Woodward on Jones

[JM2K6]

Lawes will almost definitely be the 6 - it's just that he's collected opensides and not another blindside. I don't doubt that Willis and Curry can do a good job there, but it's not the same.

I think he'll go with Hill over Ewels, but largely that's my worst case scenario team (no, I don't consider Farrell at 10 the worst case). Bosh over skill and pace. Players very likely to break very quickly. Smith hamstrung by Youngs. Billy seems to struggle at world cups.

It could still work, of course. If Billy shows his current club form at the highest level, that's a huge positive and I'd love to see it work with Smith. Farrell likewise is playing better front-foot rugby than I can remember seeing from him, and his offloading game is a massive improvement. Nowell and Tuilagi are freaks in their own way. Steward a monster under the high ball and continues to do better than expected in attack.

I just feel for the flair players and the guys who've put in the hard yards who would get ignored in that scenario.

[Kawazaki]

I suspect once Billy gets the shirt back, he'll keep it through to the RWC. Jones needs very little excuse to pick a good massive one over a good big one and, based on his performance in the semi and final, BV is back to his best and imho, he's one of the best 8s in the world. Smith has impressed me in all the losing games he's played at the end of a disappointing season for him with the notable exception of his goal-kicking which is simply nowhere near good enough. Yet.

I haven't given up hope that Kruis can't be persuaded to play on for one more season to finish his career at the RWC.

[JM2K6]

I suspect once Billy gets the shirt back, he'll keep it through to the RWC. Jones needs very little excuse to pick a good massive one over a good big one and, based on his performance in the semi and final, BV is back to his best and imho, he's one of the best 8s in the world. Smith has impressed me in all the losing games he's played at the end of a disappointing season for him with the notable exception of his goal-kicking which is simply nowhere near good enough. Yet.

I haven't given up hope that Kruis can't be persuaded to play on for one more season to finish his career at the RWC.

Smith's goal kicking fell apart at the weekend and I feel he's missed a few too many for Quins in 2022, which is strange as he was a dead-eyed kicker for years up to that point. However, the biggest games he played this year were in the 6N, and he kicked at over 81% - I wouldn't be too worried if he had to take over, but Farrell's still probably the best bet there. Smith the next best.

Kruis sounded very much like he was done with rugby. 32 is no age so he really must have been convinced.

[sockwithaticket]

Lawes will be Jones's 6 in the RWC.

I wouldn't be surprised, assuming no injuries, to see this XV starting the RWC next year...

15. Steward
14. Nowell
13. Tuilagi
12. Farrell
11. May
10. Smith
9. Youngs
1. Genge
2. LCD
3. Sinckler
4. Itoje
5. Ewels
6. Lawes
7. Curry
8. Vunipola

Like JMK, I suspect Hill will start ahead of Ewels. Maybe even Launchbury if he can stay fit for an international window.

That pack doesn't actually look too bad, but we have very little depth at hooker, tighthead or lock now. If LCD gets broken we'll be needing George to go the 80.

[SaintK]

Lawes will be Jones's 6 in the RWC.

I wouldn't be surprised, assuming no injuries, to see this XV starting the RWC next year...

15. Steward
14. Nowell
13. Tuilagi
12. Farrell
11. May
10. Smith
9. Youngs
1. Genge
2. LCD
3. Sinckler
4. Itoje
5. Ewels
6. Lawes
7. Curry
8. Vunipola

Like JMK, I suspect Hill will start ahead of Ewels. Maybe even Launchbury if he can stay fit for an international window.

That pack doesn't actually look too bad, but we have very little depth at hooker, tighthead or lock now. If LCD gets broken we'll be needing George to go the 80.

I thought that Heyes is coming on well at tighthead, certainly a better prospect than Stuart.

[Hal Jordan]

I can't see what Nowell brings these days. Pre injuries, he was a good worker wing, not the fastest, but chipped in with tries as well.

Now, he is running with lead boots on and doesn't seem to have a position to nail down.

[Rhubarb & Custard]

I don't actually remember what led to England (and other sides?) starting to tour properly in the summer.

They stopped playing 40+ club games in a season.

[sockwithaticket]

Lawes will be Jones's 6 in the RWC.

I wouldn't be surprised, assuming no injuries, to see this XV starting the RWC next year...

15. Steward
14. Nowell
13. Tuilagi
12. Farrell
11. May
10. Smith
9. Youngs
1. Genge
2. LCD
3. Sinckler
4. Itoje
5. Ewels
6. Lawes
7. Curry
8. Vunipola

Like JMK, I suspect Hill will start ahead of Ewels. Maybe even Launchbury if he can stay fit for an international window.

That pack doesn't actually look too bad, but we have very little depth at hooker, tighthead or lock now. If LCD gets broken we'll be needing George to go the 80.

I thought that Heyes is coming on well at tighthead, certainly a better prospect than Stuart.

He is, but that's kind of the issue. We've got a lot of promising young lads who seem to be developing well, but not that many really challenging for starting spots or even being the main back up in certain positions.

[JM2K6]

Yeah, it's a shame that Collier (who was weirdly treated nonetheless) didn't take his chance on Sunday. He's the best scrummaging tighthead we have and that would've been a real boon.

[Kawazaki]

Yeah, it's a shame that Collier (who was weirdly treated nonetheless) didn't take his chance on Sunday. He's the best scrummaging tighthead we have and that would've been a real boon.

I'm not a scrum expert at all but I've read a few reports that many of the scrum problems were on Rodd's side. Did Collier make any glaring errors like, say, Atkinson did?

[JM2K6]

Yeah, it's a shame that Collier (who was weirdly treated nonetheless) didn't take his chance on Sunday. He's the best scrummaging tighthead we have and that would've been a real boon.

I'm not a scrum expert at all but I've read a few reports that many of the scrum problems were on Rodd's side. Did Collier make any glaring errors like, say, Atkinson did?

He dropped a pass early on. And he's the least mobile prop we have I think. There are downsides to his game. But there wasn't anything I saw that made me think he deserved getting hooked early on; it's just that he didn't crumple his opposite number enough.

It did look like Rodd was having a really tough time. It was a serious pack they were facing, though, especially before Skelton went off.

edit: Just checked the stats, nothing there too - 8/0 in tackles for Collier, but just one carry. No penalties conceded.

[Kawazaki]

I'm not much of a fan of Sam Larner, but this thread might be of interest...



There's no real depth to the analysis but it hints at what the various sides want from the different rows in phase play.

It still doesn't help reconcile the selection of Ewels in any way, shape or form.