Dave Ewers

With Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes both out, Ben Morgan out of favour/form....is Dave Ewers England's missing back row ball carrier this 6 nation's???

Wouldn't mind seeing a back row for Italy of;
6) Itoje
7) Underhill
8) Ewers

20) Simmonds

Does he ever play 8 for Exeter? Probably got the carrying ability, but what about controlling the ball in the scrum etc

I also highly doubt Robshaw is going to be dropped completely

BamBam wrote:Does he ever play 8 for Exeter? Probably got the carrying ability, but what about controlling the ball in the scrum etc

I also highly doubt Robshaw is going to be dropped completely

Normally Simmonds/Waldrom with Ewers at 6.

Last year it was more Horstmann/Waldrom?

Play the entire Exeter back row. Armond ewers and Simmonds. They are the best back row in the premium and all EQ.
Problem solved

Scottrf wrote:

BamBam wrote:Does he ever play 8 for Exeter? Probably got the carrying ability, but what about controlling the ball in the scrum etc

I also highly doubt Robshaw is going to be dropped completely

Normally Simmonds/Waldrom with Ewers at 6.

Last year it was more Horstmann/Waldrom?

At Welford Road this season, Armand wore 8 but on Chiefs scrums Salvi and then Kvesic packed down there. Not sure I have ever seen Ewers at 8.

LondonTiger wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

BamBam wrote:Does he ever play 8 for Exeter? Probably got the carrying ability, but what about controlling the ball in the scrum etc

I also highly doubt Robshaw is going to be dropped completely

Normally Simmonds/Waldrom with Ewers at 6.

Last year it was more Horstmann/Waldrom?

At Welford Road this season, Armand wore 8 but on Chiefs scrums Salvi and then Kvesic packed down there. Not sure I have ever seen Ewers at 8.

Dave Ewers is listed as a flanker /no.8. I think he had a window of opportunity a couple of years ago but suspect he'd be lucky to get another chance.

Armand and Wilson have both been around the squad in the last couple of years and I wouldn't be surprised if one of them appeared in the squad, but 8 is tricky. The last I read indicates that Hughes won't make it back in time for any of the games (same with Daly).

Simmonds must be all but guaranteed to start but we will need the rest of the pack to step up carrying in general and a backup option. I wonder if Itoje has ever been tried at 8 given he can do everything else. It must be too early for Mercer.

I think Daly is a bit lightweight to play 8 anyway.

Didn't Daly pack down at 6 when we injured practically everyone in one game?

Didn't Dave Ewers first come to the attention as a big carrying 8...however has been moved to a huge heavy duty 6.

Does he have the fitness and workrate for Eddie?

GeordieFalcon wrote:Didn't Dave Ewers first come to the attention as a big carrying 8...however has been moved to a huge heavy duty 6.

Does he have the fitness and workrate for Eddie?

Once upon a time no, more recently I would say yes.

Mr Bounce wrote:Didn't Daly pack down at 6 when we injured practically everyone in one game?

Thought that was May..

[/quote]
Simmonds must be all but guaranteed to start but we will need the rest of the pack to step up carrying in general and a backup option. I wonder if Itoje has ever been tried at 8 given he can do everything else. It must be too early for Mercer.[/quote]
Perhaps that's an argument for starting guys like Sinkler, George etc. to share the carrying load.
Although Eddie prefers them as 'finishers'

Ewers started off as a no 8, so wouldn't be alien to him, with the injuries to Vunipola and Hughes the lack of a back row ball carrier it's a bit concerning.

Also I think Eddie Jones sees Sam Simmonds as an openside.

propdavid_london wrote:

Mr Bounce wrote:Didn't Daly pack down at 6 when we injured practically everyone in one game?

Thought that was May..

May had that comical scrum against Argentina in 2016. Daly came off the bench on the Australia tour and packed down in the back row, can't remember if he was 6 or 8 though!

Always thought Daly would make a perfect full back, his skill set, pace and reading of the game.

I agree Jones probably sees Simmonds as flanker...however when needs must Simmonds offers a different option...genuine pace and explosiveness from 8 that will work well with a more expansive game .

If you need muscle put Ewers in the 7 role that Haskell played...if he's capable of playing that.

Robshaw won't be dropped bar injury.

We could see...

6 Robshaw
7 Ewers/Graham
8 Simmonds.

I understand..but robshaw was supposed to be a temporary solution after the last world cup... after getting outplayed by the Australians...no I worry that the same thing will happen in 2019 when we run up against Irish, Australian or all black back rows

Nottswasp wrote:I understand..but robshaw was supposed to be a temporary solution after the last world cup... after getting outplayed by the Australians...no I worry that the same thing will happen in 2019 when we run up against Irish, Australian or all black back rows

Well Robshaw has consistently outplayed the Australian back row every game since. Not everybody likes him and every few months we rerun the same arguments, but he earned his place back in the squad the hard way under the new regime and Eddie seems to be a big fan.

Actually we have been losing the breakdown battle

propdavid_london wrote:

Mr Bounce wrote:Didn't Daly pack down at 6 when we injured practically everyone in one game?

Thought that was May..

Packed down at flanker when Big Billy went off in the closing minutes of the Final Australia Test in 2016. Says he was at No8 on the teamsheet, but I am guessing one of the other back rowers moved!

http://en.espn.co.uk/statsguru/rugby/match/289291.html

Nottswasp wrote:Actually we have been losing the breakdown battle

Yes that is an issue - yet we keep on winning games, so maybe its not everything it is cracked up to be. Quality of ball is also significant.

Robshaw doesn't run in amazing tries, he doesn't make massive hits in defense, but he seldom misses either. He carries the ball but never far. He takes lineout ball but will only steal opposition ball if it drops in his lap. On the other hand he does all the other work. He hits every ruck. He slows down ball consistently. He's always there, even when you would have thought he has no right to get there. He cleans up bad ball all the time. The only international player who works harder is Pocock.

Well Robshaw obviously does something right..for a guy like Eddie Jones to pretty much slate him through the world cup to then be converted to a big fan. He sees all these players close up and they analyse what each does through a game.

If Robshaw was as bad as many keep saying I really don't believe he'd still be in there!

I like robshaw...bit of a modern day Richard hill for England.

It's the current lack of a big no 8 for this 6 nation's and the losing of breakdown battle's that concern me