Comments on: Who should start for England against South Africa?

By: Jamie

Jamie — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 14:47:45 +0000

Dan Robson at Gloucester looks a properly classy player. Still young, and can learn from Laidlaw for now, but he’ll want to be pushing for regular game time soon. A post-2015 option, I’d say.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 14:31:59 +0000

Who else is there for SH?

I used to think Joe Simpson would be in an England shirt before long but he’s never quite made the very top grade.

Wigglesworth, like Strettle, is a solid club player

Karl Dickson doesn’t get the game time

Any other suggestions?

By: Al

Al — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 13:55:33 +0000

I could make a snide remark here, but I’m going to be a big man.

No I’m not: England seem to have that policy anyhow.

By: Dazza

Dazza — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 09:19:44 +0000

Really not sure Youngs or Care are in the right form at the moment. When Youngs came on last weekend the kicking improved, but some of the passing was atrocious. I think they both need a kick up the arse by bringing in another young scrum half to shake things up a tad. And not Dickson as he’s not exactly on great form either.
Haskell in for Wood, and a back line of Ford, Eastmond, Farrell, May, Yarde and Watson. Brown looks knackered and off the pace. Watson has great pace, a good boot and is a decent defender. Farrell can defend the 13 channel, and with Barritt on the bench, if Ford is wobbling Farrell can switch to 10, and Barritt to 13.

By: Dazza

Dazza — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 09:12:39 +0000

Just looked at your back line choices and wanted to remind you we are playing SA. They have probably the biggest back line of an SH team. And you’ve chosen almost the same back line that got destroyed by a French team with large backs a couple of weeks ago in a European club game.

By: Andy

Andy — Wed, 12 Nov 2014 05:11:58 +0000

If you watched the Itish game, South Africa were undone all over the park. England can match the RSA brute force but it’s the tactical kicking game they need to win. Pin the Boks back.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 22:50:27 +0000

Bring Ben Youngs in for Danny Care to improve the kicking game of the team as a whole, and Haskell in for Wood to bring some forward momentum. These were the two main issues in a hugely weakened side which only lost by 3 points to one of the best All Blacks sides of all time. Chopping and changing will not solve anything, give these boys another go to show what they can do! We know we have Manu coming back at 13, as mentioned about, and I can see a Farrell/Ford – Eastmond – Tuilagi axis working effectively! Ford should be given the chance to show what he can do from the off in the Samoa game.

By: Andy Daniell

Andy Daniell — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 17:49:13 +0000

Need somebody in there to get back 3 going so I would go with Ford Eastmond and J.J who has been the form centre Haskell for Wood is a must as well

By: stu

stu — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 16:39:46 +0000

I went for Ford/Eastmond/Joseph and Watson at 15. Maybe a little lightweight but they all know each other and will offer so much more creativity to the side. Ford should be given the chance to kick, if he wants to be an international 10 then he needs to kick under pressure so lets see if he can.

Went for Watson as I think Brown looks tired.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 16:01:20 +0000

No he isn’t but it does give up the opportunity to get Ford in the side without piling the kicking pressure on him too. Plus as I mentioned, whilst he isn’t a running threat, is Barritt?

By: Will

Will — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 15:44:15 +0000

Is Farrell really a fantastic running option in the centres though? Lets face it, whoever holds the 13 shirt is keeping it warm for Mr Tuilagi… in a fully fit England squad he is one of the first names on the team sheet.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Tue, 11 Nov 2014 15:43:53 +0000

Ahem, good spot. You can now also pick a fly-half, if you so desire.