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Tuilagi is recovering from injury, not fully fit yet. Picking Tuilagi, then putting in an injury replacement allows him to be recalled to the squad later.
Delighted to see the omission of Barritt (finally) and Tom Youngs.
Why is Haskell still there? Why is Kvesic only there as an injury replacement?
Disappointed to see Cips left out and surprised by Devoto's inclusion, decent player though he is/will be - he doesn't make the Bath starting XV.
No Joe Simpson? When you consider how often Care and Youngs have failed to shine despite all their abilities you'd think he'd get a chance.
I can't see the continued selection of Alex Goode especially when you hear Jones talking about how England want to play. Great club player he may be but he's pedestrian at international level - they might as well pick Andy Goode!
I wonder how many picks are limited by the restrictive rules on changing the EPS squad? Did EJ select a Saxons squad too? I know they have no fixtures but I thought a squad is still required.
Anyway, a bit more conservative than I'd have liked but looking forward to seeing how they go. 🙂
Trouble is, I'd select every other back row in the squad before Kvesic, and it seems Eddie Jones agrees.
I imagine Cockerill is delighted that both O'Connor & McCaffrey stayed off Eddie Jones radar.
Ok, turns out I know less about hookers than most. Still can't see how Tom Youngs is now no higher than 4th best hooker in the premiership, and a non playing kiwi biter is ahead!
Anyway, I also know nothing of the Sale 8 other than his name, but he's just keeping the shirt warm for Nathan Hughes
Tuilagi is only 30 mins playing back from a year+ out, so fully understandable to keep with a replacement. Just surprised at Devoto. Always rated him for Bath, but England? Thats a surprise.
Suspect that there will be full 10 changes next time he's allowed to as well. Haskell is only there because he ran out of people he can swap. He's not utterly awful however I'm certain he won't make the next cut.
Didn't know Yard was playing well again, I always thought he'd be good, but have seen nothing recently. Damn shame that Exeter centre is injured, he'd be playing 12 without any doubt.
dantsw13 - MemberI imagine Cockerill is delighted that both O'Connor & McCaffrey stayed off Eddie Jones radar.
Posted 34 minutes ago #Report-Post
Irish and Scottish,not eligible.
Kiwi and Aussie actually but both are eligible.
or Kiwi and Aussi, either way.....
As a Tigers supporter, I don't know what to think, we're actually going to have a really good squad in the 6 nations, I'm used to writing off that 2 months. What excuse shall I use?
What's Burrell done to upset everyone? Not long since it was a travesty that he was overlooked in favour of Burgess, now he can't even get a look in!
I think Eddie ran out of changes to make to be honest, hence the inclusion of Haskell and non-inclusion of Simpson. But overall I'm pretty happy with the squad, certainly a team that fits with the idea of wanting to play a fast paced game. That back row has the potential to be the complete opposite of the WC back row, Beaumont, Clifford, Kvesic, Itoje are all capable of being getting about the park and playing at speed.
A little surprised at the inclusion of Devoto, but we've not got 12's coming out of our ears and Devoto looks like a good candidate on paper, big, skillful and can play a bit but sometimes lacking in confidence and decision making. I assume Eddie has seen him as something he can work with.
Surprised at Tom Youngs omission to be honest but again, Eddie must have seen something he can work with in LCD.
Don't think Cipriani can be too put out, only picking 2 fly halves was always going to mean he was left out, he'll know he's next cab off the rank if injuries happen to either of the incumbents.
Still think we'll see a 10-12 of Ford Farrell against Scotland though.
Interestingly the average age of this squad is something like 23/24! On paper this has the potential to be an awesome squad but for inexperience alone I'm not expecting too much from this 6 Nations to be honest. Would be happy with third and a notable step in the right direction. With France now under Guy Noves and Scotland's resurgence I think we could see one of the closest 6 Nations in a while!
Don't think Cipriani can be too put out, only picking 2 fly halves was always going to mean he was left out, he'll know he's next cab off the rank if injuries happen to either of the in
Speaking of cab ranks we don't know the status of his potential drink driving charge. Could well have been a factor and symptomatic of his main negative issue.
Also, given that the 6N is just a four year training competition for England's next RWC bid, they've got to consider Cip's fitness when he'll be 32.
Only one Gloucester player, having seen Gloucester quite a few times I am surprised that Sharples hasn't got more chances for england, he has always been solid when I have seen him, knows where the line is.
When was the last time a try scoring winger was selected for England? 🙂 I guess it comes down to the same thing as Wade etc recently... perceived defensive liability (albeit not Wade-sized)?
Why is Haskell still there?
As much as we love to hate him he hasn't been that awful in the last year or so.
I can't see the continued selection of Alex Goode especially when you hear Jones talking about how England want to play
Me neither but he'll always be a potential for versatile bench cover unfortunatley
Well Ashton is the second highest try scorer this season, and 4th highest since it began. 23 more and he'll be level top. With a few more seasons, he could well get it. Sharples has played a season more, and scored 25 tries less. Not an ideal comparison as Sarries are a considerably better team but it's Impossible to normalise.
Lewington has 12 so far this year, and he plays for a worse team than either!!
I am dining with Jason Leonard tomorrow night. Obviously with a 169 other knuckle-draggers from the Herefordshire mud, but still, I get to heckle the funbus if I have the balls.
Any tips?
Ashton is the second highest try scorer this season
that's only coz we (Wuss) gave him a hatfull for free 🙄
@Stoner, he's much more trim that when he was playing, used to see him in the Punch Bowl in Mayfair quite a bit and he usually had a soft drink. Still RFU president I think ?
only just got RFU pres late last year.
It's why this dinner was postponed until tonight - he got made up to pres around the time of the post-WC naval gazing and our December dinner date was going to clash with some press stuff.
OK, I thought he was president during the RWC. My old head of PE/sports at Bristol Uni Bob Reeves was the President before him I thought, perhaps not.
Have fun, it should be a cracking evening
quite right, June 2015.
Well Ashton is the second highest try scorer this season, and 4th highest since it began.
Bit further back behind Cueto, Varndell, Hanley, Sackey, Voyce and Simpson-Daniel?? Not many caps in there for whatever reason. The Tri-Nations/ Rugby Championship leaderboard is chock full of international legends... no idea what it all means but just a curious observation
O'Connor and McCaffrey
Irish and Scottish,not eligible.
I got the gag Duckman, even if this lot didn't.
Must be the repeated concussions.
😀
Not many caps in there for whatever reason.
Cueto alone has 55!
I'd struggle to justify the inclusion of the others over the likes of Josh Lewsey.
naval gazing
Hello, sailor.
Cueto alone has 55!
I'd struggle to justify the inclusion of the others over the likes of Josh Lewsey.
Very true- I typed the lack of caps thing having double checked the Premiership site and missed the glaringly huge photo of Cueto at the top of the list only to ninja edit later! What a mess 😀
Nevertheless, Super Rugby reads: Howlett, Ralph, Roff, Cullen, Habana, Mortlock, Nonu, Umaga, Vidiri, Macdonald, Sivivatu. The top try scorers in the Premiership don't tend to feature in the England set up too much. I think the different style of rugby has something to do with it and on the same thread it is interesting to see so many forwards in the Super Rugby top try scorers list! I think Neil Back is the only one in the Premiership top 10 that isn't a wing or full back????
Who knew Maitland holds the record (with several others) for most tries in a Super Rugby match at 4? 😀
[b]Super Rugby[/b] reads
Slightly different thing! SR is an elite league made up of the best teams from 3 nations. Most of them are superstars!
Isn't the Premiership supposed to be full of super stars and the Pro 12 made up of multiple nations.... 😀 Ok, not the same thing at all
Even if you look at the European Cup, it is still full of backs, albeit slightly more capped players than the premiership leaderboard. Bloody Ashton is third on that list too so whatever point I was trying to make has been well and truly screwed 😀
The superdooper 16 or whatever its called now, doesnt run doing international windows either
Great win for Ospreys tonight. That Underhill lad needs a Wales cap ASAP 😉
Was about to post the same!
He's very very good. Can't we just keep him?
Can't we just keep him?
NO FAIR!
You have Tipuric and Warburton. We have....erm.......
😆
Great win he is only 19? Is that true?
To be fair wrecker he was 6 last night and does look like thats what he'll be when he grows up!
He is only 19. A serious talent for the future.
Surprised to see that he's smaller than Biggar. (I know Biggar is tall - taller than me anyway and I'm average height - but from the way Underhill plays I'd expect him to be 6" taller.)
Will he keep Lydiate out of the Os next week? I'd play him even if DL was fully fit.
Nice ref bashing from the bearded 7! 😆
Very suprised he didnt get a yellow for that at least. AWJ wound him up like a clock though later, quite funny.
Kobe shassilly's push on Barnes, no idea why it was not a red or a yellow. He later elbowed AWJ in the face and got a final funal last warning for a late tackle on Tips
I realise he was being stupid rather than malicious but that's a straight red I reckon. Barnes being congratulated for how he handled it and fair dues to him for taking it like that. But pushing a ref?
We've all done things on the field after disengaging the brain, that was right up there though. I wonder what the internet wags in NZ had to say about it.
Story in Telegrapgh about how Jones has approached JW about a role in the England setup. TBH I could see JW focusing on his Toulon coaching role and giving England a miss for the time being. What also amused me was Eddie speaking about team building and sending the England players down the pub with £10 for a night out, lads don't spend it all at once eh. £10 😀
Interesting commenst about Pep G too
[url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/12103811/Jonny-Wilkinson-approached-by-Eddie-Jones-to-join-new-England-set-up-ahead-of-Six-Nations.html ]story link[/url]
Two Glasgow players cited. One swinson(?) flanker pulling at scrum half shorts to impede him. Given some things that should be citings how is standard, if mildly illegal, play a citing?
I've read he was cited for attacking Lee Dickson's testicles.
Attacking testicles?
Ah look, few beers, we've all been there...
TBH, if he did try to crush Dickson's testicles I'm surprised no one walloped him for doing so!
Ashton cited for hands to eyes - min 12 week ban if found guilty (so says Sky)
[img] 
:medium[/img]
Needs a view from the other side obvs, but it doesn't look great does it?
EDIT: the Ashton one.
Its a high tackle at the very least.
TRT cited for biting too.
They all need to lay off the red meat!
Typical Ashton really.
Given another opportunity to get into the national side and does something stupid
Typical Ashton really.
Given another opportunity to get into the national side and does something stupid
As per Ciprirani. Thats why I am so anti both of them. No doubting their talent but "head issues" tend not to change
@aa agreed its a head (not even a neck) tackle at least
As well as Ashton,Swinson cited for the punch and Wilson for touching up Dickson. I await the fair and impartial sentences handed down based on [s]whether he is English or not[/s] sorry,the severity of the acts,as we saw during the WC.
The Wilson one needs a gif. Damn sure that if he'd grabbed at dicksons testes then punches would have been thrown. But there's no real reaction.
If he misses this 6 nations that could be his career. Two on the trot for violent behaviour one on one off the pitch.
As per Ciprirani. Thats why I am so anti both of them. No doubting their talent but "head issues" tend not to change
I am a bit torn on this type of thing. Being a bit too far this way got the Lancaster squad of nice chaps. I hate to bring the Nonu example up again but he is 100% guaranteed to have a massive, game changing brain fart unless he is wearing an AB jersey. Playing for NZ is a different story and it is often hard to believe he is the same player. You can't help feeling that something in the NZ coaching setup can get the best out of him and I wonder if, for people like Cipriani perhaps, you overlook some of the stupid stuff in return for making sure they are absolutely on their A-game come international time. Of course there is a limit to what you overlook and Cipriani isn't the superstar answer to England's problems but you get the gist. That said, when he has played for England briefly he hasn't really put a foot wrong (on the pitch).
If he misses this 6 nations that could be his career. Two on the trot for violent behaviour one on one off the pitch.
I never knew Wilson had a poor discipline record.
Ashton is a bit of a **** true, but that is just a stupid and dangerous tackle - gouging??? Just look at his head and eyes....enough said.
Bit split on this too - frankly England could do with a few more nasty guys. How intimidating is the current team, how many nutters who might just smack you in the face for the fun of it? Compare our locks with the SA or even big Jim H - who would you not want to be standing next too.
Lets have a brutal pack - then like any deterrent it is just the treat of violence, not the actual act that is required. 😉
Wrecker;I never knew Wilson had a poor discipline record.
He punched/pushed tweedledum and a red crayon in a takeaway while dressed as batman,the SRU banned him for 3 months. The guy he hit was an ex team mate with a poor memory of what he said to the police on a number of occasions.(I am in no doubt Wilson hit him,just maybe that the term assault may be quite fluid in this case)For context,the victim is a 6"3" 16 stone ex-pro. However he is a back,so anything could have happened.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-31005517
I should not find that report on a serious assault as funny as I did.
The scuttlebutt was that other guy assaulted, Quinn? was at the bottom of it and had tipped Wilson on to the floor when he had tried to climb into the booth. Cost Wilson £25k for 3 months wages and 6N money,plus a conviction. Quinn has a private damages claim on the go.
14 weeks for the ref pusher! Kind of points to the dact Barnes got it very wrong.
No Wilson for Scotland,( Barclay has agreed to delay the publication of his book "Me and Vern's daughter" till after the 6n) Zander Fergusson also in,he will be easily to spot as he will be covered in tats with those ear expanders.....He is the ex Scottish junior downhill champion.
So Ashton is out for the whole 6N. Eejit. That said how did he get a 3 week reduction for good character 😯 must have been packing chocolate hobnobs.
Ashton banned for ten weeks.
What a tw*t!
Pity because I think he's a pretty handy finisher but there ya go.....
Choccy Hobnobs? I would go for some of that shortbread with the chocolate chunks.
Glad he got a proper ban, he is a tool.
What an utter penis.
To be fair, I'm not sorry he's out. Not sure who the replacement will be though.
Maybe you could parachute somebody in from League? 😆
That's a bloody good idea! Bring on the next saviour!
Sinfield is at [s]Leeds[/s] [s]tykes[/s] [s]carnegie[/s] I mean, yorkshire. Oh wait, he's a 10. Of course he is, just like andy farell was. Silly me.
Ahhh good to see Ashton out,
not been a fan since I saw him drag (can't remember who but it was an impressive set of dreadlocks) into touch by their hair...
Alesana Tuilagi, he seems to like to wind up Tuilagi's!!
Ashton will not be able to play again until Monday, March 28. [b]England's last Six Nations game is on March 19, away against France[/b].
And an all French panel. Coincidence?
Not bothered about a coincidence. He is a dumb ass for chucking away yet another chance
14 weeks for the ref pusher! Kind of points to the dact Barnes got it very wrong.
Well he did card him later for accumulated penalties. And he could have carded him later again but that would have meant a red so it was just a penalty and telling off. I'd suggest that Barnes tried very hard to be Mr Nice and keep Kolelelolshivilli on the pitch. So hard that he forgot he was reffing a rugby match. The Sky presenters seemed to think he's a great ref though, so that's alright. 🙄
Indeed but it should have been a straight red no question
Oh wait, he's a 10.
So, he should be starting the 6N as a blind side flanker. Onwards to victory!
@davidflatman
Much as I love watching Cipriani every week and admire him for staying at Sale, he should probably get on the phone to Toulon now
Wilson innocent...
I am perturbed that this wasn't picked up on here,standards are slipping;
http://www.londonscottish.com/mobile/pro/news/4390.php
Jolly nice of the RFU to fund us tier two nations development programme!
If Wilson had been found guilty they would have had to impose a non contact rules around and in scrums and contact areas.