Mark62 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 03, 2019 3:13 pm
Maybe I need to watch again 25 tackles for a prop is amazing which imho is the reason he got motm. Jonny May was England’s most influential player.
Wilson in my view is a Richard Hill type flanker and does a huge amount of unseen work allowing Curry and Vunipola to do the more visible stuff.
To call Nowell a primarily defensive player is wrong again in my view. He has very good feet is very strong and nearly always gets over the gain line. When fit him and May have to be our starting wingers.
Cokanasiga is a work in progress but could be influential late on so possibly on the bench instead of Ashton
I never said Nowell was primarily a defensive winger, I said he is our best winger at defense. The back three against Ireland is probably our most balanced, but never hurts to give some other players like Cokanasiga gametime, especially against the likes of Italy. Wouldn’t bench him as he can’t really cover 15 or centre.
Considering for ages one of England’s biggest weakness was at flanker, it’s nice to finally see us having some great competition for the backrow spots.
I do think though that we "lucked out" with injuries,Te'o and Shields both would've started if fit imo. I think Wilson is a far better all round player than Shields,he could become the new Richard Hill.
"Rugby isn't a contact sport,ballroom dancing is a contact sport. Rugby is a collision sport" Heyneke Meyer
Scott1 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 03, 2019 4:10 pm
I do think though that we "lucked out" with injuries,Te'o and Shields both would've started if fit imo. I think Wilson is a far better all round player than Shields,he could become the new Richard Hill.
+1. Never seen what is so special about Shields certainly not to warrant a fast track not the squad with no club performances in UK to show his worth.
Scott1 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 03, 2019 4:10 pm
I do think though that we "lucked out" with injuries,Te'o and Shields both would've started if fit imo. I think Wilson is a far better all round player than Shields,he could become the new Richard Hill.
+1. Never seen what is so special about Shields certainly not to warrant a fast track not the squad with no club performances in UK to show his worth.
Totally agree. Presume Eddie saw something in NZ, but he's not really set anything alight over here, and fast tracking him sends out all sorts of wrong messages
Scott1 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 03, 2019 4:10 pm
I do think though that we "lucked out" with injuries,Te'o and Shields both would've started if fit imo. I think Wilson is a far better all round player than Shields,he could become the new Richard Hill.
+1. Never seen what is so special about Shields certainly not to warrant a fast track not the squad with no club performances in UK to show his worth.
Totally agree. Presume Eddie saw something in NZ, but he's not really set anything alight over here, and fast tracking him sends out all sorts of wrong messages
Agree with all of this. Shields should be nowhere near the England Squad. Well down the back row pecking list as far as I'm concerned. Never been convinced by Teo either.
Tigers for the premiership and European Cup. Get behind the team and make some noise!!
Agree re Shields ... some of his defensive work for the Pests this year has been shocking which in any alternative reality would mean he was nowhere near the England squad. Go figure.
Teo is and always was a poor mans Manu a
Love it. One of my gripes. Didn't look like Manu was bound so penalty to England for taking the man out. Happens all the time and refs do absolutely nothing every week.
Scott1 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 03, 2019 4:10 pm
I do think though that we "lucked out" with injuries,Te'o and Shields both would've started if fit imo. I think Wilson is a far better all round player than Shields,he could become the new Richard Hill.
Seen nothing from Shields to think he is an international - the more I see of Wilson the more impressed I am with his game.
As for picking Teo ahead of Manu. Even at inside centre a fit Manu is a country mile ahead.