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The eight England changes I want to see versus Ireland – Andy Goode
Steve Borthwick has to roll the dice with his selection and game plan for Ireland on March 9 or he is in danger of going through the whole Guinness Six Nations having learned next to nothing.
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Of course, a new defensive system is bedding in under Felix Jones and there are teething problems but we are still not seeing anywhere near enough in attack and some players seem to be hanging on just to win a few more caps.
Joe Marler, Dan Cole, Elliot Daly and George Ford all have a huge number of caps and have had long international careers, but I’m not sure they are offering outstanding leadership and you can’t just wait for them to exit stage left on their own terms.
Cole is 37 in May, Marler is unlikely to be around at the next World Cup and might decide this summer’s tour to Japan and New Zealand isn’t for him, and the same question marks that have always surrounded Ford are still there.
There are wingers in better form than Daly at the moment and I’m not sure what we are learning by picking him for these last two games of this Six Nations. The 37-year-old Danny Care will also win his 100th cap against Ireland but he isn’t going to be around much longer.
England have lost three of their five games in the last three straight tournaments and nobody wants that to happen again, but I’d rather suffer that fate while learning something and blooding a few new faces than stick with the status quo and possibly lose narrowly to Ireland and France anyway.
I’m not advocating chucking the ball around against the Irish; that would be suicide. But you have to put your money where your mouth is if you are going to talk about playing an exciting brand of rugby, that starts with the selection and I would be making eight changes to the XV from round three.
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The George Furbank call didn’t pay off completely against Scotland but he scored a try and what he can offer in attack means he deserves a bit of a run in the side, but I would be changing the rest of the back three.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso showed what he can do off the bench in Edinburgh. He has that bit of X-factor that others don’t have so he deserves to start, and it’s about time that Cadan Murley got a look in.
The Harlequins player is a natural-born finisher. I wouldn’t be picking him because he scored a hat-trick against Portugal reserves but I just think a chance at Test level is long overdue and now is as good a time as any.
If you are picking that back three, then Tommy Freeman has to start at outside centre. Henry Slade hasn’t done too much wrong but Freeman has played in the midfield a fair bit for Northampton this season and I’d start him alongside Ollie Lawrence.
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That is a backline that would offer a lot of attacking threat and the key to unleashing it is the return to fitness of Marcus Smith and Alex Mitchell, hopefully both in time to face the reigning Grand Slam champions.
In fairness to Borthwick, I’m sure Smith would have been picked for round one if he had been fit but the pace and creativity that pairing offer is badly needed right now. If Smith isn’t fit, I’d start his namesake Fin.
Clearly, it’s tough for any of those half-backs to effect the game too much if they are going backwards and George Martin has to start as he has that point of difference in terms of the aggression and the big impacts he can have on the game.
I’m sure Maro Itoje isn’t going to be dropped but I’d start Martin together with his Leicester teammate Ollie Chessum in the second row, and picking Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Earl and Zach Mercer in the back row would give England more big ball carriers.
Earl has been England’s standout player and is the top carrier in this Six Nations, but he is even better at openside than at No8. I know Mercer isn’t in the squad but he is the best we have got in that position.
You don’t win the Top 14 player of the year in a league that is the land of the giants unless you are some player. He isn’t the same type of player as Caelan Doris but if you look at what the Ireland forwards do in terms of their footwork and work in contact, Mercer is probably about as close as England have to that.
Dan Sheehan is pretty big and Joe McCarthy is an absolute monster in terms of the way he plays as well as his size but apart from them, Ireland’s forwards aren’t all massive humans compared to others in their position but they all punch above their weight.
England can play the last two games of this Six Nations with the same players and maybe get a result but most likely just lose and not be embarrassed as they are going to be second favourites going into both games. That would be an opportunity missed.
I honestly don’t see what you stand to lose from giving an additional few players a taste of the action, exposure against two of the best teams in the world in recent years, and a chance to impress ahead of a pivotal summer tour in terms of building for the future.
England’s chance of winning the Six Nations, if you thought they had one, has realistically gone even if they do pull off an upset and beat Ireland at Twickenham. A perfect opportunity to learn a lot more has presented itself and Borthwick has to grasp that with both hands.
My England XV to face Ireland
15. George Furbank
14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
13. Tommy Freeman
12. Ollie Lawrence
11. Cadan Murley
10. Marcus Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge
2. Jamie George (capt)
3. Will Stuart
4. Ollie Chessum
5. George Martin
6. Chandler Cunningham-South
7. Ben Earl
8. Zach Mercer
Comments on RugbyPass
Sensational tackle. The reds one was late and rightly penalised. The other two were simultaneous with the pass. If nitpicking TMOs can’t find fault there clearly isn’t any.
1 Go to commentsBrumbies fully deserved their win on the back of their physicality and desire to control the ball. Xavier Numia, Asafo Aumua and Tyrel Lomax should be the ABs starting front row when we start our test schedule. They have “come of age” and have bested all they have faced as well as been dominant with ball in hand in making the gainline. With De Groot, Tamaiti Williams and Fletcher Newell backed up by Taukei'aho and Cody Taylor there's not an international front row that can trouble us. Can't wait to face the Boks over there, won't be no one point game this time.
5 Go to commentsKinda strange that he wasn’t with a premiership team or a higher level of rugby? Start playing late or something? With that kind of size and athleticism you’d think someone would have picked him up?
2 Go to commentsShows how much attitude matters. Last week the Brumbies got done, this week they dominated the tournament leaders, who were likely thinking they could cruise to victory.
5 Go to commentsA Turtle has more pace and leg drive than Owen Franks, so it’s a good thing he only had to run 90 metres for that try.
2 Go to commentsOh Tamati Tua was in the vastly over-rated Leon MacDonalds Blues system? Well, no wonder he was wasted, much like Emoni Narawa and Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens under MacDonald. now look at them. Good thing Tua isn’t eligible, the Aussies latch on to any player who isn’t tied down.
5 Go to commentsMark Telea is a lot of things, but a defensive juggernaut has never been one of them. There will be far bigger tests in that regard for the youngster.
10 Go to commentsLove and respect to Fiji but not a chance outside of 7s
4 Go to commentsGood summation Ned. Agree the Canes were out-muscled for once (except at the scrum!) by a focused Brumbies outfit. Tua deserves consideration for higher honors after the way he humbled Jordie and the Canes defense. Thankfully, his lack of eligibility for Oz keeps him from Joe’s plans. While I also agree the injuries affected the Canes performance, some players seemed to lack focus and intensity for this match. Perhaps after the Blues demolished the Brumbies, they thought it was going to be easy? A good reminder that any slip up in preparation can have a big affect on the result. Brumbies deserved that win.
5 Go to commentsKarl Dixon should never have been appointed this fixture, absolute disgrace, He’s not much of a referee anyway, didn't have the balls to send his mate care off
5 Go to commentsBrilliant article! Harry of 8/9
2 Go to comments‘UK athletes' have been in the NFL from the start.
2 Go to commentsIt’s going to be Scott Barrett. He’s the coaches mate and captain of a previously elite team. Ardie a great option but scooter has worked with the coach and Ardie still as big a leader as needed.
23 Go to commentsI commend Colin Scotts bio All Balls. He was the first Aussie to make it to NFL. But he was poached and did a full apprenticeship at the University of Hawaii. He was 130kgs surfed played 1st grade cricket etc. big guy by normal but not NFL standards and a top athlete. Even then the nfl were picking up Tongans and Samoans for their natural size and explosive power. They want explosive power not cardio from the big boys so a guy like Taniela Tupou would have been good if picked up young enough. He has fast twitch and they’d bulk the little lad up and give him something to do. soccer teams set up academies and look for Over Sara’s talent eg Messi was at Barcelona since a teenager and harry kewell went to Leeds as a teenager like 16 or something.
11 Go to commentsThe article alludes to the fact that this isn’t about picking a captain. But picking a great captain. So who would make for a great All Black captain - not just an obvious or safe shoo-in? I’m not sure Ardie’s the guy and Barret doesn’t stand out either.
23 Go to commentsI guess we may all agree on the fact, that the ABs and Boks are the two in contest for No 1 in rugby history (the triple-A sort of) …. the Wallabies, England and France are the next tier, with Ireland being the new kid in town (AA) …. in my view it makes little sense creating imaginary competitions (unless you have too much time to waste)
45 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Total joke and the pundits commentating, all of whom know a bit about the game, could barely disguise their contempt. Reaching for the card then pulling back when he realised a red card would carry further match suspensions is simply not his decision to make. A clear and obvious influence on the outcome of this match and indeed, the championship path.
5 Go to commentsI like the idea, in NZ the Ranfurly Shield and NPC coexist, both having their own bragging rights. The World Cup would be the pinnacle, but the competition and travels of these trophies would be interesting.
45 Go to commentsDon’t worry Sonny bill Williams leave that awkward situation about the curfew in the pass whoever it was it doesn’t matter its no big deal we back our All Blacks through the storm and the thunder until we see the Sun light again.
42 Go to commentsWho listens to this retard? He was a massive liability as a player but obviously a media sensation
42 Go to comments