England head coach Eddie Jones has retained 25 players as England continue their preparations for their next NatWest 6 Nations match against Scotland on Saturday at Murrayfield (KO 4:45pm).
Backs
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Jonny May (Leicester Tigers)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
Forwards
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
Nathan Hughes (Wasps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs)
This means there’s no Nathan Earle, Gabriel Ibitoye, Harry Mallinder or Denny Solomona from the larger squad assembled on Sunday.
Which two do you thin will be dropped for the matchday 23?
In a match day 23 you would normally have 10 backs. There are just 10 in the 25, so all these are in the 23. You would have 6 front rows. 3 locks and 4 back rows. There are 6 Front row players, so they are in. There are 4 back rowers, so maybe they are in. That SUGGESTS two locks left out. Or maybe a lock in the back row and a back row out?
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With 7 starters and 3 on the bench, you would presume that all of the backs will be in the squad. I would personally go for Wigglesworth, Joseph and Nowell. I like the way we shape up with Te’o in the centres and I think Watson and May have done enough to hold on to their positions for now, despite Nowell looking good from the bench.
From the forwards, the front row spots fill themselves. After that I would personally have a starting second and back row of Itoje, Launchbury, Robshaw, Underhill and Hughes. I think Haskell should be on the bench as back row replacement, in particular 8 given the lack of game time Hughes has had, and then the versatility of Lawes over Kruis.
My two to drop out would therefore be Charlie Ewels and George Kruis.
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I am assuming the same Ted. Ewels and Kruis to miss out. Nice to have so many locks to choose from!!
With Lawes on the bench he has the choice of brining him on at lock or 6 depending on tactics etc. Haskell on the bench mainly to cover 7 or 8 but also 6 if necessary.
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Without a spare back I presume Farrell’s leg issue isn’t going to be a problem?
I would guess that Ewels and Kruis will get the chop. That would mean 3 locks and 4 back rowers! is Eddie approaching back 5 balance here??
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Surely not!!!
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So everyone agrees.
Predictable matchday 23 (which most people actually agree with as well). And some balance in the back row.
WTF. How are we meant to debate and second guess this?
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I think Ewels and Haskell will be the ones to miss out I see no reason why Eddie would change from picking Lawes in the backrow in order to pick an out of form Haskell
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