England head coach Eddie Jones has retained 27 players as England continue their preparations ahead of their next NatWest 6 Nations match against France in Paris (Saturday 10 March 4:45pm KO GMT).
Backs
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Elliot Daly (Wasps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
Denny Solomona (Sale Sharks)
Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
Forwards
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Nathan Hughes (Wasps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)
Dylan Hartley and Harry Williams are injury doubts, with Luke Cowan-Dickie and Kyle Sinckler retained as cover.
How do you think England will line up this weekend?
Well from that lot I’d go with:
Vunipola, George, Cole
Launchbury, Lawes (agree with others Itoje just looks like he needs a rest, I’d have him on the bench though, also I’ve also liked the idea of the two “L”s as a unit – would especially like to see the sobriquet “‘Kin Ell” catch on, you know like how Scotland used to have the “Killer Bees” a while ago, but I digress)
Robshaw, Haskell, Hughes (Simmonds to replace Hughes around 50′)
Care, Ford
Farrell, Daly (Farrell move to 10 around 55’ with Te’o coming in at 12)
May, Watson
Brown
Solomona to come in for one of the back three if needed, with Watson potentially moving to 15 if necessary.
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Did Daly play for Wasps on the weekend? Is he really match fit? Not that I would wish any bad on a player but I’d like to see Jamie George get a run out for at least 60mins.
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It will be interesting to see what happens with Hartley.
I remember Johnno sticking resolutely with Borthwick as captain, until he was injured and then never selected again, not even in the big RWC squad the following year.
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I would give Mako a rest and Marler a start. I think Mako needs a rest for at least one half of rugby. I think we will need Mako’s carrying more against Ireland and Marler’s scrummaging more against France.
My 23 would be:
1. Marler, 2. George, 3. Cole, 4. Launch, 5. Lawes, 6. Robshaw, 7. Simmonds, 8. Hughes, 9. Wiggy, 10. Farrell, 11. May, 12. T’eo, 13. JJ, 14. Watson, 15. Brown.
16. LCD, 17. Mako, 18.Sinckler, 19. Itoje, 20. Haskell, 21. Care, 22. Ford, 23. Daly/Solomona.
Only one I’m not sure is Daly or Solomona on the bench. Daly has only just come back from injury, whilst Solomona has been on great form and seems to have improved his defence.
I just think we need someone in the squad with the surname of Arthur. Then we can have George Cole and Arthur Daly on the field at the same time!!
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I’m not sure slowing the tempo with Wigglesworth would be the right move against a big french pack. This will give them more time to reset in defense and our ball-carriers will come off second best in the collisions.
I would rather see a higher tempo game, make the French move more around the field and tire them out.
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Keep saying it but Eddie’s really ballsed up picking Wigglesworth IMO. Not because he’s not a good player but because he’s completely wrong for the team – he almost has to start because he offers very little from the bench unless you’re looking to close out a game you’re comfortably ahead in. Could’ve been the perfect opportunity to see if whatever worries he has about Robson were unfounded or well placed, or to chuck in Vellacott, after such a noise was made surrounding him before the tournament.
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Robson has been bossing it for Wasps all season, and Jones had previously been willing to give those that had performed well domestically the chance to move into the England setup. Robson deserves at least a squad place, if not a place in the match day squad.
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Yeah, it is the argument that EJ uses for not picking Cip (which I actually agree with). Cip and Wiggy are not bench players. Either start them or they shouldn’t be in the squad.
I actually wouldn’t object to starting Wiggy. Get him kicking over the French forwards and making them run backwards for 50mins. Then Care on to exploit their lack of fitness.
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This is a difficult one.
Care doesn’t seem to be playing to his natural instincts and is less dangerous from an attacking pov – but he still brings a good tempo to the game – and will especially do so if the forwards can actually secure the ball
Even after 70 odd mins against Scotland, the tempo from the base of the scrum dropped when Wigglesworth came on – and he tried a quick tap when nothing was on, wasting a opportunity to kick to the corner.
So essentially you have Wigglesworth trying to play like Care and Care trying to play like Wigglesworth.
Perhaps the best idea would be to give them a half each. Start Wigglesworth and tell both to just play their natural game. We should then have a half of control from Wigglesworth (who I don’t think is any slower at passing than Youngs, although he’s not as good overall) and a half of speed and danger from Care.
Course all this would be moot if EJ had realised that there are actually more than two scrum halves eligble to play for England
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My reason for picking Wiggy is that I think he is a better kicker from the ruck area. He would help Farrell keep France pinned in their own half with better tactical kicking (the only reason I would have put him in the squad in the first place!).
I totally agree that this would have been a chance to stick Robson, Spencer, Harrison, Vellacott or whoever in there but, Eddie went with an experienced head.
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In the build up to the Wales game that made some sense to me, with such a short turnaround. He really should’ve then moved on with two further weeks to prepare for the next game though.
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Showing your age!
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Eddie Jones’s secret is out. Slow down breakdown ball and be wary of England’s kicking game. You would think knowing this is enough, sadly for France not even close. France need a long bonding camp, better competition for the 10 jersey, defensive lessons for the wingers and a positive rugby coach with great tactical acumen and understands the French Top 14 & Federales Leagues to a tee in picking his squad.
England to win convincingly. French to put in a brave fight for their current standards.
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I would go with..
1. Marler
2. George
3. Cole
4. Launchbury
5. Kruis
6. Robshaw
7. Haskell
8. Hughes
9. Wiggler
10. Ford
11. May
12. Farrell
13. Teo
14. Watson
15. Brown
16. LCD
17. Vunipola
18. Sinckler
19. Lawes
20. Simmonds
21. Care
22. JJ
23. Daly
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If we plan to play a tight game Haskell and Wrigglesworth have to start.If a looser game then Care and Simmons.Not sure we can match them up front so maybe we have to opt for a quicker game and that will determine 7 and 9
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1. MV
2. George
3. Sinkler
4. Launchbury
5. Itoje
6. Robshaw
7. Haskell
8. Hughes
9. Care
10. Ford
11. May
12. Farrell
13. Teo
14. Watson
15 Brown
16 LCD
17. Marler
18. Cole
19. Lawes
20 Simmonds
21 Wiggs
22. Jj
23. Daley
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Weather is for torrential rain
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I agree that Mako should start from he bench as Marler is a better scrummager which will be more valuable against the French pack but more importantly he needs rest. Hope Hartley is injured so LCD can make the 23 as he deserves his chance off of recent form. Great to get Simmonds back and thanks to Underhill’s injury this might be the time for him to stake his claim for the 7 shirt as Underhill did once Tom Curry got injured in the summer. Heard talks of Eddie going with Te’o at 12 with JJ outside him and I think that would work well, Ford replacing Te’o later on and Farrell moving back into the centres (meaning we would hopefully up the tempo and get the ball wider) could finish off a tiring French side that seem to be known for losing grip of the game in the last 20. Would love to see Daly at 15 long term as he would get more of the ball and has a better kicking game than Brown or Watson but that’s a big ask to play him in an unfamiliar role in his first game back so I would go Watson flanked by May and Daly. If Brown was to be dropped altogether (v unlikely) then Solomona would get the 23 shirt after his first half hat trick last week.
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If its Te’o at 12 and JJ at 13, the wingers may as well go for a fag and a cuppa when we have the ball…
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Another comment on the midfield is that with Ford playing 10 he has no running game so the opposition drift wider as they know he is going to pass. So with Farrell at 10 (who has improved on his running game as we have seen this tournament with tries against Italy & Scotland) will cause defenders to worry about him more, meaning they plant their inside foot which creates the space for Te’o, JJ etc to exploit. Long term I can’t help but think Manu would be a great 12 to fit this style of play but he still needs to stay fit and play consistently well. Possibly a place in the squad for South Africa in the summer perhaps.
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Did play very well against Worcester, we will see how well he does against Wasps
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Version 2 of the team
1. MV
2. George
3. Sinkler
4. Launchbury
5. Itoje
6. Robshaw
7. SImmonds
8. Hughes
9. Care
10. Ford
11. May
12. Farrell
13. Teo
14. Watson
15. Daley
16. LCD
17. Marler
18. Cole
19. Lawes
20. Haskell
21. Robson
22. JJ
23. Brown
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