Watson injury opens door for uncapped 23-year-old sensation
There have been calls for Gloucester winger Ollie Thorley to start against Scotland this weekend after Eddie Jones cut his squad to 25 on Wednesday evening.
Anthony Watson will miss the Calcutta Cup game having already missed the opener in France last Sunday through injury.
He was expected to retake his starting berth in Jones’ side in place for newly capped George Furbank, either starting at full-back or on the wing with Elliot Daly taking the 15 shirt.
However, with Watson now ruled out, there is a campaign for Thorley to earn his first cap for England after the 23-year-old lit up the Gallagher Premiership with mazy runs covering the length and breadth of the pitch.
It was a tough debut for Furbank in Paris, although it was a Test match where many England players struggled with the conditions and the ferocity of the French team.
Take the pressure off Furbank and put him on the bench. Start Thorley at wing and plug Daly in at fullback. Give Furbank 20mins at the end, with Daly shifting to wing for him.
— Rob Turnbull (@RobTurnbull_) February 5, 2020
Daly back at fullback and thorley on the wing
— Andrewking (@Andrew1985king) February 5, 2020
Daly to fullback, Thorely on the wing.
— Charles Spence (@ChazSpence1) February 5, 2020
https://twitter.com/MattHardyJourno/status/1225060740173914114?s=20
Thorley must start this weekend. a genuinely hard carrying runner would cause Scotland real issues
— Mystery Selector 4 (@4Selector) February 5, 2020
The Northampton full-back was deserving of his first cap given his form, but the same applies for Thorley. Daly could easily slot into the full-back role to give Thorley the opportunity to show what he is capable of at Murrayfield.
Furthermore, the winger offers more physicality than his positional rivals, which is what England missed in France and may miss in the backline against Scotland with Manu Tuilagi injured.
Jones narrows down the options for Edinburghhttps://t.co/0c4DQt2KP7
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) February 5, 2020
With the Leicester Tigers centre out, one of last week’s replacements, Ollie Devoto or Jonathan Joseph, is likely to start against Scotland, which would allow Furbank to move to the bench.
Jones may be reluctant to make wholesale changes in the wake of the France loss, but Thorley is a player that has been unlucky not to be capped over the past year and could provide England with something they missed last week.
WATCH: The Rugby Pod reflects on England’s loss in Paris and looks ahead to the Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland
Comments on RugbyPass
Completely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
3 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
54 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
3 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
10 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
54 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
10 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
54 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
3 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
54 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
54 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
54 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
54 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
54 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
54 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to comments