Still not convinced about Dobrandt. Maybe he needs more international experience but thought he was weak in the 6N and I still have nightmares about how easily Duhan VDM handed him off for that try..
- Cane shouldn’t even be in the squad. One dimensional player that’s been out played by his younger/taller/skillful counterparts. Best back row 6-7-8 is either Frizell-Ardie-Jacobson or Frizell-Papalii-Ardie. - David Havili is the best center in the squad. Dudes dynamic and well rounded skill wise. Love him at 12.
The new blood group of Ruskin, Dan, Martin, Pearson, T Willis and Murley are the main reason I have some hope as they all possess qualities the England team lacks and all should be at least in the match day 23
I'd love to see the two willis lads, curry, Billy v and pearson as the backrow picks. No daly or Malins. I believe may has a better chance of making it than murley.
If Billy V is fit, time to ditch Dombrandt, take both Willis brothers. I love Earl but can't see how he gets in as a 7 ahead of Curry and Willis, or as a 6 ahead of Lawes and workhorse Ludlam. They only need 2 scrum halves, tempting to take JvP and then Care for his experience + point of difference. Sack off Youngs, finally. they can always ship in a replacement if there's an injury. Farrell should play 12 so take Ford and Smith as 10s. Manu, Slade and Lawrence as the other centres. Watson and Steward are guarantees, plus Daly for versatility, class and longdistance goals. which leaves 3 spots left to be fought between murley, arundell, cokanasiga and malins. I'd want to find a space for big Joe because his power is a point of difference.
only one I disagree with is Blamire. I'm biased as a falcons fan, but think he's underrated. He's powerful, and athletic (played 6 for us for a while) plus basics are sound. I see him in the 23. But again, very biased. I'm interested in why Care is there. My conspiracy theory is that Borthwick wants to have a more expansive quins style plan b in the tool box.
I'm Irish but live in England so watch a lot of GP. . .sorry but I don't think this squad has enough dynamism, (nor an imaginative enough coach) to beat the (current) best teams. . .while this current squad (& English rugby in general) appears to be in the doldrums just now - but owing to their v favourable draw - I won't be surprised should England make the semi's - & then who knows?
Hi, I am a proud, patriotic Englishman, but, I personally doubt that England will escape the group stage. I feel they will not make the knockout games. Or, in the best case, they will get knocked out in the first round of those games. Steve Borthwick -for me- just does not have the ability to be an international head coach. Just look at his squad! Youngs and vP will both give opposition teams 7,14, 20 points a game, there is a lack of flair and imagination behind the pack, and the pack are relatively light-weight against other tier 1 nations. I'm sorry to have to admit this.
A little bemused by the lack of experience card that SB may play to reduce squad. The current experienced crop are clearly not good enough so what is the point of sticking instead of twisting?
Right nationality England should have waited till after the world cup and saved a lot of money in pay offs and compensation and gone for Joseph what he achieved with Japan.
I have some misgivings about SB but, it wasn't him who wasted two years that could have been given to the likes of Smith, Murley, Obano, Odugwu, Randall, Spencer, Lawrence etc. Jones is the reason we are playing catch up and it looks like he did us a favour by leaving , given Australia's resent results and poor play.
@@thewomble1509 Jones lost the plot in the COVID Six Nations why he picked players from the relegated Saracens who's league didn't start until January instead of blooding new talent I'll never know.
Mmm, MV still makes the cut but Rodd gets left at home, at least it wasn't R/Ruskin that got the elbow. U/Hill must be struggling after all the injuries and time out. Still a bit of a shock though but it suggests Pearson will be included.
I'd love a backrow like Curry, Willis, Pearson. You see how Frizell played against the Boks - athleticism, power, carrying....had it all. We need a more dynamic backrow
That'd be my back row too, that's a good balance of power and dyanism. All 3 are big breakdown threats with great game-sense. I'd be tempted to have Earl on the bench in that case, in case some more pace is needed.
England are so far behind the top teams they should use this WC to give the future a chance, offering all the best young prospects game time to gain experience. This policy is as likely to succeed (or fail) as sticking with the old guard. If we’re conservative and fail-a real possibility-it will be a massive step backwards and huge opportunity missed.
The more I see the england set up the more trepadous I feel for their chances...they're slowing removing pace (which is really important in the modern) game and moving toward a stodgy kick game that most of the opposition have figured out and will punish if the chase and defence is off...at this rate they might struggle to beat Japan and Argentina and even get out of the pool stages which would be embarrassing considering how easy their pool is when looking at the others :-/
The lack of pace is a serious issue in the back row. look at France; Makalou, Ollivon, Alldritt, all big guys but athletic and quick too. Who have we got that comes close? For me the two eights should have been Mercer and T Willis. BV is going to struggle and Dombrandt is too "in and out". He's done nothing worthy of being included in a W Cup squad.
I think England will surprise people this WC, personally. I don't see any danger of losing to Japan. They've had more time to click under Borthwick and Sinfield and I guarantee their fitness is being stretched to the max. I'm quietly optimistic, I think they'll do better than you expect.
I think it’s great England are being written off in some quarters and understandably so but I think we could surprise a few people because to be honest we’re only second guessing how we’re going to play and it’s a free hit really considering we are 6 or 7th in the rankings now
Yeah I think you're spot on England have couple of warm up matches so injuries may play a part in Borthwick plans. My view is England should be looking to the future blood the younger players now with some experienced players I just hope Borthwick doesn't play that boring box kicking style like fast Eddie did because it's not entertaining to watch.you look at France Ireland and All Blacks they play box office Rugby the only thing in England favor is they will be massive under dogs. 🏉🏉🧐🏴
I think your ratings are good but feel underwhelmed with them. Taking of players by past reputations especially who probably becsubs, i dont understand why SB not taking new players to get experience as we are not likely to win or semi finals
I would like to see a graph. No of individual caps Vs frequency. It looks like most people in that squad are at 80+ caps OR 15- caps. Complete lack of development from EJ. I think SB should just roll the dice, bring in the younger players while only keeping experienced players that are up to scratch. Yes to Lawes, Farrell, Curry. No to Marler, May, possibly even Itoje.
Malins is a zero, who is a almost def starter and Daly the utility player who is also a zero. Murley and Arendall unfortunately won't make the cut. Got a feeling Billy V will make the cut if fit. Hope waste of space Youngs don't make it. There a lot of doom and gloom characters about England at the moment. Things aren't as bad as there seem. Still think we stand a realistic chance of making the semis. We will know more after the warm up games
We need pace and power. And some skill and tactical awareness would help. The 'top' teams have absolute monsters, all over the field. I think most of our players are good, but are they good enough. And the arms race of bulk that is going on, is it good for the game?
Was Ted Hill in any of the early squads? He looks like a clever player with great bulk and athleticism - would have been a good candidate to cover 6 & 8
Yes he was in the first training squad but soon cut. The problem for his future prospects is no other flankers in the squad are really near a retirement age yet
I have huge misgivings about England's chances at this World Cup. It has to be the worst Squad they have assembled for a long time. A lot of players reaching the end of their careers, out of form or should never even be there. Without some adventurous picks from the choices still available and brave decisions to leave some Established veterans at home, they will be exiting well before the end.
It looks like Mako will go but its difficult to believe given his scrummaging failures at critical times. Blamire already has international experience so I cant see how he doesnt have less risk than Dan. Cant see Dombrandt as low risk, yes he is the incumbent but his performances in 6N probably mean he is at best a 3. I think Arundell is lower or equal in risk to Murley because he can play fullback and wing and has at least got a couple of caps. Malins and Daly seem to be of similar ilk, multi role talented players but a bit lightweight in defence, ratings are right but I think only one of them goes to the RWC.
Like it. More complicated, how about risk/reward ie unknown quantity how high can they go but how low can they go example Ben Youngs steady performance 5-7 out 10 v Raffi Quirke 4- 9
Seems you got the ratings a bit mixed up. You said at the beginning of the video that it's based on what you think Borthwick will do, rather than what you want. Surely then Slade should be a 0 and Arundell given a lower score than Murley?
