As the first Lions test looms large I thought we could have a look at the relative strength of the English national side. As we now know, England have for the first time completed a whitewash in Argentina, and a very convincing one at that. They won 51-26 yesterday and 32-3 last week. The Argentine side was not the one that will play in the rugby championship but England were not at full strength either.
Elsewhere, Wales struggled against Japan, with a narrow win and a heavy defeat (23-8). Ireland scraped past USA by three points before battering Canada. Scotland, far less hindered from Lions call ups, went down to Samoa before putting in a valiant effort against the Boks. So is there a gulf in depth between the home nations?
How many teams could England field and how many other nations have a similar level of quality of depth?
1- Corbs, Vunipola, Sheridan, Marler
2- Hartley, Webber, Youngs
3- Cole, Wilson, Thomas
4- Launchbury, Lawes, Kennedy, Clark
5- Parling, Attwood, Slater, Palmer
6- Croft, Wood, Robshaw, Jones
7- Kvesic, Fraser, Armitage
8- Morgan, Vunipola, Easter, Haskell
9- Youngs, Care, Dickson, Wigglesworth
10- Burns, Flood, Ford, Wilkinson
11- Yarde, May, Strettle, Monye, Varndell
12- Twelvetrees, Eastmond, Farrell, Allen
13- Tuilagi, Joseph, Daly, Tomkins
14- Wade, Sharples, Ashton
15- Foden, Brown, Tait, Armitage
Personally I feel at least three sides could compete for the 6N and only NZ and SA have more or equal depth, with France a bit behind and Australia too. I decided to leave out mercenaries as I don't like it but understand this is a personal viewpoint and not shared by all. Perhaps I missed some guys you think are international level. Either way it is a very large talent pool looking ahead to 2015, and who knows, maybe Sam Tomkins or guys currently in the u-20's will come through.
To get back to the original question, how strong relatively are England?
How strong are England?
posted on 18/6/13
Not at all Aristo i totally get your point of view.
However. It's France that Ireland want to beat. I know you like to think Ireland V England is the big one over here but i assure you its the second biggest. These days that pendulum has swung and in the past 10 or so years we have gotten sick and tired of the French spoiling our party. The ENgland Ireland game has a more relaxed party feel to it. we all get along quite nicely. you should definitely come to Dublin for a game sometime. No agro at all. Healthy rivalry for sure. But the French. You could cut the atmosphere with a knife and i have been in france 5 times to watch Ireland get throttled on all occasions. Bloody hate them!
posted on 18/6/13
The French rarely spoil our party ^^
posted on 18/6/13
HAHAHA i know. But we have developed a talent for spoiling your mate
posted on 18/6/13
Bang out of order that one <3
posted on 18/6/13
Anyway. Im surprised the Elephant in the room has been ignored today. That would be that the Lions ot beaten. Not by the Brumbies no no no. By some idiotic selections by the master of BS Warren Gatland.
posted on 18/6/13
I only saw some of the first half but the breakdown was a nightmare. 36 absolutely wussed out of one ruck that costs us a penalty as did numerous other players.
The Aussies are cute in this area so we need to be much better. Luckily our other players are better although the Croft, Heaslip, WB backrow only has one breakdown beast (Croft's better than he's given credit for though).
The tight 5 was shocking in the tight and the loose, scrummaging is part of the job but absolutely killing the 6 and 7 on the opposition when they try to jackal is the other and they were hopeless today.
posted on 18/6/13
Sporty,
I felt there was a high level of complacency and a very real lack of cohesion and even interest in the game. Wasn't until Gatland emptied the bench that we were superior but it was with ten mins to go and to little to late. Farrell made a very positive impact off the bench as did the rest of the subs. But these guys are the fellas that know they will get a shot at a test jersey. The boys who started the game (most of them) knew they were not going to be getting close to a starting jersey. And they looked, for all the world, disinterested. NOT BLOODY GOOD ENOUGH!
If you get a chance, small as it maybe, you do everything in your power to impress the boss. To get the public watching to sit up and take notice. They were utterly hopeless until the bench was emptied. Honestly there were a few out there who should have received a plane ticket home after the game. Economy class!
posted on 18/6/13
So the News im reading is North is likely out of the first test.
Bowe is almost certainly ruled our of the first test tho they decline to confirm it. That said he looks on track for the second test. And also Jamie Roberts is unlikely to be available. for the first test.
It's getting a bit thin where wingers are concerned. Maybe Gatland could call some real wingers over. Vicer, Trimble, Dave Kearney, Ashton etc etc there has got to be a list the length of my johnson of wingers available who are better than a retired player plying his trade with an amature outfitin Japan. for gods sake! this is ridiculous
posted on 21/6/13
Williams played the gane purely because he was there and eligible. But in answer to youre question no there aren't.
posted on 21/6/13
Wonderman with all due respect. Go back to the wendyball section. You clearly don't know anything about this.