November International, England v Argies
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Well. Fuck. Just fuck.
Lawrence out (again). Hamstring (again). Also Roebuck who is a big loss and Jamie George who will be missed for his experience as much as anything else these days.
But the good news is.... Charlie Ewels has been dded to the squad..Though to be fair, the big lump did have a good tour in Argentina in the summer AND he is marginally better than Isiekwe.
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England squad Vs Argentina
Forwards
Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Jamie Blamire (Leicester Tigers), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Theo Dan (Saracens), Ben Earl (Saracens), Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Jack Kenningham (Harlequins), Beno Obano (Bath Rugby), Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks), Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby), Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints), Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)Backs
Henry Arundell (Bath Rugby), Noah Caluori (Saracens), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), George Ford (Sale Sharks). Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby), Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers) -
From that squad, I'd love to see a back line like this:
Mitchell, F Smith/Ford, Dingwall, Slade, Arundell, Calouri and Daly at 15.
Won't happen.
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@Catogrande Arundell deserves a start. So does Marcus Smith at fullback. Noah Calouri would be an exciting and brave bench option.
This one will be won and lost in the backrow though.
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@sparky said in November International, England v Argies:
@Catogrande Arundell deserves a start. So does Marcus Smith at fullback. Noah Calouri would be an exciting and brave bench option.
This one will be won and lost in the backrow thoughts.
Yep
And line out throwing
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worried about how easily the ABs went around us at times on Saturday - will worry about that this week. I wonder if we were too close to Ford to protect that channel and therefore leaving acres outside.
Would prefer to see Finn Smith start, would bring Slade into 13, wonder if Steward will start at XV or Daley, think Marcus should be on the bench again. Expect IFW and Arundel will start but wouldn't be disappointed if it was Murley (in fact would feel safer).
Would expect one of the starting props to swap onto the bench too, probably Genge to start
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I think that if Slade starts, our defence will be organised that bit better and maybe, just maybe, our deficiencies wider out might be negated somewhat. I'd be happy and/or excited to see any two of IFW, Arundell, Murley or Calouri (for his aerial game as much as anything) on the wings but I wouldn't be surprised if he goes with Daley. Oddly though I'd be happy enough with Daley at 15.
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possibly, don't remember us having a rock solid defence with Slade at 13 tbh! I think its too early for Calouri personally, but then i'm old. As for Daley, I've had to pretend he's an entirely different person in the last 18 months to come to terms with me wanting him in the team / squad
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A bridge too far for the Argies I feel
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More that Slade is a defensive leader than his one on one skills. He is a thinking player, which, i don't feel is Lawrence's strength. I hear what you say in regard to Calouri, but it's just that with Freeman or Roebuck we have a really strong chasing/aerial game and we have built a large part of our attack successfully on that. The other wingers, whilst being willing and good chasers do not have that aerial ability. However it is a moot point as he won't be picked.
!00% on Daly. He's been very good over the last 12-18 months and I reckon he would have started Lions 1 if he'd stayed fit.
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@MiketheSnow Let's hope
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Well, I got the Daly selection bang on. Mores the pity.
England: Steward; Feyi-Waboso, Slade, Dingwall, Daly; Ford, Spencer; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Opoku-Fordjour, Itoje, Coles, Pepper, Underhill, Earl.
Replacements: Dan, Baxter, Stuart, Ewels, T Curry, Pollock, Mitchell, M Smith.Pace is something lacking, IFW aside.
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@sparky said in November International, England v Argies:
Didn't Steward go off on Saturday because he failed a HIA? Why's he back in for this weekend?
This
If they’re that concerned about the brain then he should be watching from the stands for 3-4 weeks
Like it was before we saw an increase in post-career problems
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@sparky said in November International, England v Argies:
Didn't Steward go off on Saturday because he failed a HIA? Why's he back in for this weekend?
He did, but has since passed all the tests and protocols. Thems the rules that we play by, not saying I agree with them. In fact I don't.
See also George North any number of times. I really fear for him later in life.
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@Smuts said in November International, England v Argies:
This English team is disgustingly hard to hate. Hope the Argies thrash them.
Doubt that will happen but I do expect the Argies to win.
Henry Pollock is doing a great job to change that. Give him time.
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@MN5 how can you hate a golden retriever? He’s just doing the tricks he was taught so someone will pat him on the head and say who’s the goodest boy?! Polly is! Yes he is, yes he is!
And then give him another ball to chase or ruck rat to harass. Even his mouthing off is just like a retriever barking at you saying play with me.
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@Smuts said in November International, England v Argies:
@MN5 how can you hate a golden retriever? He’s just doing the tricks he was taught so someone will pat him on the head and say who’s the goodest boy?! Polly is! Yes he is, yes he is!
And then give him another ball to chase or ruck rat to harass. Even his mouthing off is just like a retriever barking at you saying play with me.
I'll give this reply an upvote for being so bizarre and unexpected
