Ireland vs England - Sat 4.45pm

[Puja]

Team's out:

England: Steward; Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Murley; M Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Itoje, Martin, T Curry, B Curry, Earl

Replacements: Dan, Baxter, Heyes, Chessum, Cunningham-South, Willis, Randall, F Smith

[Puja]

It wouldn't be what I'd pick, but I'm certainly interested to see how it goes. There's no doubt that we're better off with Mitchell at 9 and that, had he been available in the AIs, we could easily have been looking at 3 wins instead of 3 defeats.

Interested to see Murley go. Disappointed in Earl getting picked over TWillis, but I am happy about us picking two flankers instead of a lock at 6, and also that we've got Chessum on the bench for Martin to empty the tank. It is also an impactful bench - all of the forwards offer a boost in energy and carrying power and Randall is a useful option if we're chasing a game. I'd've preferred starting with a FSmith/MSmith 10/15 which would've allowed for Roebuck on the bench to add further impetus, but I can see the argument of keeping continuity of MSmith at 10 and also rewarding Steward's hard work in improving.

Puja

[p/d]

Team's out:

England: Steward; Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Murley; M Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Itoje, Martin, T Curry, B Curry, Earl

Replacements: Dan, Baxter, Heyes, Chessum, Cunningham-South, Willis, Randall, F Smith

That’ll please Stom and all wearers of a ‘tache

[Banquo]

Bit early to let Ireland know exactly how we are going to play, which is what this does. Back row is weird, lack of tight carrying and breakdown presence. Pleased to see that Stillbacking Bedfordfan supports Mells contention that Roebuck is slow .

Can't feel that optimistic tbh; how many would get in Ireland's team? (not that I could suggest a radically different team that would have more contenders!). The midfield is still wrong imo, the back row too.

[SixAndAHalf]

I'm fairly happy with that side from the squad picked - much more impetus from the bench although I do worry about that sub front row in the final 30 - would've probably started Dan and / or Heyes. I'd have also preferred the balance with Willis or CCS starting in the back row but Ireland aren't a huge pack.

Chessum once fit I think offers better balance with Itoje but makes sense for him to come from the bench given his limited minutes.

[Mikey Brown]

I was still busy complaining about the rumours on the other thread and didn't realise the team was out.

Exciting stuff. Can't beleive my eyes. Get ready for some harem scarem, harlem globetrotters, between-the-legs, out the back door, Champagne Barbarians nonsense for the first hour, then we unload 11 caps of fury from the bench.

Backrow and centre balance still wrong, but there's potential it could work? Maybe?

[Banquo]

I was still busy complaining about the rumours on the other thread and didn't realise the team was out.

Exciting stuff. Can't beleive my eyes. Get ready for some harem scarem, harlem globetrotters, between-the-legs, out the back door, Champagne Barbarians nonsense for the first hour, then we unload 11 caps of fury from the bench.

Backrow and centre balance still wrong, but there's potential it could work? Maybe?

I guess a stopped clock is right twice a day, so there's that

[Mellsblue]

Pleased to see that Stillbacking Bedfordfan supports Mells contention that Roebuck is slow .

I have it on good authority that Roebuck was dropped due solely to my concerns and also so that I didn’t have a pointless argument on the internet with someone I’ve never met.

As for the XXIII as a whole. It strikes me as muddled thinking.

[TheDasher]

Don't mind the Currys but don't like the Currys with Earl... Hate the centres, would've liked Ted Hill in 23, think Roebuck deserves a start, other than that, as expected.

[Mellsblue]

Don't mind the Currys but don't like the Currys with Earl...

Have we learnt nothing from this morning’s dispute.

[Mikey Brown]

If Slade gets injured are we putting Earl to 12 and Willis at 8 or Fin to 10, Marcus to 15 and Steward to... you know?

[p/d]

If Slade gets injured are we putting Earl to 12 and Willis at 8 or Fin to 10, Marcus to 15 and Steward to... you know?

[paddy no 11]

Borthwick referenced the backrow yesterday and basically Ireland.....ahem, taking liberties. Has not picked a backrow to clean out doris at every breakdown and generate some quick ball? OK it's not balanced but it's to do a specific job?

[fivepointer]

Really pleased for Murley. He's a player i've liked for a while.

Centres and back row. Well.....we know the former is a hotch potch and the latter simply looks horribly unbalanced.

Heres hoping we play better than what we look on paper.

[TheDasher]

Don't mind the Currys but don't like the Currys with Earl...

Have we learnt nothing from this morning’s dispute.

Would you be so kind as to give me a summary?

[FKAS]

If Slade gets injured are we putting Earl to 12 and Willis at 8 or Fin to 10, Marcus to 15 and Steward to... you know?

If both centres get injured are we going for the much demanded Earl/Steward centre combination?

[SixAndAHalf]

If Slade gets injured are we putting Earl to 12 and Willis at 8 or Fin to 10, Marcus to 15 and Steward to... you know?

Marcus at 15, Lawrence on the wing, Earl / Steward in the centres

[FKAS]

Well that's not what I expected. Are we doubling down on line speed and going with maximum blitz for the first half, looking to be a niggly menace at the breakdown and then playing at tempo in attack or probably more likely with a big kick chase game. As the game breaks up we presumably unload the bench for ball carrying physicality and look to attack.

Not sure about Murley in this one, he might be targeted but his tache is fantastic and will surely mesmerise the Irish. It also means we now have a rapid back three...

Not a lot of weight in the back three, not sure that helps us take advantage of Ireland missing Furlong. Some weight to try and take advantage at scrum time was what I was expecting.

[Oakboy]

Arguably, it's only 3 or 4 players off the best that SB could do. The snag is that the starting XV could be substantially better with those changes. I'd say the only marginal decision SB got right is leaving Ford out of the 23.

[TheNomad]

Crikey - I wouldn't have landed on that, but let's see

Interesting bench, I guess

[Mikey Brown]

Well that's not what I expected. Are we doubling down on line speed and going with maximum blitz for the first half, looking to be a niggly menace at the breakdown and then playing at tempo in attack or probably more likely with a big kick chase game. As the game breaks up we presumably unload the bench for ball carrying physicality and look to attack.

Not sure about Murley in this one, he might be targeted but his tache is fantastic and will surely mesmerise the Irish. It also means we now have a rapid back three...

Not a lot of weight in the back three, not sure that helps us take advantage of Ireland missing Furlong. Some weight to try and take advantage at scrum time was what I was expecting.

You can’t be serious.

Also do you mean the back three of the scrum re: weight advantage? I don’t honestly know how Furlong’s backups compare in that area.

[Banquo]

Well that's not what I expected. Are we doubling down on line speed and going with maximum blitz for the first half, looking to be a niggly menace at the breakdown and then playing at tempo in attack or probably more likely with a big kick chase game. As the game breaks up we presumably unload the bench for ball carrying physicality and look to attack.

Not sure about Murley in this one, he might be targeted but his tache is fantastic and will surely mesmerise the Irish. It also means we now have a rapid back three...

Not a lot of weight in the back three, not sure that helps us take advantage of Ireland missing Furlong. Some weight to try and take advantage at scrum time was what I was expecting.

You can’t be serious.

Also do you mean the back three of the scrum re: weight advantage? I don’t honestly know how Furlong’s backups compare in that area.

Is Furlong still the scrummaging force he was? His loose play is still very good.

[Mellsblue]

Don't mind the Currys but don't like the Currys with Earl...

Have we learnt nothing from this morning’s dispute.

Would you be so kind as to give me a summary?

It’s a flippant, throwaway comment re the latest in a long line of pointless RR EMB arguments. I couldn’t give you a summary even if tried as I’m not entirely sure what happened.

[Oakboy]

Does anybody know why the team has been named so early?

[Mikey Brown]

Does anybody know why the team has been named so early?

They probably just got so pissed off reading the discussion on here ans thought they'd put an end to.

Little do they know...