on: England Rugby Training Squad for Summer Camp

By: Leon

Leon — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 13:33:15 +0000

Important caveat “If Manu and Solomona are dangerous strike runners” should be modified to say “his most dangerous” in which case what Taliesin is saying is still true as Manu is not and hasn’t been the best player in his position since that one good game 5 years ago

By: AlexD

AlexD — Mon, 14 Aug 2017 10:46:48 +0000

Taliesin
Beg to differ. The best coaches will know when to keep their options open and not limit them prematurely. Lancaster was a professional at boxing himself in!
If Manu and Solomona are dangerous strike runners (and both are in different ways) then EJ will keep them out in the cold for a stint, reprimand them and return them to the fold perhaps in the spring. He needs the best squad available if he wants to come good on his ambition of winning the WC

By: Taliesin

Taliesin — Thu, 10 Aug 2017 19:56:34 +0000

Forget Manu Tualagi folks; he’s a busted flush. He had one fine game for England, 5 years ago against an exhausted AB side. But since then? He’ll never reach test standard again, and I believe EJ knows that. This was the last throw of dubious dice, and it failed.

By: Don P

Don P — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 15:33:29 +0000

Jacob
Really? Did you watch the Lions series. He, according to yr commentators & my eyes, missed tackles, kicked out on the full, got charged by trying to kick through the AB fwds, missed shots @ goal etc. Do you form yr opinion based on the last test then? Aristotle must be spinning in his grave!

By: Jacob

Jacob — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 09:09:34 +0000

Why would it have to be JJ? EJ has gone on record to say that he sees Manu as a 12, and he’s done it on more than one occasion.

You can see from the Burrell experiment/disaster is Aus that he is keen to have Farrell at 10 and a carrier at 10. As long as we see someone with better hands, like Daly, as FB then we won’t have issues spreading the ball.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 09:06:44 +0000

I’m not saying they weren’t wrong, I just don’t think it needs to go any further than this.

From all accounts, everyone was out for a beer anyway and they obviously stayed out a little too long…

By: ACee

ACee — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 21:01:24 +0000

Sorry Jacob, if you are a professional sportsman then your number one priority has to be your fitness. Tuilagi has been the bigger idiot here as he’s been plagued by injuries over the last 18 months, from which it seems, he has learned sod all. He can’t claim to be an easily led tyro anymore either. Solomona has played right into the hands of those who question his genuine desire to wear the red rose. I hope EJ throws the book at the pair of them. So disappointing.

By: JS 10

JS 10 — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 16:41:13 +0000

Irrespective of anything else the time factor is the main consideration.With tuilagi being injured for so long EJ has had to construct a different game plan which uses the rapier as opposed to the broadsword.Time is too short to go back now.For Tuilagi to be considered as a starter not only would mean that JJ would have to be dropped but also the wide attack would be blunted.The best that Tuilagi could be utilised would be as a finisher like Teo. EJ”s selection policy has made it perfectly clear that bovine neanderthalism (Warrenball) is Plan B or C never Plan A.
As for Sollomona tremendous try scoring potential but needs at least a season to get his defence sorted out .Remember Roko was jettisoned because of defensive frailties ,same applies to Wade and Yarde.

By: Don P

Don P — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 16:04:27 +0000

Ooops! Meant Solomona. Apologies to BT.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 16:04:04 +0000

Think we all know other Jacob must have meant moving Farrell into 10. There is no way he gets dropped. He was first choice 10 for the Lions and outside of Barrett there isn’t another 10 in world rugby that gets close to him.

By: Don P

Don P — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 16:02:53 +0000

Paulo
Ford finds ‘his best form ‘ when he’s in a winning team. Which is ok(ish?), if England keep winning.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 16:01:41 +0000

Yeh my understanding is that they looked hungover when they turned up Monday morning.

I’m not condoning it, and they certainly shouldn’t be doing that, but if that’s all it was then I don’t think it’ll be taken any further