Comments on: An England team for the Autumn Internationals

By: SY

SY — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 18:43:25 +0000

I absolutely think England can win a World Cup with Robshaw at 7 as long as the backrow is balanced. He has been England’s best player for the last two seasons. He is England’s most consistent player since he seems to always play well. He is about as well rounded a flanker as one can be because he tackles well, is good over the ball, passes well, is a good link player, a good ball carrier, and an intelligent player. There are no weaknesses in his game. I feel that he is grossly unappreciated.

By: Kahindi

Kahindi — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 15:08:10 +0000

Marler has become a liability. I still think he could be a great england player but wants to fight more than play. He should watch Hartley s fall from grace and learn. Anyone who prefers a sidestepping prop to a scrummager should think twice, we are england not fiji!

By: Matt

Matt — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 13:32:34 +0000

Thought he struggled in the scrum against Scarlets, OK it’s not all on him as Quins are clearly suffering without the Johnston/Kohn partnership, but I wasn’t sitting thinking “if we lose Corbs it’s fine, ‘coz we can bring this animal in”

By: Geat

Geat — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 09:43:53 +0000

Yes, I watched that game – but remember it’s “only” Wuss, who are struggling quite badly.

I’m still haunted by England v Australia last year – he was awful. Dropped balls, poor passes, basic skills letting him down and 3 penalties conceded. I hope he steps up, as we don’t have much choice really.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 09:39:37 +0000

Annoyed about Corbs. But disagree with you about Marler. He proved on the Argie tour that he could scrummage. Yes he got done by Adam Jones, but there are quite a few props who can say that.

As for in the loose – he has always been more involved than Corb who is only now starting to throw his weight around. Marler has great hands for a big guy and offloads and supports very well for Quins

Sure, Vunipola is better in the loose but here’s Marler unleashing a side-step worthy of a centre…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KJ7ERPbqq0

I’d be happy with Marler starting with MV to come on later

By: ExpatChief

ExpatChief — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 08:51:48 +0000

I’m an Exeter fan but think for his long term development it’s best not to select Ewers yet. It’s his first season as first choice so the rest during LV and just more experience at Perm level will do him good.

By: Henry

Henry — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 08:27:32 +0000

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaah. The one player I didnt want injured! Apparently he is out for 3 weeks, so here’s hoping that was a pessimistic estimate and he will be back for New Zealand. He’s used to coming back to match fitness from injury so I would have no quams about bringing him straight in the moment he’s given the all clear by the doctor.

By: James93

James93 — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 08:07:37 +0000

I also still have concerns about the weight of the second row. I wouldn’t mind seeing launch berry bulking up a bit, even if it means he loses a bit of pace. I don’t think having a massive back row solves the problem as I would prefer a mobile back row unit to a mobile second row pairing.

By: Geat

Geat — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 07:40:26 +0000

Losing Corbs is a huge blow – you could see the difference he made in the first and third Lions tests, and of course the only AI we had him for last year was *that* performance against New Zealand.

I don’t rate Marler, he’s not a particularly good scrummager and he’s miles below Mako and Corbs in the loose (both in terms of work-rate and just general handling skills). But that’s probably the way it’ll be,

By: James93

James93 — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 07:18:08 +0000

Corbs is now out so can we expect to see Mako starting at 1 with Marler coming off the bench? I wouldn’t say that Marler is a much better scrummager than Mako and although Marler is a good player it concerns me how often he seems to be looking for a scrap on the field. I wouldn’t mind seeing twelvetrees and Tompkins as the centre pairing, think that they could form a good if not temporary partnership.

By: Ronnie

Ronnie — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 21:11:44 +0000

Good team all in all,

I like all the players but not the blend:

3 changes:

Launchbury, he is a great player but if we are to pick Parling, and we have to, we need more grunt. I would go with Lawes, he is in fin form and can add a harder edge to the pack.

Robshaw, Mr safe we know what he offers but England will not win the world cup with Robshaw at 7, Kvesic hasn`t played well but he has the potential to be a great 7 and I don`t want us to arrive 10 games before the WC and people saying that he hasn`t the experience.

Eastmond, could be an option for 12, but 12t`s is in a better position, I would go with Trinder, same reason as Kvesic, he could do it and needs to be risked.

other than that I like the team

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 20:46:20 +0000

1) Corbisiero
2) Young’s
3) Cole
4) Launchbury
5) Parking
6) Wood
7) Robshaw
8) Vunipola
9) Dickson
10) Farrell
11) Yarde
12) Twelvetrees
13) Burrell
14) Ashton
15) Foden

With Vunipola, Hartley, Thomas, Lawes, Johnson, Care, Flood and Eastmond on the bench. Lawes because he offers more impact, and Johnson simply because he has started the season better than Kvesic has.