Summer Rugby Union Internationals

[a311]

We have England in New Zealand, Ireland in Argentina, Wales in South Africa, France in Australia, Scotland doing some multi tour with games against the US and Canada before heading to South Africa. Italy are in Japan.

Predications? Southern Hemisphere dominance status quo to be maintained with Ireland being the only one I can see winning a series.

England, the organisation of the tour clashing with the premiership final is farce. I'd have fancied them to be competitive in the first test if they could have put out a first choice 15 out. They've proven in the last 12 months they're a hard side to beat but with a scratch-ish XV for the first test they could get well beaten then NZ will have the momentum and time to re-gel and go on to win the next two comfortably. We could have really taken it to them with our first choice pack but minus Marler it's going to be a new-ish look front 3 and quite green. The NZ front three compete but would have been there to get stuck into, It's not such an issue as it would be say if the tour was to SA where you need your best front 3 or you're gona get hammered.

10 is an issue. Cipriani? Now Ford is out. Burns has had a season to forget and then there's young Slade. Cipriani kind of goes against SL selection policy so if he's going to play him he needs to keep him in the set up, and to do that will need to play out of his skin.

It would be nice to win one but I can see 3-0 NZ, there's also a game against the Crusaders.

Potential 1st test side looks interesting against #1 test side in their own backyard= baptism of fire:

1. Marler
2. Ward
3. Wilson
4. Launchbury
5. Attwood
6. Robshaw
7. Kvesic/Haskell
8. Morgan
9. Care
10. Cipriani/Slade/Burns
12. Eastmond
13. Tuilagi
11. Yarde
14. Rokoduguni
15. Brown

How do our Welsh friends think your lot will fair? Lots of injuries across the board going into a meat grinder I fear.

France in Australia is an interesting one, I think it's a full 3 tests? Could nick one but a series defeat-allot of the Aussies are going well domestically.

[GravelBen]

ABs will probably have a few players injured after super15, but there is enough player depth that I like to think we'll still give you a good hiding.

[DJRC]

Hold on...Roko who????

[a311]

GravelBen said:

ABs will probably have a few players injured after super15, but there is enough player depth that I like to think we'll still give you a good hiding.

Been a funny old season for the NZ S15 teams generally. The Chiefs have been on the end of a few hidings and will struggle to get into the play off while the Hurricanes and Highlanders are in with a shout. I can see a home semi and final for the Sharks and with home advantage proving to be key over the years think they'll have it.

The AB talent conveyor belt appears to be plenty strong enough still so would agree if there are any injuries you'll have plenty of cover.

[a311]

DJRC said:

Hold on...Roko who????

Semesa Rokoduguni, Fijian born and serves in the army and plays for Bath.

[London424]

I wonder if Lancaster might look to reconsider the 'no French based player' policy after watching Armitage yesterday.

Was immense and would make the England pack a truly frightening proposition for any team.

Note: sorry a bit off topic as it's not got a hope of happening for the summer.

[Cheib]

I fear for England in the first test. How the fk the RFU agreed to this schedule is beyond me.....well if it were any sporting body apart from the RFU it would suprise me more.

[spikeyhead]

Cheib said:

I fear for England in the first test. How the fk the RFU agreed to this schedule is beyond me.....well if it were any sporting body apart from the RFU it would suprise me more.

I suspect the ECB are worse, and as for FIFA. ...

[OldSpice]

London424 said:

I wonder if Lancaster might look to reconsider the 'no French based player' policy after watching Armitage yesterday.

Was immense and would make the England pack a truly frightening proposition for any team.

Note: sorry a bit off topic as it's not got a hope of happening for the summer.

Can't see it happening before the world cup. The only way I could see Armitage being recalled is if injuries mean we have no reasonable cover at that position. Otherwise, the policy will continue to be enforced to try and protect the English game.

[NormalWisdom]

OldSpice said:

London424 said:

I wonder if Lancaster might look to reconsider the 'no French based player' policy after watching Armitage yesterday.

Was immense and would make the England pack a truly frightening proposition for any team.

Note: sorry a bit off topic as it's not got a hope of happening for the summer.

Can't see it happening before the world cup. The only way I could see Armitage being recalled is if injuries mean we have no reasonable cover at that position. Otherwise, the policy will continue to be enforced to try and protect the English game.

It's the RFU's policy not Lancaster's though he has said it is something he agrees with. I was thinking about it this morning and suspect we are shooting ourselves in the foot - The reason given by the RFU is that overseas players cannot attend all the training camps. Of course Toulon are currently the Real Madrid of Rugby with most of the other teams having Isthmian League budgets in comparison so they will remain attractive for some time yet (will Wales apply the same rule for Halfpenny next term?). Perhaps there should be agreed 6-nations wide International training weekends to allow the free flow of "rugby workers"?

[Cheib]

Lancaster quoted in fairly unequivocal terms saying there will be no overseas players unless due to injury.

[London424]

Cheib said:

Lancaster quoted in fairly unequivocal terms saying there will be no overseas players unless due to injury.

Which is an interesting statement I think. It leaves plenty of room for wiggle in that. Armitage can play 6,7 or 8 so is an injury to anyone who plays 6/7/8 in the squad and he can call him up and use the "exceptional circumstance" element?

[a311]

I think the situation with Wales is theyve found themselves in a position that if they adopted a hard line approach theyd be fooked or at least severely weaken their first choice XV. 1/2p and Davies are gone next season a long with Roberts whose coming to the end of his first season in France. Im not sure how much truth there is in it but Ive heard pundits discussing how player welfare/injuries arent as well managed in the top 14 as say in the premiership? Less restriction in terms of the salary cap so the big boys just have huge, someone gets injured someone else slots in-I can see this with Toulon but will have to find a source to quote.

SA, I believe would certainly enhance the England team and comparing him to Billy V he seems to offer the ball carrying whilst being able to disrupt/win opposition ball. SL stance also revolves around player availability, I can see that point of view but it seems to be workable for other unions.

[rj1986]

London424 said:

Which is an interesting statement I think. It leaves plenty of room for wiggle in that. Armitage can play 6,7 or 8 so is an injury to anyone who plays 6/7/8 in the squad and he can call him up and use the "exceptional circumstance" element?

Problem is, the back row is where England (traditionally) have a lot of depth in selection.
On the note of overseas players- how is Sheridan doing these days?

[DJRC]

Beast is managing his body. Still the best prop on the league and like Jonny has been playing better than when he was in England.

[London424]

rj1986 said:

London424 said:

Which is an interesting statement I think. It leaves plenty of room for wiggle in that. Armitage can play 6,7 or 8 so is an injury to anyone who plays 6/7/8 in the squad and he can call him up and use the "exceptional circumstance" element?

Problem is, the back row is where England (traditionally) have a lot of depth in selection.
On the note of overseas players- how is Sheridan doing these days?

Well that's why I was asking the question. As you say, there is a lot of depth...so does he have to be down to bare bones, or if one gets injured he can call him up.

Will be interesting to see what happens in the Autumn.

[rj1986]

We would have to loose a lot of players for Armatige to be called up without people getting the hump. There's a lot of fringe players who would be inline for a recall before the selectors could honestly say he's a viable option.
Although Lancaster recently said "It's not my rule, but i agree with it" so it doesn't seem like he's against it per se.

And as long as anyone gets picked ahead of Scumbag Clarke.

I think there's more of a chance of Sheridan being called up first- we seem to be lacking a lot of depth in the front row (as does every single club in the world )

[a311]

I hadn't heard much of Sheridan since this: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/intern...

But believe he has played since, although I don't follow French rugby that closely other than in the HC and don't recall seeing him anytime lately. Brilliant destructive scrummager. Looseheads however while we don't have a wealth of riches-Corbs aside Marler and Mako V are improving young and bring something else to the team. I'm a little more worried about tight head, Dan Cole looks like he needs more surgery. He'd had an impressive appearance record up until he got injured which isn't surprising as he was getting flogged at Leicester putting in consecutive 80 mins in both the league and HC at one stage.

[a311]

Not a bad first quarter from England. Hopefully the couple of decisions going against us will even themselves over the course of the game.

ETA

HT, allot of handling errors and a bit of indiscipline but England going well. I still expect the All Blacks to cut loose at some point although I don't see from where, they are looking dangerous moving the ball quickly through the backs, England forwards are going well.

I wasn't filled with confidence when Burns was picked to start due to his lousy form but he's playing very well. His tackling has been impressive.

Edited by a311 on Saturday 7th June 09:27

[Kermit power]

I certainly wasn't expecting that sort of scoreline at half time of the All Blacks vs England's almost second XV!