However I don’t see the first test as a chance to roll the dice or experiment, unless it was Saints v Quins final (not because there would be any more players missing, but they would be the key ones) but that looks pretty unlikely. A final between any of Sarries, Saints, Tigers & Bath should see us be able to feel a competitive if unstrength side, but each position has adequate deputy (a Saints v Tigers final could be problematic as we’d lose both-currently- first choose Hookers, outside centres and 2nd & 3rd choice scrum halfs).

Fly Half is the only position I’d worry about as you could argue that anyone other than Farrell is getting chuck in a the deep end. I mean as good as Ford is (and I think he’ll be the best fly half in the world in a few years time) he still has only two caps and what fourteen minutes(?) of international Rugby.

That first test is going to be so important for confidence not only for the rest of the series but also for the next season just ahead of the world cup. To suffer three heavy defeats (which is possible if we go down heavily in the first test and don’t recover) would be a massive step backwards.

I feel therefore it would be worth taking Flood just as a more experienced head and leader it doesn’t mean you have to play him, he still just be a good guy to have around, especially for the start of the tour as that is probably the most important time. And if he wasn’t moving to France he’d probably be in the squad anyway and likely to start the first test if Farrell wasn’t there!

Having seen Catt and Rowntree’s comments it looks like they’re going the other way. Which is fine and will probably pay off win or lose in time for the 2019 World Cup i.e. 98 Tour of Hell. But for a World Cup in 18 months time, some how I don’t think so.

But that’s just my thoughts. Either way whatever decision Lancaster and co. make I’ll be behind them 100% and hoping for a strong tour and impressive showing from the team.

Ford will probably be available to start, Cipriani or Myler to back him up. There’s no need to cap a guy who will definitely not be going to the RWC. Given Ford had to move away from Tigers as he wasn’t getting game time behind Flood, any decision to deny him international game time through picking Flood would be both poor and ironic!

Burns going to Tigers is a concern, it doesn’t seem to be the right environment for a guy with his confidence shot, unlikely to be first choice as well. I would prefer to see him end up somewhere a little more nurturing if we are to make the most of his talents.

I’d take Cipriani. Maybe Myler. But probably not even him. Let Farrell and Ford come back into selection for the next game. Twelvetrees will definitely be there, so he can provide back up at 10. Taking more than three 10s all the way down there seems a bit much.

Baring in mind the players will fly down their after the final, they just won’t be available for the first test, taking four 10s seems over the top. Alex Goode will probably travel, as will Eastmond, so they are also stand ins at 10 if needed.

Saying all this – I’d be very surprised if we saw Bath reach the final. I’d also be surprised if it wasn’t a Saracens vs Bath semi-final, therefore ruling out the chances of Ford and Farrell playing the final.

The objective of the NZ trip is likely to be the performance not the result – they’ll probably be targeting one win from three as a good outcome. The first test is the best chance for them to roll the dice with some new players as there won’t be much expectation of a win – putting Flood in to this situation (this is assuming that Leicester won’t make the final, which is a pretty big assumption given their history) would accomplish absolutely nothing as it would probably be the last game he ever played for England.

So no thanks – let’s leave him at home and take a youngster – that said I’d expect that it will be George Ford as the final will probably be between two from Sarries, Saints and Tigers, if we’re being realistic.

My guess would be he’ll probably take three 10s with him to NZ, with Farrell and Ford being two of them – the third is probably going to be either Myler or Cipriani, given the diabolical form that Burns has been in this season.

The point here is do we select two players who have performed very well.

We should always be looking at who is performing well currently, and who can come in to challenge squad; this is international sport.

Given the clash between the first test with New Zealand and the Premiership final. If we ended up with a Saracens V Bath final, therefore ruling both Farrell and Ford out of the first test, would you take Flood?

Given that the other options would be Freddie Burns who has a pretty poor season and only a handful of caps, Stephen Myler who is currently injured and has even less caps than Burns or Danny Cipriani who although in fine form hasn’t played for England for six years.

Personally I would. Obviously Lancaster will have to name his squad before he actually knows which plays he won’t have available to him. (Does anybody know when he names that squad by the way?) And I don’t expect him to include Flood, but just wondered what everyone else thought?

With Farrell (and possibly Ford) likely to miss out on the first test and Burns struggling to get a game for his club, is the door open for Danny Cipriani?