606 Selects Englands EPS for 2016 6Ns - Take 2

Name your 33 man EPS squad.
It must include 22 of the following players.
Keep any injured players in as they can be replaced later - but state who you would have on standby.

I will add up and produce the consensus next week.

Current Squad


Props
Kieran Brookes
Dan Cole
Joe Marler
Mako Vunipola
David Wilson

Hookers
Jamie George
Rob Webber
Tom Youngs

Second rows
George Kruis
Joe Launchbury
Courtney Lawes
Geoff Parling

Back rows
James Haskell
Ben Morgan
Chris Robshaw
Billy Vunipola
Tom Wood
Calum Clark

Scrum halves
Danny Care
Richard Wigglesworth
Ben Youngs

Fly halves
Owen Farrell
George Ford

Centres
Brad Barritt
Sam Burgess
Jonathan Joseph
Henry Slade
Luther Burrell

Back three
Mike Brown
Alex Goode
Jonny May
Jack Nowell
Anthony Watson

I am not sure the balance is 100%, but this is more or less what I would want.

Props
Kieran Brookes
Dan Cole
Joe Marler
Matt Mullan
Henry Thomas
Mako Vunipola

Hookers
Jamie George
Dylan Hartley (all players start with a clean sheet)
Tom Youngs

Second rows
Maro Itoje
Joe Launchbury
Courtney Lawes
Dave Attwood

Back rows
Dave Ewers
Ben Morgan
Chris Robshaw
Billy Vunipola
Tom Wood
Matt Kvesic

Scrum halves
Danny Care
Ben Youngs
Ben Spencer

Fly halves
Owen Farrell
George Ford

Centres
Brad Barritt
Jonathan Joseph
Henry Slade
Luther Burrell

Back three
Mike Brown
Jonny May
Jack Nowell
Anthony Watson
Christian Wade

Props
Kieran Brookes
Dan Cole
Joe Marler
Mako Vunipola
Matt Mullan (I'm not sure why we tend to go for more THs than LHs?)

Hookers
Jamie George
Dylan Hartley  
Tom Youngs

Second rows
George Kruis
Joe Launchbury
Courtney Lawes
Maro Itoje

Back rows
James Haskell
Ben Morgan
Chris Robshaw
Billy Vunipola
Dave Ewers
Will Fraser

Scrum halves
Danny Care
Joe Simpson
Ben Youngs

Fly halves
Owen Farrell
George Ford
Danny Cipriani

Centres
Eliot Daly
Jonathan Joseph
Henry Slade
Manu Tuilagi

Back three
Mike Brown
Marlon Yarde
Jonny May
Jack Nowell
Anthony Watson

Yes only a couple of marginal calls.

Chequered I would have Wade for Yarde & probably Attwood for Lawes.

10 Changes - But I still have some debates...

Props
Kieran Brookes
Dan Cole
Joe Marler
Mako Vunipola Matt Mullan
David Wilson Henry Thomas

Hookers
Jamie George
Rob Webber Dylan Hartley
Tom Youngs

Second rows
George Kruis D.Attwood
Joe Launchbury
Courtney Lawes
Geoff Parling G. Kitchener

Back rows
James Haskell D. Ewers
Ben Morgan
Chris Robshaw
Billy Vunipola
Tom Wood
Calum ClarkM.Kvesic

Scrum halves
Danny Care
Richard Wigglesworth
Ben Youngs

Fly halves
Owen Farrell
George Ford
Danny Cipriani

Centres
Brad Barritt Sam Hill
Sam Burgess
Jonathan Joseph
Henry Slade
Luther Burrell

Back three
Mike Brown
Alex Goode Wade
Jonny May
Jack Nowell
Anthony Watson

But watching the form of Players like Itjoe / Lawes / Slater / Auterac etc before the final
selection.

Theres going to be some close calls.

Props
Kieran Brookes
Dan Cole
Joe Marler
Mako Vunipola
David Wilson- Henry Thomas

Hookers
Jamie George
Rob Webber- Dylan Hartley
Tom Youngs

Second rows
George Kruis- Graham Kitchener
Joe Launchbury
Courtney Lawes
Geoff Parling- Ed Slater

Back rows
James Haskell- Will Fraser
Ben Morgan
Chris Robshaw
Billy Vunipola
Tom Wood- Matt Garvey
Calum Clark- Matt Kvesic

Scrum halves
Danny Care
Richard Wigglesworth- Joe Simpson
Ben Youngs

Fly halves
Owen Farrell
George Ford

Centres
Brad Barritt- Ollie Devoto
Sam Burgess- Manu Tuilagi/Elliott Daly
Jonathan Joseph
Henry Slade
Luther Burrell

Back three
Mike Brown
Alex Goode
Jonny May
Jack Nowell
Anthony Watson

Tom Wood- Matt Garvey

That's an interesting call mara....

Here goes

Props
Kieran Brookes
Dan Cole
Joe Marler
Mako Vunipola
David Wilson Henry Thomas
Nick Auterac (replaces Burgess)

Hookers
Jamie George
Rob Webber Dylan Hartley
Tom Youngs

Second rows
George Kruis Graham Kitchener
Joe Launchbury
Courtney Lawes
Geoff Parling Maro Itoje

Back rows
James Haskell
Ben Morgan
Chris Robshaw
Billy Vunipola
Tom Wood Matt Kvesic
Calum Clark Will Fraser

Scrum halves
Danny Care
Richard Wigglesworth Joe Simpson
Ben Youngs

Fly halves
Owen Farrell
George Ford

Centres
Brad Barritt Manu Tuilagi (Eliott Daly on standby)
Sam Burgess
Jonathan Joseph
Henry Slade
Luther Burrell Sam Hill

Back three
Mike Brown
Alex Goode
Jonny May
Jack Nowell
Anthony Watson

Most changes in the pack, with only three changes in the backs (and Hill for Burrell was marginal in any case).

It is marra, but there is (some) method in my madness.

It is a power call, I believe Haskell should be given a break from international duty (so many chances but the same old ill-discipline) and I was looking at the other members of the back-row I selected (want two out and out open-sides). It seemed to lack a power option and I've always been a big fan of Garvey. I've always liked Wood as a player too, but he and Robshaw have been part of a back-row unit that have lost the breakdown battle time and again at the top level and one of them had to go.

My squad should probably have read:

Haskell- Garvey
Wood-Fraser

Now its not a secret im a huge Garvey fan and ive always wanted him in the squad...but do you think he has more than Ewers these days?

Interesting that Attwood doesn't seem to have many fans...

I worry about Ewers' lack of pace, he definitely has power and skill but when I think of him a (probably unwarranted) image of Jordan Crane comes to my mind. Regarding Attwood, it is another close call for me, I would just like to see what Slater could do, although neither get past a fit and on form Joe Launchbury in my opinion. In fact I'll say it outright, I would have a second-row of Launchbury and Kitchener for the 6 nations. Both offer power and are busy around the field and Kitchener can run the lineout. Boom! That will be five grand Eddie!

Despite the excellence of Launchbury and Lawes when on form I have never really understood why Kitchener has not had a look in before, other than the usual getting injured at the wrong time.

I can't see what Attwood has that is significantly better

"Dave's going very well, he's very physical for us," said Baxter,

And, while England captain Chris Robshaw got many plaudits, Baxter felt Ewers, who many have tipped as a future England player, outshone him.

"Dave had a monumental game," said Baxter. "I know he was coded at 22 tackles, but with assists I coded him at another five or six tackles on top of that - he was getting towards the 30-tackle mark and four or five of them were genuine big, solid stop tackles.

"He certainly carried and made more yards than almost any other player on the field, and when I say yards I mean hard yards.

"It's a bit of strange one for me to see Chris Robshaw bigged up on the TV. I'm not saying he didn't have a good game, he did have a good game, but he wasn't the best back-row forward on the pitch."

This is Rob Baxters view on the BBC. I appreciate he's always going to stick up for his players....but I do value his opinion they way he has his team playing...

I have a lot of respect for Baxter's opinion and it does make me think twice.

GeordieFalcon wrote:

"Dave's going very well, he's very physical for us," said Baxter,

And, while England captain Chris Robshaw got many plaudits, Baxter felt Ewers, who many have tipped as a future England player, outshone him.

"Dave had a monumental game," said Baxter. "I know he was coded at 22 tackles, but with assists I coded him at another five or six tackles on top of that - he was getting towards the 30-tackle mark and four or five of them were genuine big, solid stop tackles.

"He certainly carried and made more yards than almost any other player on the field, and when I say yards I mean hard yards.

"It's a bit of strange one for me to see Chris Robshaw bigged up on the TV. I'm not saying he didn't have a good game, he did have a good game, but he wasn't the best back-row forward on the pitch."

This is Rob Baxters view on the BBC. I appreciate he's always going to stick up for his players....but I do value his opinion they way he has his team playing...

Baxter was probably right about that game, and Ewers is top of Rugby Net's analysis of AP flankers (though has played more games than the returning internationals). I'd be very happy to see Ewers given a shot in the squad if he's fit - though probably at the expense of Haskell (whose excellent club form translates only intermittently to international level) rather than Robshaw.

1.Marler, Mako, Mullan
2.Hartley, George, Youngs
3.Cole, Brookes, Thomas
4.Launchbury, Slater
5.Attwood, Kitchener
6.Robshaw, Haskell
7.Kvesic, Fraser
8.Vunipola, Morgan

9.Youngs, Care, Simpson
10.Ford, Farrell

11.May, Nowell
12.Slade, Burrell
13.Joseph, Daly
14.Watson
15.Brown, Pennell

The 23 guys in bold are from the RWC squad plus Burrell and Clark which currently makes up the EPS.

Props
Kieran Brookes
Dan Cole
Joe Marler
Mako Vunipola
David Wilson Henry Thomas

Hookers
Jamie George
Rob Webber Dylan Hartley
Tom Youngs

Second rows
George Kruis Graham Kitchener
Joe Launchbury
Courtney Lawes
Geoff Parling Dave Atwood

Back rows
James Haskell Maro Itoje
Ben Morgan
Chris Robshaw
Billy Vunipola
Tom Wood Dave Ewers
Calum Clark Matt Kvesic

Scrum halves
Danny Care
Richard Wigglesworth Ben Spencer
Ben Youngs

Fly halves
Owen Farrell
George Ford

Centres
Brad Barritt Manu Tuilagi (Sam Hill)
Sam Burgess Elliot Daly
Jonathan Joseph
Henry Slade
Luther Burrell

Back three
Mike Brown
Alex Goode Danny Cipriani
Jonny May
Jack Nowell
Anthony Watson

GeordieFalcon wrote:

"Dave's going very well, he's very physical for us," said Baxter,

And, while England captain Chris Robshaw got many plaudits, Baxter felt Ewers, who many have tipped as a future England player, outshone him.

"Dave had a monumental game," said Baxter. "I know he was coded at 22 tackles, but with assists I coded him at another five or six tackles on top of that - he was getting towards the 30-tackle mark and four or five of them were genuine big, solid stop tackles.

"He certainly carried and made more yards than almost any other player on the field, and when I say yards I mean hard yards.

"It's a bit of strange one for me to see Chris Robshaw bigged up on the TV. I'm not saying he didn't have a good game, he did have a good game, but he wasn't the best back-row forward on the pitch."

This is Rob Baxters view on the BBC. I appreciate he's always going to stick up for his players....but I do value his opinion they way he has his team playing...

Unsurprisingly, O'Shea said the same but for Robshaw!

Ewers looked very good, I'll refrain from saying who looked better because I suspect my choice is influenced by bias

Props
Kieran Brookes
Dan Cole
Joe Marler
Mako Vunipola
David Wilson Henry Thomas
Sam Burgess Nick Auterac

Hookers
Jamie George
Rob Webber Dylan Hartley
Tom Youngs

Second rows
George Kruis Dave Attwood
Joe Launchbury
Courtney Lawes
Geoff Parling Graham Kitchener

Back rows
James Haskell Brendan O'Connor
Ben Morgan
Chris Robshaw
Billy Vunipola
Tom Wood Maro Itoje
Calum Clark Matt Kvesic

Scrum halves
Danny Care
Richard Wigglesworth Joe Simpson
Ben Youngs

Fly halves
Owen Farrell
George Ford

Centres
Brad Barritt Manu Tuilagi (Sam Hill on standby)
Jonathan Joseph
Henry Slade
Luther Burrell Elliott Daly

Back three
Mike Brown
Alex Goode
Jonny May
Jack Nowell
Anthony Watson

More changes than I thought I would go for but every change I think would be an improvement on the RWC squad and a good balance

ChequeredJersey wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:

"Dave's going very well, he's very physical for us," said Baxter,

And, while England captain Chris Robshaw got many plaudits, Baxter felt Ewers, who many have tipped as a future England player, outshone him.

"Dave had a monumental game," said Baxter. "I know he was coded at 22 tackles, but with assists I coded him at another five or six tackles on top of that - he was getting towards the 30-tackle mark and four or five of them were genuine big, solid stop tackles.

"He certainly carried and made more yards than almost any other player on the field, and when I say yards I mean hard yards.

"It's a bit of strange one for me to see Chris Robshaw bigged up on the TV. I'm not saying he didn't have a good game, he did have a good game, but he wasn't the best back-row forward on the pitch."

This is Rob Baxters view on the BBC. I appreciate he's always going to stick up for his players....but I do value his opinion they way he has his team playing...

Unsurprisingly, O'Shea said the same but for Robshaw!

Ewers looked very good, I'll refrain from saying who looked better because I suspect my choice is influenced by bias

Robshaw is always consistently excellent at what he does and I just cant get the criticism that's going his way.

I'd have them both in the squad. They offer slightly different options but great options to have.

Anyone like to have a go at the Saxons squad then...based on your EPS.

Main Squad:

Props
Kieran Brookes
Dan Cole
Joe Marler
Mako Vunipola
Matt Mullan


Hookers
Jamie George
Tom Youngs
Dylan Hartley

Second rows
George Kruis
Joe Launchbury
Courtney Lawes (Maro Itoje injury standby)
Grahm Kitchener

Back rows
James Haskell
Ben Morgan
Chris Robshaw
Billy Vunipola
Tom Wood
Matt Kvesic

Scrum halves
Danny Care
Ben Youngs
Joe Simpson

Fly halves
Owen Farrell
George Ford

Centres
Jonathan Joseph
Henry Slade
Luther Burrell
Elliot Daly

Back three
Mike Brown
Alex Goode
Jonny May
Jack Nowell
Anthony Watson
Christian Wade


Seven of the permittged 11 changes used.



Saxons

Props:
Auterac, Waller, Wilson, Thomas, Balmain

Hookers:
Webber, Taylor, LCD (injury cover Joe Gray)

Second Row:
Itoje, Slater, Attwood, Garvey

Back Row:
Ewers, Fraser, Wilson, Beaumont, Clark, Clifford

Scrum Halves:
Robson, Dickson, Harrison

Fly Halves:
Cipriani, Myler

Centres:
Manu, Eastmond, Stephenson, Tompkins

Back 3:
Ashton, Yarde, Pennell, Foden, Roku, Thompstone

no Sam Hill LT?

Thought seriously about Hill for the Saxons, but I am a huge fan of Tom Stephenson. He seems to make the right decisions.

However as Hill is playing first team rugby he is far more likely to be considered. Tompkins needs to oust Taylor and Bosch too, but another who looks like a clever rugby player.

king_carlos wrote:1.Marler, Mako, Mullan
2.Hartley, George, Youngs
3.Cole, Brookes, Thomas
4.Launchbury, Slater
5.Attwood, Kitchener
6.Robshaw, Haskell
7.Kvesic, Fraser
8.Vunipola, Morgan

9.Youngs, Care, Simpson
10.Ford, Farrell

11.May, Nowell
12.Slade, Burrell
13.Joseph, Daly
14.Watson
15.Brown, Pennell

My Saxons squad to the above EPS.

1.Auterac, Waller
2.Taylor, Haywood, Webber
3.S Wilson, Balmain, Sinckler
4.Kruis, Itoje
5.Lawes, Symons
6.Ewers, Wilson
7.Wood, Wallace
8.Beaumont

9.Robson, Harrison, Spencer
10.Cipriani, Myler

11.Yarde
12.Eastmind, Hill
13.Tuilagi, Lowe
14.Rokoduguni, Ashton
15.Foden, Goode

Wade hasn't be considered due to injury - he'd have likely been in my EPS if fit.

Slade was stretchered off...

Cumbrian wrote:Slade was stretchered off...

oh

In the biggest shock news of the season, it has been decided Corbs needs surgery on his knee. May miss the entire season.

UCumbrian wrote:Slade was stretchered off...

Looks to be a broken leg

Props
Kieran Brookes, Dan Cole, Joe Marler, Mako Vunipola, Henry Thomas, Nick Auterac

Hookers
Jamie George, Dylan Hartley, Tom Youngs

Second rows
Dave Attwood, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Graham Kitchener

Back rows
Brendan O'Connor, Matt Kvesic, Chris Robshaw, Maro Itoje, Ben Morgan, Billy Vunipola

Scrum halves
Danny Carel Joe Simpson, Ben Youngs

Fly halves
Owen Farrell, George Ford

Centres
Jonathan Joseph, Henry Slade, Elliot Daly, Manu Tuilagi (Sam Hill on standby)

Back three
Mike Brown, Alex Goode, Johnny May, Jack Nowell, Anthony Watson

With this EPS my Saxons squad (33 players) would be:

Props
Alex Waller, Matt Mullan, Alec Hepburn, Jake Cooper-Wooley, Paul Hill, Kyle Sinckler

Hooker
Luke Cowan-Dickie, Mike Haywood, Tommy Taylor

Lock
Charlie Matthews, Ed Slater, Matt Symons, George Kruis

Back Row
Dave Ewers, Mike Williams, Will Fraser, Luke Wallace, Josh Beaumont, Jack Clifford

Scrum Half
Chris Cook, Dan Robson, Ben Spencer

Fly Half
Danny Cipriani, Freddie Burns

Centre
Ollie Devoto, Sam Hill, Nick Tompkins, Sam James

Back Three
Semesa Rokoduguni, Marland Yarde, Christian Wade (Alex Lewington standby), Chris Pennell, Ben Foden

Well it looks like Corbesero and Henry Slade wont be taking any part in the 6ns. Although Slade might have a small chance. i would not bet on it.

I am still wandering if Rowntree Farrell senior and Catt are going to be kept on? and if so why?

Surely Eddie Jones will have his own set of coaches who he wan'ts to work with.

I find the Slade injury so frustrating! We always seem to lose the one player that we need to fill a problem position. I think back down over the last ten years. When we were desperate for locks, the big hope Richard Blaze got injured and eventually retired. When Nick Easter was last eight man standing, Dan Ward-Smith was permanently crocked. Just when Tom Rees and Alex Corbisero were at a point when they started to look good they pick up career threatening/long term injuries. Dan Cole hasn't been the same since neck surgery either. What many believe to be our greatest flyhalf (sir Jonny) spent about 6 years on the treatment table. Even Tom Wood doesn't look like they player he was before his foot collapsed. Manu's injury may have opened the way for Joseph, but he is a force of nature that has been out injured for nearly a whole year! Don't even get me Frak started on Steve Thompson or Trevor Woodman. Jesus, I'm going to throw a proper mardy here!

Cumbrian wrote:I find the Slade injury so frustrating!  We always seem to lose the one player that we need to fill a problem position.  I think back down over the last ten years.  When we were desperate for locks, the big hope Richard Blaze got injured and eventually retired.  When Nick Easter was last eight man standing, Dan Ward-Smith was permanently crocked. Just when Tom Rees and Alex Corbisero were at a point when they started to look good they pick up career threatening/long term injuries. Dan Cole hasn't been the same since neck surgery either. What many believe to be our greatest flyhalf (sir Jonny) spent about 6 years on the treatment table.  Even Tom Wood doesn't look like they player he was before his foot collapsed.  Manu's injury may have opened the way for Joseph, but he is a force of nature that has been out injured for nearly a whole year! Don't even get me Frak started on Steve Thompson or Trevor Woodman. Jesus, I'm going to throw a proper mardy here!

Agree with this very much - I think that Slade has a very strong case to be the missing piece of the puzzle at 12 and I didn't look forward to Scotland facing off against him. I hope for England's sake that Steady Eddie chooses proper footballers in midfield or otherwise you simply are never going to use Brown and Newell as well as you might.

On the injuries, teams just seem to be lucky or unlucky and it tends to be dished up quite indiscriminately. Three of Scotland's biggest talents of the past 10 years - Thom Evans, Joe Ansbro and Rory Lamont - all had to retire early through injury and they are still sadly missed.

From a sporting point of view what happen to Evans and Ansbro was tragic and hit Scotland right where it hurt, you definitely have my sympathies there.

From an English point of view, I honestly can't see who he will pick. I was looking at our squad on Wikipedia and wanted to cry. A choice of Barritt and 'He-Who-Shall-no-longer-be-named'. The closest like for like replacement for Slade with any form of international experience I would say is Twelvetrees. So it could be somebody entirely out of the blue or Barritt. It is going to be Barritt...Oh no.

I know it's a long shot but Devoto?

I don't know what Eddie Jones is like as a selector, is he bold? Does he like to throw youth in early? Will he look to play a power game with England or will he be more subtle?

Slade will stay in the EPS - then someone in the Saxons will be called up as an injury replacement (means Eddie does not need to use one of his 11 permitted changes).

I would probably call up Eastmond. Not got Slades kicking game, but would be a choice that forces opponents to think how they will defend.

He may well be tempted by eastmond or Devoto given the players will be new to him and it would give a strong Bath connection who know each others game.

You could do much, much worse than Ollie Devoto, particularly given that he is a big unit with an excellent kicking game. Why not chuck him into the 6N camp just to see how he goes. Still a youngfeller (I think that I have ties older than him), but why shouldn't the time to try him be now?

Only seen the Bath game from this weekend but he looked good in the game given also Ford wasn't where he normally is in terms of his passing quality. Would still be firmly behind a fit Salde for me but given twelvetrees, Barritt and Eastmond haven't nailed a place Jones may give him a shot. Still plenty of time to go and Tuilagi possibly returning I think there'll be a few options available.

LondonTiger wrote:In the biggest shock news of the season, it has been decided Corbs needs surgery on his knee. May miss the entire season.

This truly is a bolt from the blue. And what with Vickery retiring....


Anyhoo, poor old Corbs should cease to have his name associated with the England team - he needs to retire from international duty so he can prolong his club rugby.

I for one haven't included Corbs in any teams ive listed on here. Waste of time.

But with Mullan, Marler, Mako, Waller and Auterac we are in good hands at LH...I don't worry.

GeordieFalcon wrote:I for one haven't included Corbs in any teams ive listed on here. Waste of time.

But with Mullan, Marler, Mako, Waller and Auterac we are in good hands at LH...I don't worry.

You may want to re-think Auterac GF, he was getting a new one ripped by Brookes on Saturday, Thomas might have been the one carded, but Auterac was turning through 90 degrees as well.

On current form I would have either of the Waller brothers.

Some of the commentry was blaming rookie locks, but they had Garvey to use as a lock if they wanted; indeed did late on, so I cannot see that one as a good excuse.

It was good to see Harrison starting to step up a bit, he began to look like the player we all expected him to be.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:I for one haven't included Corbs in any teams ive listed on here. Waste of time.

But with Mullan, Marler, Mako, Waller and Auterac we are in good hands at LH...I don't worry.

You may want to re-think Auterac GF, he was getting a new one ripped by Brookes on Saturday, Thomas might have been the one carded, but Auterac was turning through 90 degrees as well.

On current form I would have either of the Waller brothers.

Some of the commentry was blaming rookie locks, but they had Garvey to use as a lock if they wanted; indeed did late on, so I cannot see that one as a good excuse.

It was good to see Harrison starting to step up a bit, he began to look like the player we all expected him to be.

Fair call, but even the great Carl Hayman has had a hard day at the office. Auterac is young and Brookes himself pushing for that starting TH spot for England is in a rich vein of form as well.

Way too early but have to say Hill looked a bit good when he came on.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Way too early but have to say Hill looked a bit good when he came on.

Saints are very strong at prop and hooker at the moment, The Wallers and then Brookes and Hill with Haywood and Hartley due back soon.

Lets just hope they all stay fit and get to reach their potential....

At the moment id probably be looking to start the following (if all knocks have cleared up and a few more months to get back in shape and rediscover form):

1 Marler
2 George
3 Cole
4 Launchbury
5 Kitchener
6 Robshaw (Ewers on the bench)
7 Kvesic
8 Billy V

Im even coming around again to Tom Wood at 6. He's still a quality operator with a very good lineout option. But get him to focus on certain aspects....not just being an alrounder.