From our Tasmanian Correspondant. Remember comrades this is afan site and any contributions are welcome send them to happyman@rugtbydownunder.com and if they pass the extensive content requirements they will get a run.
The English Team Announced with some big omissions.
Leaks to the left and leaks to the right. This is the squad that is being banded about with my slightly negative and vaguely depressed comments.
England’s World Cup squad
Props
Dan Cole Leicester, Ellis Genge Bristol, Kyle Sinckler Bristol,Will Stuart Bath, Joe Marler Quins, Bevan Rodd Sale
Hookers
Jack Walker Quins, Theo Dan Saracens, Jamie George Saracens
Locks
Maro Itoje Saracens, Courtney Lawes Northampton, David Ribbans Northampton, George Martin Leicester, Ollie Chessum Leicester
Back row
Tom Curry Sale, Ben Earl Saracens, Lewis Ludlam Northampton, Jack Willis Toulouse, Billy Vunipola Saracens
Scrum Half
Danny Care Quins, Ben Youngs Leicester, Jack Van Poortvliet Leicester
Fly Half
Owen Farrell, George Ford, Marcus Smith
Centres
Elliott Daly Saracens, Joe Marchant Quins, Manu Tuilagi Sale, Ollie Laurence BathBack Three
Henry Arundell London Irish, Max Malins Saracens,
Freddie Steward Leicester,Anthony Watson LeicesterLet’s face it Eddie should have gone after the 2019 RWC but no Premiership coaches had the balls to put their hands up for the job. Covid intervened which didn’t help so we were pretty much stuck with the same group of players and the results and performance went downhill. The RFU then took the easy way out and gave Eddie the boot and handed Steve Borthwick the poisoned chalice. Talk about plausible deniability if we win we’re great and if we lose it’s not our fault. What a bunch spot A holes. When he took over Borthwick was unable at the outset to select his own squad due to the RFUs agreement with the clubs, another great move. I suppose that this was reflected in the teams poor performance in the 6Ns but the rot had set in well before that with totally abject performances in the November internationals. With such a short time til the RWC it would be nigh impossible to put a first choice coaching team in place so it was hardly a surprise that Borthwick took his Tigers team with him en mass. At least they had familiarity in their favour but if performance is anything to go by there are still many areas that have to be improved.
As usual it all starts up front. In all my years of supporting England I don’t think I have seen a weaker forward squad. They say that it all starts with the tight head who has to be a top rate scrummager and I’m afraid that none of the current crop cut it. We are definitely up shit creek if old man Dan Cole is still in the frame. Loose head is not much better. Ellis Genge is a ball carrier first and foremost and his scrummage has improved. At least Borthers has had the good sense to bring in Joe Marler to bring some stability. We’re also stuffed for hookers with Luke Cowan Dickie being ruled out. If Jamie George is injured it will be a disaster.Back in the old days 4/5 was called the engine room and the SDs could be guaranteed to produce some first class engines. Alas today we are decidedly underpowered. Although we do not have as many scrums as in the old days, a stable platform is essential and at the moment we just don’t have it. Itoje is living on reputation whilst the others although athletic are decidedly low on grunt.
Back row is an even bigger conundrum. Borthers seems to put all his eggs in one basket by picking an injury prone Billy Vunipola as the only specialist 8. Achieving a balance at 6 and 7 will be the big issue with a jackeller being essential. It would not surprise me in the least to see someone like Lawes slipping in at 6. Half back are pretty much as predicted but as soon as I saw Ben Youngs and JVP, with the Leicester connection, I shuddered at the thought of an international version of Tigerball with plenty of box kicking to come and slow ball. It was always on the cards that Farrell, Ford and Smith would be the three 10s. On the face of it it looks like Laurence and Tuilagi, if he stays fit, will be getting through a lot of work. Marchant looked pretty good against the Welsh but if a kick chase game is the England plan then Slade is well out of it and Marchant will be redundant. Seems to me that the only skill our wingers will need is to give an effective kick chase and our full backs to be able to take high balls. What a waste that guys like Marchant, Daley, Arundell and Watson will get little meaningful game time.
As you may have gathered I am not filled with confidence. OK you can only select from the pool of players available but it seems to me that the SDs have only one game plan based around a dominant pack, which we don’t have and a kicking game that is pretty crap. That’s plan A but we have no B or C. We were extremely lucky with the draw avoiding all the big names. However, notwithstanding the remaining warm ups, on current performance I can see them losing to Argentina and if the G&G head their pool it would make for an interesting Q/F.
