Your England Team v Scotland

[chipnchase]

So with Chris Robshaw being announced as England Captain today who would be in your matchday squad ahead of Thursdays announcement.

I'll Start us off

England Team to face Scotland at Murreyfield

1: Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
2: Dyland Hartley (Northampton Saints)
3: Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
4: Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
5: Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
6: Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
7: Chris Robshaw (Harlequins) - Captain
8: Ben Morgan (Scarlets)

9: Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
10: Charlie Hodgson (Saracens)

11: Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby)
12: Brad Barritt (Saracens)
13: Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)
14: Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
15: Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)

Reps

16: Joe Marler (Harlequins)
17: Lee Mears (Bath Rugby)
18: Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
19: Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)
20: Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
21: Owen Farrell (Saracens)
22: Mike Brown (Harlequins)

[Bunchy]

I bet you are not far away....

Would have thought Daddy's boy will be at 12, with Barritt at 13 and would have thought Matt Stevens would cover bench with his ability to prop either side.

[Will S]

I would guess that the team will look like this:

1: Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
2: Dyland Hartley (Northampton Saints)
3: Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
4: Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
5: Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
6: Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
7: Chris Robshaw (Harlequins) - Captain
8: Ben Morgan (Scarlets)

9: Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
10: Charlie Hodgson (Saracens)

11: David Strettle (Saracens)
12: Brad Barritt (Saracens)
13: Owen Farrell (Saracens)
14: Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
15: Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)

I think the Saracens 10, 12, 13 axis is widely expected and it sounds as though Strettle is impressing in camp so he might pip Sharples to the other wing spot. I must admit I think we are going to struggle against the Scots. Our pack looks a bit under powered and the Saracens 10, 12 and 13 are struggling to break down premiership defenses let alone international ones.

[jgriffin]

Agree it is odds on for Farrell to start, indeed virtually the whole (non-scoring) Saffas backs to do so. I feel conflicted as I want England to win but I want to see certain players taste Murrayfield mud......

I have this feeling that injuries this week will change things a bit. I also think we will have an awful stalemate in the attacks, but the Scots pack IMO may have the edge.

[MJ Chairman]

Would like to see Mike Brown at 15 and Foden on one of the wings.
Will be disappointed if Lancaster doesn't go for an out and out 13 instead of two 12s. Just have no idea who that might be.

[Bundy]

I'd like to see Botha get a run out at number 5 but will they take the risk?!!

[sam16111986]

With Trinder now picking up an injury as well I do think that the Sarries 10,12,13 combination will start. Farrell will be in serious trouble if he is playing 13 and either Evans or Ansbro are playing opposite him as they'll do him for speed on the outside.

I think Will S has got the team spot on, sadly. I'd prefer Parling to be in ahead of Palmer and a proper 13 to play but there's not many options left standing.

Would like to see Mike Brown at 15 and Foden on one of the wings.

Why? Two specialist full backs there's no point forcing one out of position. Force them to compete for the shirt it'll push them both further and harder.

[PM76]

I would guess that the team will look like this:

1: Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
2: Dyland Hartley (Northampton Saints)
3: Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
4: Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
5: Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
6: Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
7: Chris Robshaw (Harlequins) - Captain
8: Ben Morgan (Scarlets)

9: Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
10: Charlie Hodgson (Saracens)

11: David Strettle (Saracens)
12: Brad Barritt (Saracens)
13: Owen Farrell (Saracens)
14: Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
15: Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)

I think the Saracens 10, 12, 13 axis is widely expected and it sounds as though Strettle is impressing in camp so he might pip Sharples to the other wing spot. I must admit I think we are going to struggle against the Scots. Our pack looks a bit under powered and the Saracens 10, 12 and 13 are struggling to break down premiership defenses let alone international ones.

I'd be suprised if that was not the side, I think, but hope they won't be naive enough to pick Marler.

I would have Waldrom ahead of Morgan, Parling ahead of Palmer, Sharples ahead of Strettle and Turner- Hall ahead of Barritt though. Before his injury I wanted to see Trinder at 13.

Wood, Lawes, Flood and Tuilagi to come into the side as soon as they are fit IMO.

[Big Dai]

I wouldn't pick Ben Youngs..............not at the moment. His temperament was suspect against Ulster. Once you've got someone that wound up you've got them beaten.

I expect the Scotts to wind him up............I would!

[RWA]

BD...so not getting selected..will that improve Youngs' temperament ? The guy is a class act. Ok, he was frustrated and Ulster got to him, but with Simpson and Dickson the other options, Youngs gets the nod. I'm backing him to play a blinder.

[Will S]

Without Ben, and assuming the Saracens 10, 12 and 13 are selected, I can't see where we would threaten. We need Ben in there to offer some pace and experience.

[tigerrick]

15. Foden
14. Ashton
13. Turner-Hall
12. Barret
11. Sharpels
10. Hodgson
9. Youngs
8. Morgan
7. Robshaw [c]
6. Croft
5. Palmer
4. Atwood
3. Cole
2. Hartley
1. Corbisiero

16. Mears
17. Stevsn
18. Botha
19. Dowson
20. Dickson
21. Farell
22. Brown

Pack is a little lightweight. I feel that, if England can stay put of an arm wrestle, this team will get about the park really well. Until I wrote this I didn't realise how short we are in certain positions. Poor choices at Hooker from Lancaster.

[kingol22]

I think to stand a chance we need the pack to play an absolute blinder. If we get on top of the scottish pack the likely sarries midfield can do what they do well and strangle the life out of the game. If we only gain parity, or worse, upfront then we are going to be relying on a moment of brilliance. This is why Youngs needs to start, along with Foden he is the only other player capable of turning a game singlehandedly.

[mol2]

I would pick Farrell at fly half or inside centre.

I wouldn't have Mears on the bench - simply too small for an international hooker. Heaven forbid that Marler gets in the side - his scrummaging is simply not ready yet.
I don't see Barritt as an international but I guess someone has to fill the slot until Manu is fit.

On current form I would give Brown the start at full back ahead of Foden.


As for scrum half you have to give Youngs chance to show his mettle. He had a world cup that he wasn't fit to play in and has played in a Tigers side that are playing as rudderless game as England did in the world cup.

England's trouble for the last 8 years hasn't been down to lack of ability it has been down to poor game plans and conservative selections and a reluctance to give skilled youngsters the chance to play at the top level and develop into great players. I'd rather see a young England side fail in the 6N for the next couple of years if it means the same players have the top level experience to be world beaters at the next world cup than wait 4 more years, get into the side when they are 25+ be experienced by the time they are 30 and past their best come their world cup.

That said if they struggle with Scotland I would be surprised.

[Big Dai]

BD...so not getting selected..will that improve Youngs' temperament ? The guy is a class act. Ok, he was frustrated and Ulster got to him, but with Simpson and Dickson the other options, Youngs gets the nod. I'm backing him to play a blinder.

I just think a little more time helping Toby recuperate would do him more good than heaping pressure on him. A class act? A Mardy ass under pressure is not a class act.........Mark you, Dawson got away with it for years!

No....I'd give him a little game time back home. Where WE need it!