Autumn Nations Cup

[BFG]

Rugby is a contact sport and more physical sides often win.
England's problem in 2019 was that South Africa were better.
Future problems could include France and Argentina, both who seem to be in the process of trying to evolve a well balanced combination of physicality and flair.
Ireland aren't that far off either and are only a few emerging playing finds and returning injuries away from being a powerful and dangerous side.

[ay2oh]

Rugby is a contact sport and more physical sides often win.
England's problem in 2019 was that South Africa were better.
Future problems could include France and Argentina, both who seem to be in the process of trying to evolve a well balanced combination of physicality and flair.
Ireland aren't that far off either and are only a few emerging playing finds and returning injuries away from being a powerful and dangerous side.

Agree regarding France and Argentina. However can’t see Ireland being a force unless they find some more Southern Hemisphere players with an Irish grandfather. They don’t have any flair and try to base their game on the Leinster model which will not work at international level. Can’t think of many Irish world class backs since Odriscoll retired.

[BFG]

Rugby is a contact sport and more physical sides often win.
England's problem in 2019 was that South Africa were better.
Future problems could include France and Argentina, both who seem to be in the process of trying to evolve a well balanced combination of physicality and flair.
Ireland aren't that far off either and are only a few emerging playing finds and returning injuries away from being a powerful and dangerous side.

Agree regarding France and Argentina. However can’t see Ireland being a force unless they find some more Southern Hemisphere players with an Irish grandfather. They don’t have any flair and try to base their game on the Leinster model which will not work at international level. Can’t think of many Irish world class backs since Odriscoll retired.

For me when Ireland have a fully fit squad to choose from then they are a match for anyone.
A bit more depth and they'd be consistently more difficult to play against.

[Tiglon]

Ireland have done a fantastic job of taking advantage of the 3 year residency rule before it's extended to 5. 3 years was a joke and I can't believed it stayed in place so long. Regardless, Ireland are going through a rebuild and it may take a year or 2 to get back to where they were - although I don't see them reaching quite the same NZ-beating level of a few years ago any time soon.

I appreciate England's style of play, but I must admit I did turn the Ireland match off after about 50 minutes (mainly because I was watching it on a replay and had already seen the score). I also love watching this French team play, they could become something really special.

[LE18]

I'm surprised they are not picking John Cooney at SH, last year I was certain he would be the future after Murray who now seems well past his best!!

[Tiglon]

I'm surprised they are not picking John Cooney at SH, last year I was certain he would be the future after Murray who now seems well past his best!!

They bought a Kiwi to replace Murray

[LE18]

I'm surprised they are not picking John Cooney at SH, last year I was certain he would be the future after Murray who now seems well past his best!!

They bought a Kiwi to replace Murray

Yes i'm aware, and he didn't look too good to me, that's why I mentioned Cooney of Ulster.

[Noggs]

Ben and George starting with Ellis on the bench

15. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 45 caps)
14. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 53 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 32 caps)
12. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 86 caps)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 59 caps)
10. George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 70 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 102 caps)
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 62 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 52 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 38 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 41 caps)
5. Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 67 caps)
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 26 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 20 caps)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 54 caps)

FINISHERS
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 24 caps)
17. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 6 caps)
19. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 2 caps)
20. Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 6 caps)
21. Jack Willis (Wasps, 1 cap)
22. Dan Robson (Wasps, 5 caps)
23. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 44 caps)

[JP14]

French team named:

1. Neti
2. Mauvaka
3. Aldegheri
4. Geraci
5. Pesenti
6. Woki
7. Macalou
8. Jelonch
9. Serin (c)
10. Jalibert
11. Villière
12. Danty
13. Barraque
14. Thomas
15. Dulin

16. Baubigny
17. Kolingar
18. Atonio
19. Cazeaux
20. Rebbadj
21. Couilloud
22. Carbonel
23. Moefana

[JP14]

French team named:

1. Neti
2. Mauvaka
3. Aldegheri
4. Geraci
5. Pesenti
6. Woki
7. Macalou
8. Jelonch
9. Serin (c)
10. Jalibert
11. Villière
12. Danty
13. Barraque
14. Thomas
15. Dulin

16. Baubigny
17. Kolingar
18. Atonio
19. Cazeaux
20. Rebbadj
21. Couilloud
22. Carbonel
23. Moefana

The return of Jonathan Danty to the international fold and the potential debut of Carbonel are the interesting outtakes from this French selection.

[Noggs]

The lack of their first choice halfback pairing is a potential weakness for Ben and George to exploit

[Crofty]

The lack of their first choice halfback pairing is a potential weakness for Ben and George to exploit

I think that's why they've done it, keeping their first choices available for the Final against (hopefully) England. France play Italy this week, England take on Wales, Ireland have Georgia and Scotland should have been playing Fiji but, well, Covid.

[Noggs]

I may be wrong but I thought they had injury problems.

[Chobbsy]

Ben and George starting with Ellis on the bench

15. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 45 caps)
14. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 53 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 32 caps)
12. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 86 caps)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 59 caps)
10. George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 70 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 102 caps)
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 62 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 52 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 38 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 41 caps)
5. Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 67 caps)
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 26 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 20 caps)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 54 caps)

FINISHERS
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 24 caps)
17. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 6 caps)
19. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 2 caps)
20. Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 6 caps)
21. Jack Willis (Wasps, 1 cap)
22. Dan Robson (Wasps, 5 caps)
23. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 44 caps)

Not much cover for the backs

[jgriffin]

Ben and George starting with Ellis on the bench

15. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 45 caps)
14. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 53 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 32 caps)
12. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 86 caps)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 59 caps)
10. George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 70 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 102 caps)
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 62 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 52 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 38 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 41 caps)
5. Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 67 caps)
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 26 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 20 caps)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 54 caps)

FINISHERS
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 24 caps)
17. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 6 caps)
19. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 2 caps)
20. Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 6 caps)
21. Jack Willis (Wasps, 1 cap)
22. Dan Robson (Wasps, 5 caps)
23. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 44 caps)

Not much cover for the backs

Earl, Willis and even Genge could fill in if there's a disaster - the backs can be shuffled to cover 10,12, 15 and stick a big fast forward at 13.