Billy Vunipola's replacement

Assuming Billy Vunipola will be out for the Wales game, who will come in to replace him in the squad?

There's an obvious replacement at starting 8—Ben Morgan. I sincerely hope Lancaster starts with Morgan. I heard someone speculating on BT Sport the other day that he might move Wood to 8 (  ) and bring in Tom Johnson at 6.

But if he does start Morgan at 8, who comes on to the bench? It would make sense for it to be another 8, as both Launchbury and Lawes can cover 6 (Launchbury better than Lawes on last season's evidence) and Wood move to 7 if need be.

So, if an 8 does come on to the bench, who would that be?

It has to be Sam Dickinson. He has played really well for the Saxons. Moving wood to 8 and bringing Johnson in would be a massive error of selection. It would seriously weaken the side.

Probably another wing fullback knowing Lancaster

The other back row players in the training squad have been Kvesic and Johnson, neither of which scream out as useful for utility or quality. Id agree it really has to be someone who can at least cover 8, Im not sure how much Morgans has improved his fitness but hes not been an 80 minuter in the past

Sam Dickinson is in the Saxons as an 8, might be a bit old for Lancaster though. Dave Ewers is the other option.

I would bet money on Lancaster calling up Kvesic. He is the next cab on the rank in terms of back row options, and did play quite a lot at 8 for Worcester.

A leftfield option (if someone in the 6Ns squad could be left field) would be Ed Slater. Initially a No8 he has also played at 6 for us. I have to say however that I am not convinced he is ghood enough to play for England at second row, so putting him on the bench to cover a secondary position could be considered perverse.

Nick Easter
  

Nick Easter wrote:

You joke, but that's maybe the best option I can think of.

Eustace H Plimsoll wrote:

You joke, but that's maybe the best option I can think of.

Not really a joke (I think he'd be good coming off the bench for the last 20) but more a case of lighting the blue touchpaper and retreating...

As a rugby fan, Sam Dickinson!!!
As a welsh fan, move wood to 8

Well BillyV is officially ruled out of the rest of the tournament.

Edit : That wasn't clear...Morgan starts.
THe bench replacement is Dickinson or Ewers.

Dickinson was excellent for the Saxons...and Ewers is a beast.

Both can probably cover 6 aswell if required and Launchbury certainly can.

Surely it has to be Morgan though from a Welsh view point I would be happy if it wasn't

Yeah Morgan has to start.

I meant Ewers or Dickinson for the bench...

Wood to 8, Lawes to 6, Botha to be drafted into the EPS.

Ok, joking

Dickinson (just ahead of Ewers) for me.

Dickinson or Easter. Do we want a total noob or an old hand?

yappysnap wrote:Dickinson or Easter. Do we want a total noob or an old hand?

Why not just the best player Yappy

That would be Easter surely? But he has plenty of faults outside of being the best player, ego, mouth and age are all against him.

Dickinson is a safer option

Ewers has went off the boil a little, fitness maybe?

Dickson would be the obvious, he done himself no harm coming off the bench in the Saxons game

Lancaster mentioned Kvesic and Johnson competing for back row places, not Dickinson or Ewers. No idea if that represents his likely selection policy.

He was very impressive for the Saxons

It'll be Johnson....great. May as well bring back Dowson

Ah..Johnson is a cracking club player but I thought we'd settled the fact he wasn't quite an international player.

And Kvesic...what on earth has he done to warrant a tour to New Zealand?

PS...Dickinson will be probably in the final for Saints so might not make the Tour anyway...maybe Ewers then...

Kvesic and Johnson are flankers who have played 8 and I wouldn't want them covering 8 against Wales (especially given they may have a fairly big part to play if Morgan starts blowing).

And both make very little impact off the bench, it's all about the impact!

Sgt_Pooly wrote:And both make very little impact off the bench, it's all about the impact!

They're also a bit light for an 8 aren't they? Giving 2/3 stone away to Billy/Morg (though they are beasts).

Hopefully we've learned from the Wood experiment.

Wood won't be 8, he was 8 last year....

I think we've established that.

Thanks, Scratch

Ewers can cover 6...Launchbury can cover 6 also

He should consider Garvey! What about Fearns?

Cyril wrote:I think we've established that.

Thanks, Scratch

Matters not who he picks, England's back row will be blown away by Warbs and co.

Scratch wrote:

Cyril wrote:I think we've established that.

Thanks, Scratch

Matters not who he picks, England's back row will be blown away by Warbs and co.

Thanks for the heads up. Much obliged.

Scratch wrote:

Cyril wrote:I think we've established that.

Thanks, Scratch

Matters not who he picks, England's back row will be blown away by Warbs and co.

Another insight into what won't happen, you talk some rubbish.

I just pray Johnson isn't called up.

I for one pray that Wood goes 8 or either Dickinson, kvesic or Johson come in.

Leaving out Morgan would just be stupid. Morgan vs Falateu would be a good battle

Jhamer25 wrote:I for one pray that Wood goes 8 or either Dickinson, kvesic or Johson come in.

Leaving out Morgan would just be stupid. Morgan vs Falateu would be a good battle

I think we're talking about these other players as being back-up to Morgan (not instead of). Chances are though, based on previous fitness levels, Morgan will need a back-up. Hence the slight concern

Morgan will start at 8

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Morgan will start at 8

He who knows has spoken!   

Easter!!!

Scratch wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Morgan will start at 8

He who knows has spoken!   

He speaks the truth!

Oh and did someone really say I hope Wood moves to 8? Or did I miss the joke?

Keep Wood and Robshaw where they are.
Id rather start big Ewers or Dickinson than move Wood to 8.

Scratch wrote:

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Morgan will start at 8

He who knows has spoken!   

SL has said Morgan will start at 8, it's not rocket science even if he hadn't

Not even Stewie is so dopey as to put Wood at 8 - particularly for the Wales game. I am absolutely sure that I am fully confident that Stewie wouldn't do that.

Mind you a 6. Lawes 7. Robshaw 8. Wood would be amusing - show some real intent. Shame Croft's out.

Thank goodness Croft is out. Sorry he's injured but there was never a more lightweight goal hanging backrow than Croft. I know he's good in the lineout but that is functioning very well so we need a proper backrow player.

James Haskell!

Billy is out for 6N. Morgan is good for 60 mins. Dickinson from the Saxons impressed me as the young tyro. But
Please Bomber, no more flankers.

We need a replacement eight on the bench. That is an eight not a six. My fear is that we will go into Wales match for a second year with flankers playing at eight. The following quote from Stuart Lancaster on BBC website worries me.

The encouraging thing is we have got Ben Morgan and other back rows such as Matt Kvesic and Tom Johnson, who are all competing hard for places.

Haskell is a very good shout actually. I'm not sure how he has been playing for Wasps but he has the prerequisite power and work rate. With 50 caps to his name would automatically be one of the most experienced players in the squad too!

Rugby Fan wrote:Lancaster mentioned Kvesic and Johnson competing for back row places, not Dickinson or Ewers. No idea if that represents his likely selection policy.

Probably because they are the players who are in the actual squad.

Another way of looking at it is this ...Robshaw and Wood have both had to play 240 minutes with big workloads, Morgan about 30 in total? Given theres two flanker positions as well theres arguably a higher chance of one of them needing to come off than there is Morgan so why not get specialist cover on the flanks and rely on part time cover for 8?

Im not entirely convinced by either as test players mind.

Haskell isnt even in the EPS 64 anymore. Hes had a pretty rapid demise since the last six nations and it seems to have hit his confidence and motivation.

The most intuitive move and the one least unsettling for the squad would be to start with Morgan and stick Dickinson on the bench. Completely unconvinced that Morgan has the engine to do any more than an hour. Can Kvesic cover other backrow positions? I thought that he was Mr Specialist Openside?

George Carlin wrote:The most intuitive move and the one least unsettling for the squad would be to start with Morgan and stick Dickinson on the bench. Completely unconvinced that Morgan has the engine to do any more than an hour. Can Kvesic cover other backrow positions? I thought that he was Mr Specialist Openside?

He started out as a number 8 and covered the position for Wuss last season (continues to do so for Glos?) he's spent the last few years being moulded into an openside because he seemed to have a no. 7's instincts at the breakdown.

I'm not familiar with Kvesic's Wuss history, but here at Glaws he looks and plays like a classic 7. Not sure of his kgs but he seems to lack the 'ballast' needed at the back of a scrum. Be a mistake in a match as critical as on 9th March. Dickinson looked good with the Saxons.

Morgan to start

Dickinson on the bench to come on.

Get Ewers in to cover 8 and 6.

I'm sure it's already been said, but Launchbury being able to cover 6 helps.  But covering 6 probably isn't the problem.  Robshaw as captain likely to stay the 80, so back to the no 8 problem.

Great to blood new talent e.g. Dickinson, so would be good choice.

For winning the game in the last 20, and presence on the field, behold Nick Easter !   

Easter has proven experience of scoring tries (2,3, ? don't remember) off the back of the scrum, vs Wales at Twickenham.