Comments on: My England team to start the first test against South Africa

By: AlexD

AlexD — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 12:12:21 +0000

Earle for me on one wing. England could do with a Cohen/Savea-esque bruiser on the wing (sometging they’ve missed since 2003 – i’m excluding Banahan who i never rated.
Jonnes has definitely missed a few tricks with Woodward, Trinder and Armand.
The latter would have provided an extra ‘enforcer’ and lightning quick ball carrier – a rebuff to those who say you can have too many ball-carriers. Armand could have covered 7 and 8 surely and played alongside BV.

By: Jack

Jack — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 08:27:14 +0000

What about Lososki at fullback? I’m pretty sure he’s played there quite regularly for sarries, seem to recall he ended the semis there when goose came off so has experience there (more so than daly).

As has been mentioned above he’s a strong tackler, good turn of pace and vision. He’d be quite similar to an on form Brown and means daly can fit in at 13.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 18:20:41 +0000

Worth remembering that for all their well publicised problems, the Boks are still a menace – particularly at home.
Beat Ireland 2-1 on their last tour, drew twice with Aus in the last Rugby Championship, beat Argentina twice and came within a point of the Kiwis at Newlands
If England come out of this with a 2-1 victory I’ll be well pleased

By: Samu

Samu — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 17:23:49 +0000

1. Vunipola 2. George 3. Williams 4. Launchbury 5. Itoje 6. Wilson 7. Curry 8. Vunipola 9. Youngs 10. Cipriani 11. Daly 12. Farrell 13. Slade 14. May 15. Brown

Bench: Cowan-Dickie, Genge, Sinckler, Isiekwe, Shields, Robson, Lozowski, Earle

Really irritatingly difficult squad to pick from.

– Williams over Sinckler for me. Better carrier and more rounded game in my opinion. Sinckler more suited to short bursts off the bench. Plus any team would fear him and Genge coming on on 50/60 mins.

– Honestly cannot think of one area of the game, other than experience, in which Robshaw is better than Wilson. I like Robshaw and he’s been a decent servant but Wilson is bigger, stronger, faster and better over the ball. Interesting to see what Shields can do off the bench.

– Cipriani at 10 over Ford. If not now then when for Cipriani. Time to see if he’s an option for the WC. Ford’s recent form has been poor as well and hopefully being dropped will spark him into life.

– Really want to see Daly at 13 but the backline is mostly damage control. Solomona should be nowhere near the England squad and Earle has not done enough to be a starter. Brown over Woodward until the latter learns to kick.

– Slade over Lozowksi probably the biggest call. Loz’ recent form has been better but Slade has more experience in the position and added physicality.

No idea what to expect from this game tbh. Could be a thrashing either way. Will be fascinating whatever happens though

By: Jacob Bassford

Jacob Bassford — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 16:10:36 +0000

Wilson is so much better than Robshaw, offers more in attack and is a far better breakdown operator. Naming both Curry and Wilson would be such a good idea look how well it worked with Pocock and Hooper for Australia, Barclay and Watson for Scotland, Warburton and Tipuric in the past for Wales.

By: Leon

Leon — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 15:17:12 +0000

Starters
Mako, George, Williams, Itoje, Launchbury, Robshaw, Curry, Vunipola, Youngs, Ford, May, Farrell, Lozowski, Daly, Brown
Finishers
Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Sinkler, Isiekwe, Simmonds, Robson, Cipriani, Solomona

Start with a more tried and tested team bring on the big runners like genge sink and simmonds later on with robson sniping to open it up and cips to put them through holes. Keep the wasp and tiger combos together, move Daly to FB when Solomona comes on for Brown.

Classic case of starters and finishers

By: Ted

Ted — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 14:55:27 +0000

Although tempting it may be to throw a new and innovative side, I think there has to be some level of consistency given the amount of absences. Due to this (and a lack of suitable options in the backline) I would start Brown at 15.

I think the wings are looking quite weak without Nowell and Watson, so would keep Daly there for time being, although as with the majority I don’t believe this should remain his position long term.

I like the idea of Farrell and Lozowski in the centres. Ideally this would be outside Cipriani, but akin with the Brown comment, I think it will be Ford.

The other main contentious position is of course the back row – I would keep Robshaw at 6 due to the consistency reason (last chance saloon, please not another Baa Baas performance) and I would give the chance to Curry on the other side. Simmonds can cover all from the bench. I don’t think Shields should play due to a) not having met most of the group properly yet b) not actually playing that well at the minute.

My team would therefore be:

Starting: Mako, George, Williams, Itoje, Launchberry, Robshaw, Curry, Vunipola, Youngs, Ford, Daly, Farrell, Lozowski, May, Brown

By: Dazza (Dazzle)

Dazza (Dazzle) — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 12:54:40 +0000

Earle played quite a lot of his early rugby years in the academy at full back and I think he played there in NZ as well? He is very good defensively and has a good boot. He is also a very capable and strong ball carrier with loads of pace and fits into Eddie’s culture of “He’s big and quick!”.
If Brown is not playing or got injured on tour I would rather see Earle at full back than May or Solomona.

By: Robbo

Robbo — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 11:07:14 +0000

First test: 1 – Mako Vunipola; 2 – Jamie George; 3 – Kyle Sinkler; 4 – Maro Itoje; 5 – Joe Launchbury [NI if JL not fit]; 6 – Chris Robshaw; 7 – Tom Curry; 8 – Billy Vunipola; 9 – Ben Youngs; 10 – George Ford; 11 – Elliot Daly; 12 – Owen Farrell; 13 – Alex Lozowski; 14 – Jonny May; 15 – Mike Brown

16 – Luke Cowan Dickie; 17 – Ellis Genge; 18 – Harry Williams; 19 – Nick Isiekwe [Jonny Hill if JL unfit]; 20 – Brad Shields; 21 – Dan Robson; 22 – Danny Cipriani; 23 – Jason Woodward

Over the course of the tests it would be good to try out Daly/Woodward at 15, Wilson at 6 or on the bench. Similarly Spencer and Solomona/Earle can get some time off the bench.

By: Henry Ker

Henry Ker — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 10:16:18 +0000

Interesting – I have never seen Earle play 15 so will have to bow to your knowledge on that. He has all the attributes to be a success there, just worry about his relative inexperience, especially in such a key position.

Good point re Lozowski covering there, but I would want to avoid having to shift Cipriani from 10 if we had an early injury. He needs a decent run in the position and wouldn’t want a rerun of the Daly experiment at 15 in the barbarians game

By: Dazza (Dazzle)

Dazza (Dazzle) — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 10:10:55 +0000

A good team selection there but, I would like to see Earle given a chance at 15 with Daly at 13. Lozowski and Slade on the bench. That may seem a little odd but Lozowski and Cipriani can also cover full back. I would leave Brown out completely. He is still a great player but, we need to try other options now, not in the Autumn or Six Nations.
Although Earle hasn’t had much game time at Sarries this season he is much more reliable defensively than Solomona or May as he proved on last seasons summer tour.

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 09:38:51 +0000

Looks pretty good to me. Its a big test for Curry to see if he can cope with the physicality of this tour, but there are not any other particularly convincing options. Simmonds is if anything even more of a concern on the physical side.

Can see the argument for Williams starting, but it must be a bit of a concern that he didn’t even make the bench for Exeter in the playoffs (I don’t think he was inured?). Genge should definitely be on the bench for me, not only is he a better carrier than Marler, I think he has moved past him in general play.

The backs are harder, but not sure about Solomona at this level. Brown or Woodward at fullback I think. Daly at fullback may work, and I would love to see him at centre, but for now think he needs to keep filling in on the wing. Its also a shame that Slade had another poor game on a big occasion. He is a big talent but he may miss his chance if he cannot produce when it matters.