Players Eddie should take to Japan

[JP14]

He won’t take Randall or Thacker.

Randall possibly, Thacker definitely no unless he plays him at 7.

[Mark62]

I really rate Joe Simmonds he has a very complete game, same with Grayson.
Maybe a little early for Umaga.
Smith although he does have flashes of genius, also has too many lapses of concentration a la Cipriani.
All imho of course

[Robespierre]

Both Simmons from Exeter should be considered along with Worcester’s Ted Hill, who must be in with a big shout at 6. Mercer of Bath is an 8 who impresses (more so than Dombrandt, in my humble opinion).

[Hot_Charlie]

He won’t take Randall or Thacker.

Randall possibly, Thacker definitely no unless he plays him at 7.

I think he considers both too small for Test rugby.

Just my opinion, and I’m not Eddie Jones!

[AngusMcCoatup]

Do you honestly think Japan will want a touring team there given the pandemic?
Would you as a player want to travel there into Asia the start of the virus and mix with the crowds at the stadiums? I expect a cancellation given the many postponements in the game etc, great shame for player development but health is more important at this time unfortunately.

[No6_Flanker]

I don’t expect the tour to go ahead due to the Coronavirus. However, now that there is no live sport to watch, let us pass the time by speculating on the squad that would/could/should tour.

My 36 man squad would be as follows:

Genge Obano Hepburn
Cowan-Dickie Dunn Singleton
Stuart Williams P Hill
Launchbury Stooke Ribbans
Ewels J Hill
T Hill Isiekwe
Willis Earl
S Simmonds Dombrandt
Spencer Robson Mitchell
Smith Umaga J Simmonds
Thorley McConnochie
Devoto Lawrence
Marchant James
Cokanasiga Loader
Furbank Malins

I have picked players that I would like to step up, show leadership, and challenge for a starting jersey: Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Launchbury, Spencer, Robson, Devoto, Cokanasiga.

Players that have been in several squads and need to show whether they can kick on at international level: Hepburn, Singleton, Williams, P Hill, Ewels, Isiekwe, S Simmonds, McConnochie.

Players that are exciting and deserve to be looked at: T Hill, Willis, Dombrandt, Lawrence, Marchant, Loader, Malins.

Didn’t include Moon and Cooper-Woolley as they’re 30, see Wilson and M Atkinson also; Ludlam and Mercer as I don’t think their strengths are better than their competition for the jersey; Randall as he hasn’t nailed down the Bristol starting jersey and can he control a game; Grayson as what’s his running game like; Lozowski as what position does he want to play; Dingwall as we have so many outside centres.

Which players would you take/not take and why?

[Hot_Charlie]

Do you honestly think Japan will want a touring team there given the pandemic?

Probably not.

But then this thread isn’t titled “Should England cancel their tour to Japan”. It appears to be a thread on who, given current playing form, would be on the tour to Japan if it was going ahead as normal.

[trendylfj]

In the greater scheme of things it would be madness to take any team - the tour will not go ahead in my opinion along with the cancellation of the Olympics - just can't see either happening.

[JP14]

The Olympics will go ahead I think, Japan were one of the first countries hit after China so surely must have the situation under control by the Summer.

[JP14]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Marland Yarde is recalled to the international scene.

[JP14]

https://twitter.com/flyinggsports/statu ... 39527?s=21

[mol2]

The other Vunipola at fly half?

[Mark62]

The other Vunipola at fly half?

There are probably 4 fly halfs in the running should the tour take place. Smith, Simmonds, Grayson and Vunipola, Umanga has been mentioned in dispatches too

[JP14]

I would rather Vunipola play for Tonga, if he doesn't want to then fair enough but he will get more caps and playing time for them rather than England with all the other fly halves in his way.

[No6_Flanker]

The other Vunipola at fly half?

I just watched England U20 vs. Wales U20 at last years Junior RWC (most of the games are on YouTube if anyone is missing live sport!). I wasn’t that impressed by Vunipola, most of the backs moves got stifled pretty easily.

Gareth Steenson is (obviously) championing Joe Simmonds: “He’s captaining one of the top teams in Europe and has only missed 2 or 3 kicks all season.” His running game also showed up well in one of the recent games where he scored 2 tries.

Smith has been involved in several England squads and is a similar style to Ford. I think it makes sense to have some continuity in playing style.

It would be nice to have more of a running threat from 10. How would you rank Smith, Simmonds, Umaga, Grayson, Vunipola?

Will Malins end up as a 10? I prefer him to be a fullback as I want a 15 than can tactically kick, a la Daly over Watson.