England vs Italy

[strawclearer]

Damn - Italy coach Conor O'Shea calls up Leicester prop Michele Rizzo for Six Nations date with England.

Congrats to him, of course but.....damn.

[TomWeston]

Damn - Italy coach Conor O'Shea calls up Leicester prop Michele Rizzo for Six Nations date with England.

Congrats to him, of course but.....damn.

Who do we play on Friday night?

Which team did Conor O'Shea coach until recently?

'Nuff said!!

(MR has been playing well recently.)

[strawclearer]

So - who can name our 4 props for Friday if Eddie hangs on to Ellis?

[Hot_Charlie]

So - who can name our 4 props for Friday if Eddie hangs on to Ellis?

Greg Bateman to the rescue again with Brugnara on the bench. Cilliers with Betts on the TH. Either way, whichever side of the scrum, Bateman and Cilliers to start.

[Mark62]

With Mako V back unlikely that Genge will be required.
Props will be Genge, Cilliers, on the bench Bateman and first off the bus.

Not as big an issue as it could be Hairy Queens struggling in the tight 5 and were out scrummed by Barf on Saturday

[Hot_Charlie]

With Mako V back unlikely that Genge will be required.
Props will be Genge, Cilliers, on the bench Bateman and first off the bus.

Not as big an issue as it could be Hairy Queens struggling in the tight 5 and were out scrummed by Barf on Saturday

Mako V may not be rushed straight back in. It was noteworthy that EJ retained both Paul Hill and Genge last week, so both could be in line for an appearance against the obviously weakest 6N team. After all, come 2019 EJ won't just be able to magic experience out of thin air, and summer tours aren't always quite the same, particularly in a Lions year as a full, expectant, Twickenham.

[fentiger]

Out of interest, Cilliers... pronunciation..... commentary on highlights was saying 'silly airs'?

[tigercaspian]

Out of interest, Cilliers... pronunciation..... commentary on highlights was saying 'silly airs'?

That's the cillierst thing I've heard recently......

[Hot_Charlie]

With Mako V back unlikely that Genge will be required.
Props will be Genge, Cilliers, on the bench Bateman and first off the bus.

Not as big an issue as it could be Hairy Queens struggling in the tight 5 and were out scrummed by Barf on Saturday

Ok, you win! Mako in, Mullan and Genge out!

Great news for us though for Friday night. Genge can expect to do an 80 minuter again.

[Old Hob]

Brizz front 5 not the greatest and we did not have total dominance

[G.K]

What's happened to Woolly Pully - how long is he out?

[Tigerbeat]

Seem to recall him and Ayerza are out for the season

[Old Hob]

So --- back line coming good at the point at which the forwards are missing

[BeeJ]

The BBC has confirmed Ellis Genge isn't in the 28-man training squad for the Italy match. However, Mike Williams is.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39034811

[Soggypitch]

The BBC has confirmed Ellis Genge isn't in the 28-man training squad for the Italy match. However, Mike Williams is.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/39034811

To be fair although we will miss Williams, we have some good options in the back row presently, especially with Crofty back looking hungry.

At prop on the other hand we are desperately short with Cole, Rizzo, Ayerza and Logo all unavailable. Genge will be required to put in a good shift on Friday night and I think he'll be ready, looking at how he came out the blocks last Saturday!