p.s.

I think Heinz will struggle in proper Test rugby. Can't kick for shit.

It's supposed to be one of his strengths but I've seen him fuck it up enough times to know that he's not a banker.

I bet Care is kicking his dog a fair distance .

Too far for a good chase or straight into touch??

Probably because the Quins fans want Spencer in there.

They watch Care and are used to a 9 with a dodgy pass

England’s official Rugby World Cup squad

Forwards
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 86 caps) **
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 12 caps)
Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 11 caps)
Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 10 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 37 caps) *
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 27 caps)
George Kruis (Saracens, 32 caps) *
Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 59 caps) *
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 72 caps) **
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
Joe Marler (Harlequins, 58 caps) *
Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 22 caps)
Jack Singleton (Saracens, 1 cap)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 9 caps)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 42 caps) *
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 53 caps) *
Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons / Sale Sharks, 13 caps)

Backs
Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 5 caps)
Elliot Daly (Saracens, 31 caps)
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 70 caps) *
George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 56 caps) *
Piers Francis (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)
Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 1 cap)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 41 caps) *
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 45 caps) *
Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 33 caps) *
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 22 caps) *
Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers, 33 caps) *
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 34 caps) *
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 86 caps) **

* number of Rugby World Cup tournaments played

Ludlam deserves to be there, great debut from him and versatile enough to cover the entire back row

having only one recognised blindside isn't the end of the world when you consider Lawes, Itoje, Underhill etc can all step in there if needed

the biggest problem IMO is having only two recognised 9s - even in a best case scenario it probably means at least 10-20 minutes per game for Heinz (and starts vs USA and/or Tonga)

Actually thought Cole looked in decent nick btw. Nothing dynamic but moved a bit and not a penalty machine.

Humour me:

If a player goes down injured, is it call a player up and 48hrs before they can play?

Mate on Facebook said Ford is the third 9 and Marler the reserve tighthead.

Assuming May covers backrow.

Yes. Me too. And I remember him dropping on a ball for a turnover. Not a steal but aware and welcome.

Believe so, so you can't leave it till the very last minute either.

The first two theories have already occurred to me - the Jonny May back row stuff not so much

Pretty good depth to be fair.

Mate on Facebook said Ford is the third 9 and Marler the reserve tighthead.

Well I opened the thread pretty pleased with the squad. A couple of choices I'd have made differently, but nothing massive.

After reading the thread I am now ready to slit my wrists and have given up all hope. When did we all become so negative about everything?

Both if which are f**king crackpot. If there are two positions on the pitch where you have to be a specialist, scrum half and tighthead are it (front row in general). You can't have someone fart about in a couple of training sessions and then chuck them in at Test level, even off the bench in extremis.

It's a psychological protection mechanism. Its the hope that kills you.

Is the gamble that the 3rd choice, Ford and Marler, could manage 20 mins or so in a group game and then a replacement is flown out. The only issue with that plan is that unless we fly Care out then the reserve scrum half will not be up to speed with international rugby and won't have played a competitive game for months.

So, worst case, Youngs goes down in first 5 mins of quarter final. Heinz on for rest of game, Youngs borderline for semi final. Do you thrown him out of squad and get a replacement over or rest him, start Heinz in a RWC semi and hope you dont need Ford??? If they do call someone up its going to be safe hands Wigglesworth.

Jones also confirmed that, in agreement with the Premiership clubs, he will be allowed to call-up additional players over the remaining warm-up matches only in the event of injury, and given the issues currently on his hands he will add lock Charlie Ewels, flanker Matt Kvesic and centre Joe Marchant for Saturday’s return fixture with Wales.

Both if which are f**king crackpot. If there are two positions on the pitch where you have to be a specialist, scrum half and tighthead are it (front row in general). You can't have someone fart about in a couple of training sessions and then chuck them in at Test level, even off the bench in extremis.

Yes. Me too. And I remember him dropping on a ball for a turnover. Not a steal but aware and welcome.

Seems a bit strange to only have 2 THs and 2 scrum halfs but 6 back 3. I'd have kept with 3 THs and lost Mcconnachie. Not quite sure what Ludlam offers over Robshaw.

Still this would be my 23

Mako
George
Sinks
Itoje
Kruis
Underhill
Curry
Billy
Youngs
Farrell
May
Manu
JJ
Daly
Watson

Genge, LCD, Cole, Lawes, Wilson, Heinz, Ford, Nowell/Cokanasinga

Well I opened the thread pretty pleased with the squad. A couple of choices I'd have made differently, but nothing massive.

After reading the thread I am now ready to slit my wrists and have given up all hope. When did we all become so negative about everything?

Next weekend : rest Bill and Daly. Watson to full back, May on wing. Wilson to 8. Keep Manu on the bench. Start with Kruis, Lawes, Sinckler. Stick with Ford, Heinz and Ludlam. Underhill in for Curry, or if not fit I guess it’s Itoje unless we can draft Dombrandt back in. Bill needs a rest though.

Concerned that the named squad is already carrying injuries to Curry, Underhill, Nowell and Mako prolly isn’t match fit.

Let’s hope the next ref picks up on the barrage of Welsh no arms tackles, particularly from Moriarty.

Ludlam deserves to be there, great debut from him and versatile enough to cover the entire back row

having only one recognised blindside isn't the end of the world when you consider Lawes, Itoje, Underhill etc can all step in there if needed

the biggest problem IMO is having only two recognised 9s - even in a best case scenario it probably means at least 10-20 minutes per game for Heinz (and starts vs USA and/or Tonga)

from the Independent, buried in the last line of their squad announcement article:



https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rug ... 54931.html

Interesting call ... I can see the logic for Kvesic as a like-for-like cover for Curry/Underhill, but it’s an odd one considering he’s shown no interest in him before now.

I would have thought Ben Curry would have made more sense.