Comments on: Six Nations 2018: England Trims Squad for France

By: AlexD

AlexD — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 13:15:02 +0000

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

By: Jacob Bassford

Jacob Bassford — Thu, 08 Mar 2018 06:47:54 +0000

Did play very well against Worcester, we will see how well he does against Wasps

By: Pablito

Pablito — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 23:35:23 +0000

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…

By: Olly

Olly — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 21:55:46 +0000

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.

By: Olly

Olly — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 21:38:48 +0000

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.

By: Geraint

Geraint — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 18:38:37 +0000

Weather is for torrential rain

By: SDHoneymonster

SDHoneymonster — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 18:15:12 +0000

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.

By: AlexD

AlexD — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 18:02:48 +0000

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

By: Harlequin

Harlequin — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 13:49:50 +0000

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

By: Ten Ton Donut

Ten Ton Donut — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 13:36:31 +0000

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

By: Tinashe Zimbabwe

Tinashe Zimbabwe — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 12:48:42 +0000

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.

By: Dazza (Dazzle)

Dazza (Dazzle) — Wed, 07 Mar 2018 12:46:44 +0000

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.