25 players have been retained by England to prepare for Saturday’s final Old Mutual Wealth Series game against Australia at Twickenham Stadium.
Forwards (14)
Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Teimana Harrison (Northampton Saints)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Nathan Hughes (Wasps)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)
Backs (11)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)
Marland Yarde (Harlequins)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
How do you expect England to line up for their final match of the year?
How I expect the line up to look (who I’d like to see) 1. Mako, 2. Hartley (George), 3. Cole (Sinckler), 4. Kruis, 5. Lawes, 6. Robshaw, 7. Wood, (Clifford?), 8. Hughes, 9. Youngs, 10. Ford, 11. May, 12. Farrell, 13. Joseph, 14. Roko, 15. Brown (Haley)
16. George (Hartley), 17. Marler, 18, Sinckler (Cole), 19. Ewels, 20. Harrison (Wood), 21. Care, 22. T’eo, 23. Slade
Not saying I don’t agree with dropping Hartley for George, but who would you give the captaincy to?
Can’t be Robshaw and farrell is unproven (never been a club captain or had to make the tough calls/rally the troops).
I think thats the real reason Hartley keeps the #2 jersey and if Haskell was fit I think this swap would have already happened…
Farrell would do just fine and has deputised from the 60th minute on in most games.
In the rest of Eddies leadership group Billy is injured and Youngs and Brown are available
I’m pretty sure that if Hartley got crocked or was dropped etc then Farrell would take over as captain. Hartley has been subbed in every game so far and Farrell has taken over the role. He is probably the most vocal player on the pitch.
Agree, but do you think Farrell has the presence and decision making skills of an international captain? Again, he has never been a club captain so in this role he is very raw and untested (see Robshaw’s career as captain to see how important this can be!)
Looking toward 2019 (when Hartley will most likely be long gone) who do think we should be grooming as the next Great Leader of English Men! Itoje seems a favourite but is still very young (not that thats held him back at anything so far!) and also not a club captain yet. Perhaps Launchbury? or George even?
Interestingly both George and Itoje were captains at England age group level and have both captained Sarries on several occasions as has Farrell. Launchbury has only been club captain for a short time and suspect Haskell will take over on his return? Also don’t think he was a captain at age group level?
What I’m saying is if you’re looking for a captain with experience but young enough to be there for a few years then Itoje is the man. Captained the U20’s to a World Cup and Sarries to LV and A league titles in the same year. Also has a great record of winning!!!
I would agree with all your picks Dazzle.
I also heard that Yarde is ahead of Roko in Eddies pecking order, probably because Australia are good at spreading the ball and Rokos defence can be questionable
I like your choices Dazza although I wouldn’t throw Haley into this match.
I think Clifford is undergoing return to play protocols after the Bath match and may not be able to play
Otherwise I think we may have seen him in this squad.
I am looking forward to Marler, George and Sinckler coming on against the reserve Aussie front row
I’m not sure either Roko or Yarde are the best defensively and I would have said the same about May, but all the wingers seem to have improved their defence under Eddie and Gustard.
Can you think of any English wingers who are actually really good defensively?
Agree with a lot of this but would have Care for Youngs, drop Ford, move Farrell to 10, put Slade in the centre and have Goode at full back. George is way in front of Hartley on present form and might well get a Lions place instead of him. With everyone fit the Engand side will look very different to this.
Would be a great looking backline no doubt, but thats way too many changes for a test of this kind. I was disappointed not to see something like this during one of the previous 3 games though.