jgriffin wrote:tig1 wrote:jgriffin wrote:To me he proves that a brain is far more important than brute force, a lesson SL hasn't vaguely learnt, otherwise he'd select him.
Lancaster took him on the full tour to South Africa in 2012, where he played both midweek games and then named him in the 2012/13 eps squad. He then missed the 2013 summer tour to Argentina because of knee surgery, which was agreed between Lancaster and Tigers, and now he has missed most of the 2013 season with injury.
It is Lancaster that has brought Allen back on the radar at international level after being totally ignored by Johnson and Ashton.
Incidentally, Lancaster is far less obsessed with brute force than Johnson.
I would contend that, since anyone who went for a Farrell/Barritt combo or indeed some of the forward choices, and the old Saffacens game plan, could be accused of brute force obsession. I didn't mention MJ BTW so you were attacking a straw man there of your own.
Fair point about MJ, JG.
Back to the issue, your assertion, and most other posters, was that that Lancaster was failing to select Allen, and was misguided in that failure. That is patently untrue. He was in the tour squad 2012, eps 2012, and since then has been unavailable for at least 10 of 15 tests. Even the 5 he was available for he had just from a 4 month lay off.
Allen is a fine, fine player, and if he can string together a period of form and fitness he will certainly be back in the EPS as a minimum.
Barritt is not big for an inside centre. Lighter than somebody like Twelvetrees, and only slightly heavier than Flood.
England have an absolutely world class pack. Robshaw, Wood, Morgan, Vainapolas, Launchbury, Youngs, Parling....all capped and brought together by Lancaster.