The Great Big England A Thread

[Banquo]

Ojomoh just returning from injury is very much in Sack'n Back's style - pissed off that Seb Atkinson is in there.
Not sure Shilcock really counts in the "bridge to age-grade" category.
I'd guess AOF, Coles and FSmith to drop down to the A-game, possibly JvP as well, with Hill covering lock, possibly fully, possibly covering from 6.

My bet:

1. Opoku-Fordjour
2. Langdon
3. Fasogbon
4. Batley
5. Coles*
6. Hill**
7. Pearson
8. Willis**

09. McParland
10. FSmith*
11. Murley
12. Dingwall (c)
13. Beard
14. Roebuck
15. Carpenter

16. Oghre, 17. Iyogen, 18. Sela, 19 Fisilau, 20. Pollock
21. Porter / Van Portfliet*, 22. Ojomoh, 23. Shilcock


* dropping down from the seniors
** really ought to have been involved with the seniors

FKAS will have your guts fer garters now JVP is fifth choice

actually I'd prefer him not involved if it's not the first team. Less chance of picking up a needless injury and missing Tigers games.

I rate Porter though, would have him starting over McParland. Would have Porter over Randall personally as well but there you go.

I'd have thought Sella would be in the squad in an apprenticeship role and Heyes would start to add some experience at tighthead.

.......if only we had Sella !

[p/d]

No vice captains. Absolute fecking joke.
.
.
.

Hill, Pollock & Willis, oooooh

Cant be arsed anymore to express disappointment at no recognition for S Atkinson.

[Mellsblue]

No vice captains. Absolute fecking joke.
.
.
.

Hill, Pollock & Willis, oooooh

Cant be arsed anymore to express disappointment at no recognition for S Atkinson.

No need for vice captains when Dingers is in charge.

[p/d]

No vice captains. Absolute fecking joke.
.
.
.

Hill, Pollock & Willis, oooooh

Cant be arsed anymore to express disappointment at no recognition for S Atkinson.

No need for vice captains when Dingers is in charge.

this squad just keeps on giving

[Puja]

If players are dropping down from the first team squad for this do we thing we'll see Fin Smith at 10?

Good shout. I wouldn't've thought so, given they have CAtkinson and Shillcock already, but it's possible. Same with van Poortvliet as well.

Annoyingly enough, it turns out this is on Premier Sports. I've worked out that, if you take out 1 month at £15.99 on the Saturday 16th, you'll get the first two rounds of the European Cup in your month, which almost makes it worthwhile doing. Depends what games Premier Sports are actually planning on showing for those ERC rounds - if they're showing both Leicester ones, I'll probably spend the money, otherwise they can whistle.

Puja

[FKAS]

If players are dropping down from the first team squad for this do we thing we'll see Fin Smith at 10?

Good shout. I wouldn't've thought so, given they have CAtkinson and Shillcock already, but it's possible. Same with van Poortvliet as well.

Annoyingly enough, it turns out this is on Premier Sports. I've worked out that, if you take out 1 month at £15.99 on the Saturday 16th, you'll get the first two rounds of the European Cup in your month, which almost makes it worthwhile doing. Depends what games Premier Sports are actually planning on showing for those ERC rounds - if they're showing both Leicester ones, I'll probably spend the money, otherwise they can whistle.

Puja

Hmm I'd written off watching it or at least watching it at home. Must be a local pub showing it.

There's a few fringe first team players who've been nowhere near a squad yet; Northmore, Lozowski, F Smith, JvP, Coles, Ewels they could all be in the mix. This game is the same week as SA isn't it so could be they give some of the fringe players a chance to audition for a chance to play Japan.

[Puja]

If players are dropping down from the first team squad for this do we thing we'll see Fin Smith at 10?

Good shout. I wouldn't've thought so, given they have CAtkinson and Shillcock already, but it's possible. Same with van Poortvliet as well.

Annoyingly enough, it turns out this is on Premier Sports. I've worked out that, if you take out 1 month at £15.99 on the Saturday 16th, you'll get the first two rounds of the European Cup in your month, which almost makes it worthwhile doing. Depends what games Premier Sports are actually planning on showing for those ERC rounds - if they're showing both Leicester ones, I'll probably spend the money, otherwise they can whistle.

Puja

Hmm I'd written off watching it or at least watching it at home. Must be a local pub showing it.

There's a few fringe first team players who've been nowhere near a squad yet; Northmore, Lozowski, F Smith, JvP, Coles, Ewels they could all be in the mix. This game is the same week as SA isn't it so could be they give some of the fringe players a chance to audition for a chance to play Japan.

I think bringing in Lozowski just for a single AI game against Japan might trigger some kind of traumatic flashbacks for the poor sod.

Puja

[FKAS]

Good shout. I wouldn't've thought so, given they have CAtkinson and Shillcock already, but it's possible. Same with van Poortvliet as well.

Annoyingly enough, it turns out this is on Premier Sports. I've worked out that, if you take out 1 month at £15.99 on the Saturday 16th, you'll get the first two rounds of the European Cup in your month, which almost makes it worthwhile doing. Depends what games Premier Sports are actually planning on showing for those ERC rounds - if they're showing both Leicester ones, I'll probably spend the money, otherwise they can whistle.

Puja

Hmm I'd written off watching it or at least watching it at home. Must be a local pub showing it.

There's a few fringe first team players who've been nowhere near a squad yet; Northmore, Lozowski, F Smith, JvP, Coles, Ewels they could all be in the mix. This game is the same week as SA isn't it so could be they give some of the fringe players a chance to audition for a chance to play Japan.

I think bringing in Lozowski just for a single AI game against Japan might trigger some kind of traumatic flashbacks for the poor sod.

Puja

That would Eddie levels of testing his mental toughness.

[twitchy]

Making ted hill play second row is such a classic england move. He's not specialised enough to make an impact in the scrum and making him try will just drain his legs so he won't be able to make his usual impact in the loose.

[Mikey Brown]

Making ted hill play second row is such a classic england move. He's not specialised enough to make an impact in the scrum and making him try will just drain his legs so he won't be able to make his usual impact in the loose.

Yeah I’m hoping others are right in this being a chance to get Coles, F Smith etc some minutes and allow a backrow of Hill, Pearson, Willis.

[Banquo]

Making ted hill play second row is such a classic england move. He's not specialised enough to make an impact in the scrum and making him try will just drain his legs so he won't be able to make his usual impact in the loose.

My take is that they will drop some of Isiekwe, Ewels and Coles down

It says in the announcement that this squad will be joined by senior squad members

[Which Tyler]

FKAS will have your guts fer garters now JVP is fifth choice

Not so much 5th choice, as expecting him to be a travelling reserve for the seniors covering an injury in the warm-up (so 3rd); but if he does drop down, then I'd prefer him on the bench, to give McParland/Porter the start - which is probably harsh, and probably wrong.

[Banquo]

FKAS will have your guts fer garters now JVP is fifth choice

Not so much 5th choice, as expecting him to be a travelling reserve for the seniors covering an injury in the warm-up (so 3rd); but if he does drop down, then I'd prefer him on the bench, to give McParland/Porter the start - which is probably harsh, and probably wrong.

It was a joke

[Oakboy]

McParland looked too good to warm the bench as back-up to Mitchell for Saints. Starting him for the A-team ahead of JvP (should he drop down) is quite an interesting long-term consideration for his personal agent/manager. He and Pollock are like test cases for development of talent. We (some of us) whinge about our players not being good enough. Those two look like they could/should be if they are not f*cked about.

[Banquo]

McParland looked too good to warm the bench as back-up to Mitchell for Saints. Starting him for the A-team ahead of JvP (should he drop down) is quite an interesting long-term consideration for his personal agent/manager. He and Pollock are like test cases for development of talent. We (some of us) whinge about our players not being good enough. Those two look like they could/should be if they are not f*cked about.

You've seen him in one game v Tigers second team. His previous appearance off the bench was a bit less impressive....needs properly managing... but, those two are both being fast tracked already, they are both only 19.

[Stom]

McParland looked too good to warm the bench as back-up to Mitchell for Saints. Starting him for the A-team ahead of JvP (should he drop down) is quite an interesting long-term consideration for his personal agent/manager. He and Pollock are like test cases for development of talent. We (some of us) whinge about our players not being good enough. Those two look like they could/should be if they are not f*cked about.

You've seen him in one game v Tigers second team. His previous appearance off the bench was a bit less impressive....needs properly managing... but, those two are both being fast tracked already, they are both only 19.

Aye. And Porter has been good for Quins. Surprisingly, tbh.

[Mikey Brown]

Did you not rate him before? I was very pleased we managed to nab him.

Not seen enough of McParland to know if he should get the nod instead though, as a bigger prospect.

[Oakboy]

McParland looked too good to warm the bench as back-up to Mitchell for Saints. Starting him for the A-team ahead of JvP (should he drop down) is quite an interesting long-term consideration for his personal agent/manager. He and Pollock are like test cases for development of talent. We (some of us) whinge about our players not being good enough. Those two look like they could/should be if they are not f*cked about.

You've seen him in one game v Tigers second team. His previous appearance off the bench was a bit less impressive....needs properly managing... but, those two are both being fast tracked already, they are both only 19.

Plus under-20s. I'd suggest that he is better than any 9 at Exeter now, for example. If his agent could get a good deal for that transfer would it be a surprise if he went? You are right, of course, that he needs proper management.

[Banquo]

McParland looked too good to warm the bench as back-up to Mitchell for Saints. Starting him for the A-team ahead of JvP (should he drop down) is quite an interesting long-term consideration for his personal agent/manager. He and Pollock are like test cases for development of talent. We (some of us) whinge about our players not being good enough. Those two look like they could/should be if they are not f*cked about.

You've seen him in one game v Tigers second team. His previous appearance off the bench was a bit less impressive....needs properly managing... but, those two are both being fast tracked already, they are both only 19.

Plus under-20s. I'd suggest that he is better than any 9 at Exeter now, for example. If his agent could get a good deal for that transfer would it be a surprise if he went? You are right, of course, that he needs proper management.

why the heck would he want to go to Exeter .

You are absolutely right in one respect though, a 'draft' system for the best u20's is quite a good idea, assuming you reward the clubs that have invested in them.

[LongForgotten]

Not sure this is the right thread for this but is the expectation that Dan Kelly will be off to Ireland?

[Mikey Brown]

Surprised to see it's already 3 years since he got his solitary cap vs Canada https://all.rugby/player/dan-kelly and he's only 23!

It doesn't feel like things are really clicking for him at Leicester, but I'd hope there might be a prem club that could hope to make something of his skills before he turns Irish. I'd certainly take him at Quins if we lose Anyanwu. I wonder if Anyanwu was even on the radar for this A squad, or if rumours of moving to France affected him.

[Puja]

McParland looked too good to warm the bench as back-up to Mitchell for Saints. Starting him for the A-team ahead of JvP (should he drop down) is quite an interesting long-term consideration for his personal agent/manager. He and Pollock are like test cases for development of talent. We (some of us) whinge about our players not being good enough. Those two look like they could/should be if they are not f*cked about.

You've seen him in one game v Tigers second team. His previous appearance off the bench was a bit less impressive....needs properly managing... but, those two are both being fast tracked already, they are both only 19.

Plus under-20s. I'd suggest that he is better than any 9 at Exeter now, for example. If his agent could get a good deal for that transfer would it be a surprise if he went? You are right, of course, that he needs proper management.

I will note that Mitchell is 27, so it's not like he'll be blocking the route at Saints for a decade - by the time McParland's the same age as JvP, he'll be 31 and, with Mitchell being away with England and having a chequered injury history, he'll have had plenty of gametime, especially if he ousts James for the 21 shirt pretty quickly.

Puja

[Puja]

Surprised to see it's already 3 years since he got his solitary cap vs Canada https://all.rugby/player/dan-kelly and he's only 23!

It doesn't feel like things are really clicking for him at Leicester, but I'd hope there might be a prem club that could hope to make something of his skills before he turns Irish. I'd certainly take him at Quins if we lose Anyanwu. I wonder if Anyanwu was even on the radar for this A squad, or if rumours of moving to France affected him.

I knew there was someone missing that I hadn't thought of! Very surprised that there's no Anyanwu, as he has really looked like he's kicked on for Quins and looks like the archetypal choice at 12 for Strong Ballcarrying. Certainly a better bet than Ojomoh, so I wonder if it is to do with him going to France.

On Kelly, he's been more promise than performance over the last 3 years. Flashes of excellence from time to time, but he doesn't dominate a game, and he's not owned the 12 shirt at Leicester outright. I'd be irked to lose him from Leicester, but it wouldn't really be tearing a hole in the squad, and that goes the same for if we lost him from England.

Puja

[FKAS]

Kelly was sensational in the title winning season. Strong argument for form 12 of the season and it was noticeable that Tigers attack dropped off after he got injured. He's never found the same consistent form since. Last season he was finally fit for a good run but McKellar's system just didn't suit him at all. Being stuck covering Kata flying out the line often left him hopelessly isolated in defence and knocked his confidence.

This season he's look much better but was an odd omission from the squad for the Sarries game which makes me think he's had some sort of niggling injury. The week before he was meant to be on the bench before being promoted after Perese failed a late fitness test. Capping him at this point would be tactical but I am hopeful his form is returning. He's both physical enough to play the 12 role that Strong Bosher wants but also has those big miss passes in him that put the wingers into space. He's already set up a couple of tries with those this season and it's tougher for the opposition to see that coming when it's not the 10 dropping out the line to make time to throw it.

[p/d]

Big fan of Kelly. Trust he will find his way back to the form that made him stand out and then, like Atkinson, be totally ignored.