FFS WHERE'S JONNY MAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good to see another Jonny May fan!

From watching him week in and week out at kingsholm he really is a special player. He is terrifyingly quick, agile, got a great step and just reads the game and spaces so well.

If i'm being brutally honest, and horrendously bias, i'd put Simpson-Daniel and May in that squad, and first team. With a big pack, the freedom that they would have could lead to some phenomenal rugby!

May would be in my starting team, i think he's the most naturally gifted player we've got

I think its a decent squad, but not what I would have picked. Tuilagi being injured has highlighted how weak we are behind him. I'm not really sure what I would pick from this squad, but I would have gone 36 or Eastmond inside JJ. As for Parling, I don't see him as a certain starter, if any lock is that it should be Launchbury. Goode being in the squad kills my soul a little. If Lancaster picks Farrell, Tomkins and Goode I will be very unhappy and I suspect he will. I am excited to see how Binny can do though and you can't pick Morgan ahead of him based on this year.

Corbs
Hartley
Cole
Launchbury
Attwood
Wood (c)
Kvesic
Binny
Youngs
Burns
Yarde
Eastmond
JJ (I know)
Ashton
Foden

Youngs
Vunipola
Wilson
Lawes
Robshaw
Care
Farrell
Brown

Ye gents. You guys are looking strong in most areas. Should be a competitive team. I'm probably not qualified to list a team but i would be quite happy if i was and England fan. Best of luck indeed.

So whats a good return for you? Would you take 2 losses and a win over the AB's ? Or vice versa SA and Argentina go down but you lose to the AB's? Or perhaps nothing less than 100% win stats?

So what would you guys take as a good return? ANd indeed, Best of luck. Really does look a strong bunch coming through.

Dingbatman

For me, 3 out of 3 has to be the yard stick of success. Argentina will always be tough customers for anyone, but a solid summer tour this year should see us win, and hopefully express ourselves!

Australia are still re-building, and looked pretty woeful during the rugby championship. Again, England should be beating this wallabies team, especially on home soil.

And to the all blacks. They have been outstanding and have improved (how is that even possible?) year on year. Their final game of the rugby championship in Jo'berg was arguably the best game I've ever seen, and the all blacks just showed how lethal they can be, a sniff, a half chance, and they unleash the beast! However.... After beating them last autumn, we've clearly shown we are capable of mixing it with the best, but, that performance last November has to be the norm, not the exception. If we can re-create that form, and build during the first two games, then we have every chance of a clean sweep.

Moving on from there, a 6 nations triumph, another clean sweep in autumn 2014, topped off by the grand slam should give us the platform going into a home World Cup in the fall of 2015!

Alright lads,

Anyone know what the deal is with Corbs knee? It sounds like a pretty serious deal that's going to be a problem for a while.

As for the squad - he called up the centres I wanted to see play so I can't complain.

We still look a genuine openside short of a top quality side in my opinion.

We definitely have good depth pretty much everywhere but is our best 15 as good as some other teams?

"FFS WHERE'S JONNY MAY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

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Whilst I agree that May should be there, he didn't take his chance in Argentina like Wade and Yarde. I also think he was unlucky to not start the BaaBaas game, as that gave Wade and Yarde the platform to kickstart their England careers.

I'd still put May in there though, better than Ashton imo. If May was playing behind that Sarries pack he'd be top try scorer every season.

Captain Verminator
Holy hell that's a big ask mate. But i agree that the yardstick must be to be the best in the world. It's not impossible and by defacto should be possible. BTW don't know why i mixed up SA with Oz. but anyway.

I see Argentina as being possibly a bigger hurdle than Oz such has been the state of Ozzy rugby since the Lions. The last Lions test was probably the straw that broke their back and they really have been looking over the precipice for a few years now. Rugby Union is in trouble down under.

I guess i have a different mind set. As we are not a big rugby nation, resources etc etc we are a lot like Argentina in that we always seem to punch above our weight and indeed produce some outstanding players, just not in any great quantity. So In my view we could lose to Oz and Argentina but if we got a win of the AB's it would be the greatest test series ever hahahaha. But thats ireland.

I completely agree that the Host nation and one of the biggest rugby countries in the world should expect nothing less than dominance. So again good luck. Though i really can't see anyone coming close to the AB's this year. I have never seen them playing so well. Talk about showing us how to do things. When we get a new manager in our unions he has a safety net and everyone makes excuses for losses "They are in transition" I don't think transition exists in New Zealand vocabulary. They just bang on and get the job done. So bloody impressive.

I don't know how you can say Argentina are a tougher team to beat than Australia after Aus beat them home and away putting 50+ on them in the land of silver. They might not be as strong as usual but they are strong still, and have quality players all over. They were made to look bad vrs SA and NZ but they are both incredible teams who can make anyone look bad.
As for what we need to achieve, we HAVE to beat Argentina and Australia and then see how we get on against New Zealand. I think they will be out for blood after our last meeting and without Manu it isn't ideal.
In the 14 shirt I went for Ashton because although he was terrible last year, he has started this year very well. May and Wade are both very good though and if Lancaster went with one of those guys instead I wouldn't complain.
Corbs is apparently out for a couple of weeks, I think that won't affect us too badly as the new laws seem to suit Mako. I just hope he is back in the XV for the big one!

Ok, here's mine:

Alex Corbisiero Dylan Hartley Dan Cole
Geoff Parling Courteney Lawes
Tom Wood Ben Morgan Chris Robshaw (c)

Ben Youngs Freddie Burns
Billy Twelvetrees Henry Trinder

Marland Yarde Mike Brown Chris Ashton

Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs, David Wilson, Joe Launchbury, Billy Vunipola, Danny Care, Owen Farrell, Christian Wade


So to the reasoning of the more contoversial selections:

Dylan Hartley - England are a reasonably polished side, but (as Lawrence Dallaglio would put it) they need a bit of "dog" which is what Hartley brings, which is vital when you have a rather inexperienced side going up against the Boks especially

Lawes - I think he just adds more round the park than Launchbury, he seemed to have an off period but I think he's coming back to his best

Chris Robshaw - Provides consistency as captain, not the best 7 but the best all round option especially whe n leadership is important

Ben Morgan - I think that extra bit of experience is important adn I want to see more of those tank like runs of his, his size will be important against the southern hemisphere

Freddie Burns - now is the time for our star 10 to step up

Henry Trinder - with a lack of experience (that word again) at outside centre his famialrity with Burns and Twelvetrees gives him the edge

Chris Ashton - I want to see Wade's pace against a knackered defence, Ashton will do the knackering and he seems to be getting things back together

Owen Farrell - provides the cover at 10 and 12 which is vital

Hey SARS,

I like the team except I wouldn't drop Launchbury for anyone right now...did you watch him in Argentina? He was incredible...can't take the jersey from the lad after performances like that it wouldn't be fair.

I'm a massive Lawes fan but think he'll be more of an impact player for us.

I prefer the workrate and carrying of Youngs to excellent lineout throwing of Hartley...plus now the Hookers aren't pushing anymore he's not got the advantage of being the big scrummaging hooker anymore

Players released:
Attwood
Burns
Care
Eastmond
Burrell
Kvesic
Wade
Johnson
Foden
and wait for it.......
Goode!!!!!!!

I'm rather surprised at some of those dropped - especially Burns, but also Care, Wade and Foden.

Are we really saying Dickson is better than Care? I can understand Flood over Burns, though I don't agree with it myself

Likewise Marler, Wilson and Mako Vunipola as reserve props? I would have thought one of them would be dropped - apologies Sporty I know you love your props, even if I haven't recovered from your previous post where the noun "props" and adjective "metrosexual" were combined in possibly the most frightening and / or revolting use of the English language since Katie Price "wrote" a book (how do you write if you can't read etc)

Anyhow, all a bit odd, I feel a bit sorry for Foden as he seems to be being frozen out a bit

Interesting although not unexpected omissions from the squad.

Burns, although a top prospect hasn't been performing at his best this season and on form Farrell should get in ahead of him at the moment. I hope Freddie gets his chance against Argentina though.

Kvesic i also understand. He's going up against the captain, and therefore has to be a the tip top of his game, which he hasnt yet. But he is only 21? In a few years he'll be the best 7 in England.

The rest, i agree with Attwood, Johnson and Goode but the rest i feel are unlucky. Eastmond has plenty of talent and a partnership of Twelvetrees and Eastmond could potentially be very effective. A mix of skill, speed, creativity, plus pretty decent defence. Eastmond has a great burst of acceleration and with someone like 36 putting him through gaps, bringing the back 3 into play as support runners.

Am i right in thinking then that Henry Trinder is therefore still with the squad?

Is Burrell injured?

I would have sworn he would have been retained if fit he's very exciting.

I really feel for Foden - I think he's played some really good stuff, he carries well and is incredibly reliable and should be in there for me, especially if Goode is now out of the squad.

5 Props is pretty standard these days but I'm thinking they kept Marler so he could train with the team in case Corb's knee doesnt get better in time, lessoning the impact of his loss.

So have we got only 2 flankers in the squad then or am I missing something!?

Yeah, I'm guessing it is just two flankers - after Lawes debut at 6 last year I thought they'd given up on that - though perhsp the view is that Morgan or Vunipola could cover there?

I don't think Burrell is injured I think he just didn't may the cut - I thought with Burns gone the idea of a Gloucester 10, 12,13 providing familiarity to make up for experience would lead to Trinder being released - but apparently not

Players released:
Attwood
Burns
Care
Eastmond
Burrell
Kvesic
Wade
Johnson
Foden
and wait for it.......
Goode!!!!!!!


========================

so there are 2 wingers and 1 full back in the squad ??????

can't believe he's released eastmond. gutted.

Squad has been selected for the Australia game:

Backs:-
Youngs, Dickson, Farrell, Flood, Twelvetrees, Tomkins, Yarde, Ashton, Brown, Foden.

Forwards:-
Vunipola, Marler, Hartley, Youngs, Cole, Wilson, Attwood, Launchbury, Lawes, Wood, Robshaw, Vunipola, Morgan.

Looks like something along these lines, which I am happy with. Especially exciting lock pair in my eyes. Delighted for Foden to see him back.

Vunipola Hartley Cole
Launchbury Attwood
Wood Robshaw(c) Vunipola
Youngs Farrell
Twelvetrees Tomkins
Yarde Brown Ashton

Youngs
Marler
Wilson
Lawes
Morgan
Dickson
Flood
Foden

An interesting squad to pick from. Shame that a few players have been released that should potentially be given the chance against Australia. Personally, after Burn's spirited diplay against Bath, scoring all our points, playing behind a pack in reverse, i feel he should be given the nod ahead of Flood. I'd love to see what he can do behind a dominant pack, for both club and country.

From those that we have:

Vunipola
Youngs
Cole
Lawes
Launchbury
Wood
Robshaw
Vunipola

Dickson
Farrell

Yarde
Twelvetrees
Tomkins
Ashton
Brown

Marler
Wilson
Hartley
Attwood
Morgan
Youngs
Flood
Foden

Looking forward to see how the Vunipolas do and will be an interesting combination of Twelvetrees and Tomkins, both very athletic centres, can take the contact but happy to explore other routes of attack.

Pub to watch the England game, then straight to Kingsholm to see Glos v Wasps. Love this time of year!

Bit of a question mark for me seeing the team announced today. So pleased to see Goode finally given the boot, he added nothing for me in attack and pleased to see Brown finally played at 15 with a proper winger brought in. Be interesting to see how Ashton performs, don't feel he has been at the top of his game for the last two years and has lost a yard of pace. Farrell is hardly the type of fly half who draws defenders in to create the space for Ashton's support lines. Would like to see Wade given a go if Ashton doesn't score in these three tests.

I'm really interested to see how Tomkins goes as well, midfield has a bit of a pedestrian look about it but then the great side of 2001-3 had Greenwood and Tindall and neither of those was exactly electric.

Forwards are probably as expected although surprised Morgan is on the bench. I think he offers more of a link between forwards and backs than vunipola. Still, either way we'd have a game changer on the bench. I also like how quickly Dickson gets the ball out compared with Youngs and Care who seem preoccupied with taking two steps to pass a ball. Dickson much more old school.

Lookign forward to watching the highlights. My ageing body has been persuaded out of retirement due to my local team being short this week. Rubbish timing!

KEIOC

Good luck for this weekend! Thats the one thing that puts me off about playing club rugby again, you have to choose between supporting your club/country or playing, and quite frankly, i remeber how painful it was, especially playing hooker!

Obviously please with that team, as it was the one i'd picked previously! Looking forward to see how we get on, with a keen eye on the new centre partnership.
Hopefully Yarde will get the chance to play his natural game and i'm looking forward to seeing Brown back in his natural position.

It's a good looking, hard hitting pack. Lawes and Launchbury should be very lively in the loose, offering themselves to carry the ball forward. A strong front row although Corbs will be missed. The more i think of it, this could be one of the best ball carrying packs we've had, Youngs, Mako, Billy, Courtney and Launchbury, with Robshaw, Wood and Coles doing the dirty work!

Going to be a cracking game!

We seem to have gone for a conservative selection in Ashton and Farrell, and thats perhaps understandable given the inexperience of some squad members - Dickson, Twelvetrees and Tomkins. I'd like to see Burns at 10 and Wade given a shot at 14, as I think they add something we don't have at present, but perhaps this isn't the time for them.

What I'm most pleased at are the teams England are playing - all the Southern big 3 and then a tour of New Zealand next summer, there will be some tough defeats involved - especially next summer, but if we want to be genuine contenders we have to learn to beat the best, and you just don't get that by playing Fiji, Tonga, Samoa or even Argentina, with all due respect to these nations.

Ahem - that should be two of the Southern big 3 - I had it in my head that England were due to play South Africa instead of Argentina, hope that doesn't devalue the thoughts too much!

I can't take anything you say seriously now after that SARS
I agree that it is conservative and I worry about the lock pairing, not much grunt for the scrum and Mako/Youngs in the front row. Lawes running the lineout with Youngs throwing too. I am a big fan of Attwood and I think we need a big lump smashing rucks all game, if we had Attwood behind Cole (or Wilson) with Corbs and Hartley/Webber it would be maybe the best in international rugby.
In the backs I think Wade and Ashton are both weak in defence, Cummins and Folau will cause problems. Tomkins might not be a bad idea at OC because Kuridrani is a handful. Excited to see Binny and who isn't looking forward to Lawes lining up Quade time and again.
Australia are strong, despite a disappointing championship. They were awesome against NZ and destroyed Argentina, the backs will score tries given half a chance. We need to stop Genia and Cooper quickly and not kick down Folau's throat. If we do we will lose.

You guys confident? I'm worried myself, a loss to Australia will hurt.