Comments on: England names 55-man summer training squad

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 18:16:15 +0000

This is a positive change. I’m not too concerned over ins or outs but additional access to a large squad in the summer and deferring the EPS announcement until after we see who is in form is a big improvement.

By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 17:39:05 +0000

I think Lancaster hasn’t picked Daly due to a lack of a proper position. If he’s a 15 then he is well behind the 4 in the squad plus Watson and Nowell. If he’s a 13 then his defence has not been good enough which will be Lancaster’s main worry. A worrying similarity to a young Mathew Tait, although he did win nearly 40 caps.

I will stick my neck out and say that the 33 for the Autumn after the first few rounds of the season will be:

Corbisiero, Marler, Vunipola, Wilson, Brookes
Hartley, Youngs
Lawes, Launchbury, Parling, Attwood
Wood, Croft, Robshaw, Kvesic/Haskell, Morgan, Vunipola
Care, Youngs, Dickson
Farrell, Ford
Barritt, Burrell, Tuilagi, Twelvetrees, Devoto (backing him to have a storming season)
Ashton, Wade, Yarde
Brown, Foden, Goode/Watson

By: Jacob

Jacob — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 10:54:12 +0000

You’re probably right to an extent on the debriefing from the NZ tour, but he is still taking the opportunity to look at players like Wray and Fraser – so I’m surprised he isn’t looking at Daly.

On Pennell, I have to disagree. Yes the Championship is getting stronger every year, but we see excellent Premiership players fail to make the step up to Test level. I really can not see how a player can play week in week out at Championship level and then play in a Test match. The gap in standards there is just too much.

By: Graeme

Graeme — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 10:28:17 +0000

I wouldn’t read to much into this squad to be honest. Lancaster isn’t going to name the EPS till October so I think most of these have been picked to be debriefed over the New Zealand tour.

I think the others that have been picked are there because they’ve been injuried and he wants to see how they are fairing. I would think that there are some missing from this list that would still be included in the Saxons.

I have disagree with you on Pennell. Is in the form of his life and included purely on merit. Ok I’m a bais Worcester fan, but he has been outstanding for us for the last few seasons. Also I feel the Championship will be the strongest it has ever been this year (not premiership standard obivously) so if Pennell can keep up his standards I see no reason for him not to be picked.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 09:42:58 +0000

I completely agree with you on Daly (although I am a biased Wasps fan). Real talent, surely he is a better option that Trinder at 13? Or even the more likely Barritt if Tuilagi was to get injured. Just can not see why we wouldn’t involve him in these squads. By any means he wouldn’t be displacing anyone in the starting 15, but I would be seriously be thinking about him for the 23 shirt if I was SL, He clearly does not agree.

To be honest, I think I’m in the minority that does not see the fuss with Wallace. I think he is very good. But I definitely prefer Fraser as a 7. Robshaw and Kvesic are both obviously ahead of him too. Even Wood moving to 7 is more likely that seeing him get a game. We all know SL is a huge Clark fan, so that does not come as a surprise.

Whilst I think Pennell is a good player, surely him playing Championship rugby rules him out of playing for England next season? Particularly with Brown/Foden/Goode/May/Nowell all in the squad and cover 15.

By: Henry

Henry — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 09:12:01 +0000

Yep Daly. I’m sounding like a broken record but seriously don’t know what he has to do to get a shot. Was one of the better players in the Saxons games, has been tearing it up in an under performing Wasps side and is that rare breed for an english back- an all round footballer, similar in style to a Ben Smith (though definitely not that good yet). Though I always thought he was better at outside centre so maybe that is what is counting against him…

And I am happy for Pennell. Such a quality player and admirable loyalty to stay with Worcester, just hope a lower standard of rugby doesn’t impact his own game.

Also surprised Wallace isn’t included? Has been dropped for Clark (not a fan), Fraser and Wray. The latter two are great talents to be sure, but Fraser certainly hasn’t had much game time and hasn’t been as impressive since his injury last year.

Good to see Devoto was going to be included barring injury however. Another exciting all-round back.

By: Jacob

Jacob — Mon, 11 Aug 2014 08:44:57 +0000

Really surprised that Elliott Daly has been overlooked. Such a talent but SL clearly is not keen. Also think that 6 FHs is a bit many for a squad of this size, although I can see why each was included.

Also, other one I found strange is Chris Pennell. Is SL really going to consider him if he plays in the Championship all year? Surely not?