Comments on: Best of the weekend: McKenzie walks, ERCC begins with a bang

By: Pablito

Pablito — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 15:34:51 +0000

Charlie Hodgson ;)

By: Matt

Matt — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 12:13:35 +0000

Well if Ashton stays in there is no possible reason for excluding Wade for defensive reasons.

And it can’t be because of size. If he’s big enough to get called up by Gatland he’s big enough to play for England.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 12:05:50 +0000

back line for the first test…

My choice:
Youngs
Ford
Watson
Barritt
Burrell
Roko
Foden

Expect:
Care
Farrell
May(?)
Barritt
Burrell
Yarde
Brown

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 11:57:47 +0000

FH is a tricky one at the moment.

Should SL drop Farrell because he has been injured. he has been the consistent form FH for England for a couple of years now. I think he has the right to be there.

Second choice: I think Ford is pretty much a no brainer.

Third choice: Myler or Cips? Think it is fairly close between them. Myler has been good, but not getting the headlines Cips does. Not sure Cips has been better, but the press do like to discuss him. Added to which, this is your 3rd choice. Think I would consider Cips as a starter, but not necessarily on the bench.

Anyway, think it was a pretty tight choice. SL is entitled to his opinion, and has seen them in camp. Just because he went with Myler does not mean it was not a very tough call.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 11:46:49 +0000

Though Watson did reasonably against Glasgow, though he was outshone by Seymore who was fantastic.

Advantage with Watson is that he tackles well, and has good positioning having started as a full back.Think he needs to learn to get into the game more, but part of that is getting to know the team.

Would be wary of Nowell or Wade against Savea. Barritt/Carter would drop bombs as soon as they got near our 22.

So frustrated by the continuation of Ashton. He is fine in attack. He is no wade, but he gets himself in tryscoring positions well, and knows how to find the line. One of the best poachers in the premiership. The problem is his defence. Saw it again over the weekend. Just when you think he is doing OK he makes a horrible attempt at a tackle, or gives up because the ball goes past him. He just watched Guildford go past to challenge Goode for the ball. If Ashton had pushed to get back he could either support Goode or tackle Guildford.Hate to make the comparison, but you just dont see that from the AB wingers, or SA wingers.

By: Geat

Geat — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 11:46:20 +0000

There’s another thing, the rumoured fly-halves are Farrell, Ford and Myler…

By: Dazza

Dazza — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 11:40:10 +0000

Personally I don’t have a problem with Barritt and Burrell playing alongside each other, as long as Farrell is not playing 10. If Ford or Cips is at 10, I think Barritt is a good man to have at 12. Twelvetrees has shown nothing so far this season, apart from one very good pass against Sarries. His defence is still not as good as Barritt, and while he offers something going forward that Barritt does not, Ford or Cips will give us that anyway. I also think Joseph could be quite useful outside Barritt?
As for the wings, I would like to see Wade or Yarde at 11, and Roko or Nowell at 14. Watson as the bench option, but suspect Goode will get that. Just edging Foden in the 15 stakes at the mo.

By: Dazza

Dazza — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 11:32:23 +0000

Interesting point about Savea, but I don’t think Roko will get picked through lack of experience (and credit in the bank), and Yarde is no better a defender than Ashton. If anything our best defensive winger is probably Nowell.

By: Pablito

Pablito — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 11:14:57 +0000

Well I hope at least one of Wade or Nowell makes it. I know Nowell has been injured for a while but seems to be playing well since he came back

Agree that May seems to be running in-field less – hopefully he can keep that up.

Watson is an interesting one – he’s been around the squad a couple of times now. I wouldn’t be upset if SL rolled the dice with him – he’s certainly skilled and perhaps the international game will bring even more out of him

As for Barritt and Burrell, with Tuilagi and Eastmond probably injured, it won’t be a surprise.

By: Geat

Geat — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 10:53:29 +0000

Yeah, the reports are saying Roko, Watson, Yarde, May and Ashton. Not sure how close to the truth that is, but in past experience they’re usually very accurate.

Bath always fail to keep us posted on injuries, so no idea how bad Eastmond’s injury is. He tried to play on initially but left the field 10 minutes or so later, clutching his ribs.

By: Jonny

Jonny — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 10:37:08 +0000

My guess for wingers would be any of May, Roko, Watson, Yarde or Ashton. To his credit, May has actually played well for Gloucester so far this season, and seems to have taken on board the criticism of turning in field at every opportunity.

I don’t think that Wade is necessarily a bad defender, his performance against Bath opposite Watson was very good (as was Watson against him), when he is in the correct position, he tackles well given his lack of size.

Contrast this to Ashton, who actually positions himself well in defence, but always goes in high and rarely makes a tackle without conceding yards. As someone stated above, the coaches should be able to sort out Wade’s issues.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 10:08:39 +0000

Who are the wingers that are in without those two? I’ll be gutted if we see Ashton and May above those two in the pecking order.

As for Barritt and Burrell starting…. what!? Why? Is that because Tuilagi is out? Also, did not know Eastmond got injured. How serious is that?