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The Leicester Mercury has a typically Tigerish view of the world...
FWIW, I'd view Steward and Genge as near-certainties, but not so sure about Ford, Cole or even Youngs. Eddie knows he has 4 tournaments, and about 17 games to establish his squad for RWC 2023 and I suspect that if there's any doubt that Youngs or Cole won't be up for it in 18 months' time, he'll move on with his usual ruthlessness. Ford, on the other hand, looks very much like he will be in form, but he probably has to displace one of Smith or Farrell from the squad. Either would require a bit of a change of direction from Eddie, and deciding to live without Farrell is probably more likely than deciding to live without Smith at this stage of the game.
From a Quins perspective, what do we expect? I imagine we're a bit more predictable:
Near-certainties: Smith, Marler, Dombrandt, Marchant
Possibles: Lynagh, Collier, Northmore.
Probably not many more in genuine contention at this stage, which is fine. Kenningham and Evans might have been in with a shout if not injured.
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I think you are spot on, P4 - but barring injury, I don't see the possibles getting in: there are quite a few wingers and centres already in line and Collier, while a scrummaging buttress may not offer enough other attributes for Eddie, unless he's playing in the centres, now he can step off both feet, Duckham-style...
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Who knows with EJ. His squad selections are like roulette at times. I just hope he commits to playing attacking rugby. Give Smith, Randall and Dombrandt a decent run of games.
Agree with your list of certainties/possibilities from Quins.
Ford should be in the squad He and Smith are clearly our best two fly halves.
12 is an interesting call. Tuilagi plays if fit, but that's a pretty rare event so EJ needs to develop an alternative. Please god just not Farrell. Would like to see Atkinson, but Kelly or Devoto would also be reasonable foils for Smith/Slade either side. Someone who will straighten the attack.
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A bold call from Mooro, and apparently a scoop on an exciting new Quins signing at hooker:
https://www.ruck.co.uk/drop-sinckler-says-brian-moore-as-he-picks-his-england-front-row-for-the-six-nations/
Then again, it is reported in Ruck so you need to take these things with a pinch of salt.
Indeed - I wonder if he's a swap for Tiz... -
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Indeed - I wonder if he's a swap for Tiz...
I don't think so. I tried to imagine Joe and Wilco trying to lift him in the lineout, but I can't see them getting him very high. -
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A bold call from Mooro, and apparently a scoop on an exciting new Quins signing at hooker:
https://www.ruck.co.uk/drop-sinckler-says-brian-moore-as-he-picks-his-england-front-row-for-the-six-nations/
Then again, it is reported in Ruck so you need to take these things with a pinch of salt.
With all respect to Moore, if he’s suggesting Marler at 3 as even a possibility he’s forgotten Big Game 12. -
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With all respect to Moore, if he’s suggesting Marler at 3 as even a possibility he’s forgotten Big Game 12.
Or remembered that that was Eddie's publicly stated strategy for parts of RWC19. -
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Do we know when the squad will be announced?
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Do we know when the squad will be announced?
Tomorrow morning don’t know time. -
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I don't think so. I tried to imagine Joe and Wilco trying to lift him in the lineout, but I can't see them getting him very high.
The gravitational attraction offered by the three of them would deviate the ball directly towards them: he wouldn't need to jump... -
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Or remembered that that was Eddie's publicly stated strategy for parts of RWC19.
It was but after that Leicester game, I was very glad Joe never had to switch sides for England. -
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If you think about it logically, when you play loose head your body is favouring a different side than when you play tight head. Yes you can train for this but Loose and tight head props are individually specialist positions, and to play both at the highest level isn't easy.
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If you think about it logically, when you play loose head your body is favouring a different side than when you play tight head. Yes you can train for this but Loose and tight head props are individually specialist positions, and to play both at the highest level isn't easy.
Indeed. Which is why Adam Jones secured instant club legend status when he did it at no notice and schooled two international tightheads in how to do it right. -
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Didn’t a prop say that swapping sides was like trying to write with your wrong hand. Sounds like a good analogy from what I’ve been told.
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