6 NATIONS 2021

[kk20gb30]

Proudfoot and Jones self isolating :

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/55733788

[JP14]

Cameron Redpath called up to the Scotland squad, as Gary Graham also makes a welcome return to the international fold.

Guess we’ll see if he gets a cap, surprised he didn’t wait for England as he’s been in some EPS and I’m sure Jones will have been in contact with him.

Glad Odogwu might get a shot. Always like how NZ pick their wingers purely on form regardless of test experience. If he’s tearing it up in the premiership, give him a shot. Then it’s down to him to keep putting in the performances and being selected.

Redpath will be capped I think, he'll get way more caps playing for Scotland than for England. Odogwu for me is an interesting one, as glad I as I am that he has been in really good form of late, I'm yet to be convinced that he is good enough in the air to be a test winger but I could see him being a test centre.

[Dokie]

Cameron Redpath called up to the Scotland squad, as Gary Graham also makes a welcome return to the international fold.

Guess we’ll see if he gets a cap, surprised he didn’t wait for England as he’s been in some EPS and I’m sure Jones will have been in contact with him.

Glad Odogwu might get a shot. Always like how NZ pick their wingers purely on form regardless of test experience. If he’s tearing it up in the premiership, give him a shot. Then it’s down to him to keep putting in the performances and being selected.

Possibly he has been told that he isn't in the running for an England spot at the moment. Doesn't really look like an Eddie Jones kind of player to me, not keen on tackling for a start. Probably a wise choice, he could be a regular for Scotland in future but I haven't seen anything to suggest he will become good enough to do the same for England.

Does that indicate you think England are better than Scotland?

[kk20gb30]

Being touted as uncapped selections for England's Six Nations Squad, Paulo Odogwu (Wasps) and Harry Randall (Bristol) certainly deserve their potential inclusions on current form.If selected I hope they are used in a manner that actually helps confirm their international pedigree.

[Cardiff Tig]

This is the season where EJ needs to blood some new youngsters. Covid has disrupted things but the WC cycle hasn't changed.

[JP14]

8 weeks in a bubble is a long time for the likes of Ellis Genge, Joe Marler, Ben Youngs, Joe Launchbury to be away from their young family, I wonder if that will affect the selection in any way? Nothing wrong in my view with refusing to join because of the new rules.

[Scott1]

8 weeks in a bubble is a long time for the likes of Ellis Genge, Joe Marler, Ben Youngs, Joe Launchbury to be away from their young family, I wonder if that will affect the selection in any way? Nothing wrong in my view with refusing to join because of the new rules.

That's a good point but see cricketers

[Wayne Richardson Fan Club]

8 weeks in a bubble is a long time for the likes of Ellis Genge, Joe Marler, Ben Youngs, Joe Launchbury to be away from their young family, I wonder if that will affect the selection in any way? Nothing wrong in my view with refusing to join because of the new rules.

That's a good point but see cricketers

A lot of them have said how difficult it is though...the flip side if that is imagine being stuck in a bubble with Marler, Genge & Sinckler for 8 weeks...

[Scott1]

8 weeks in a bubble is a long time for the likes of Ellis Genge, Joe Marler, Ben Youngs, Joe Launchbury to be away from their young family, I wonder if that will affect the selection in any way? Nothing wrong in my view with refusing to join because of the new rules.

That's a good point but see cricketers

A lot of them have said how difficult it is though...the flip side if that is imagine being stuck in a bubble with Marler, Genge & Sinckler for 8 weeks...

Yeah that's true,imagine if Haskell was still in the squad

[Tiglon]

Guess we’ll see if he gets a cap, surprised he didn’t wait for England as he’s been in some EPS and I’m sure Jones will have been in contact with him.

Glad Odogwu might get a shot. Always like how NZ pick their wingers purely on form regardless of test experience. If he’s tearing it up in the premiership, give him a shot. Then it’s down to him to keep putting in the performances and being selected.

Possibly he has been told that he isn't in the running for an England spot at the moment. Doesn't really look like an Eddie Jones kind of player to me, not keen on tackling for a start. Probably a wise choice, he could be a regular for Scotland in future but I haven't seen anything to suggest he will become good enough to do the same for England.

Does that indicate you think England are better than Scotland?

I'll try to be diplomatic... it means England have far more professional rugby players than Scotland, so Redpath has a statistically lower probability of playing regular rugby for England than he does for Scotland.

However, there is a big opportunity at 13 for England at the moment. Manu is surely out of the equation now, Lawrence has done ok but not cemented his place, Joseph seems to be a winger for England now and is not getting any younger, you don't want Slade there if you have Farrell at 12... step forward Paolo Odogwu for a chance to claim the England first choice 13 spot - who would have predicted that even 2 months ago?! Well done to him, I hope he takes it if he does get his chance.

[Crofty]

That's a good point but see cricketers

A lot of them have said how difficult it is though...the flip side if that is imagine being stuck in a bubble with Marler, Genge & Sinckler for 8 weeks...

Yeah that's true,imagine if Haskell was still in the squad

On good lord, I think there would be a sizable queue behind Owen Farrell looking to just straight up murder him by the middle of week 3...

[Cagey Tiger]

This is the season where EJ needs to blood some new youngsters. Covid has disrupted things but the WC cycle hasn't changed.

It ought to be, but with only 5 extra players in the squad outside a match day 23, there's not a lot of room for experimentation. For example, where previously EJ might have selected Ollie Thorley and Paolo Odogwu in the squad, he's probably only got room for one of them this season. That's assuming that Odogwu is seen as a wing. If seen as a centre, then replace Ollie Thorley with Ollie Lawrence in the selectorial dilemma. I have put these names forward to illustrate the sort of choices that EJ and Co. may have, not to open up discussion on their relative merits. They may well not pick any of them

[JP14]

8 weeks in a bubble is a long time for the likes of Ellis Genge, Joe Marler, Ben Youngs, Joe Launchbury to be away from their young family, I wonder if that will affect the selection in any way? Nothing wrong in my view with refusing to join because of the new rules.

That's a good point but see cricketers

Nonetheless, we won't know until the squad is released. I'm surprised it wasn't announced at lunchtime, perhaps suggesting that last minute alterations were needed?

[Dokie]

Possibly he has been told that he isn't in the running for an England spot at the moment. Doesn't really look like an Eddie Jones kind of player to me, not keen on tackling for a start. Probably a wise choice, he could be a regular for Scotland in future but I haven't seen anything to suggest he will become good enough to do the same for England.

Does that indicate you think England are better than Scotland?

I'll try to be diplomatic... it means England have far more professional rugby players than Scotland, so Redpath has a statistically lower probability of playing regular rugby for England than he does for Scotland.

However, there is a big opportunity at 13 for England at the moment. Manu is surely out of the equation now, Lawrence has done ok but not cemented his place, Joseph seems to be a winger for England now and is not getting any younger, you don't want Slade there if you have Farrell at 12... step forward Paolo Odogwu for a chance to claim the England first choice 13 spot - who would have predicted that even 2 months ago?! Well done to him, I hope he takes it if he does get his chance.

Have you ever thought of becoming a politician?
On second thoughts, you’ve answered the question!

[TigerFeetSteve]

8 weeks in a bubble is a long time for the likes of Ellis Genge, Joe Marler, Ben Youngs, Joe Launchbury to be away from their young family, I wonder if that will affect the selection in any way? Nothing wrong in my view with refusing to join because of the new rules.

That's a good point but see cricketers

Nonetheless, we won't know until the squad is released. I'm surprised it wasn't announced at lunchtime, perhaps suggesting that last minute alterations were needed?

Possibly the fact Bath players are no longer self isolating?