EPS + Saxons 2013 Squad

[kpj tiger]

The 2 England training squads are due to be announced tomorrow, who do we think has made the cut for EPS and who deserves to be dropped? For me
Out of the EPS:
Paice, Webber, Johnson, Palmer, Botha, Waldrom, Downson, Dickson, JTH, Ashton, Monye and Sharples
In to the EPS:
Kitchener, Robson, Croft, Kvesic, Simpson, Burns, May, Wade and Eastmond/Miller

[Jon]

I'm not sure you'll see Ashton dropped to the Saxons. He isn't on form, but they won't drop him.

Kvesic I would love to see more of after the Warriers game. I think Burns is a shoe-in as well.

[jgriffin]

Not Robson, not Simpson, Ashton in and I bet Strettle moved up.

[kingol22]

The 2 England training squads are due to be announced tomorrow, who do we think has made the cut for EPS and who deserves to be dropped? For me
Out of the EPS:
Paice, Webber, Johnson, Palmer, Botha, Waldrom, Downson, Dickson, JTH, Ashton, Monye and Sharples
In to the EPS:
Kitchener, Robson, Croft, Kvesic, Simpson, Burns, May, Wade and Eastmond/Miller

Not sure how many get cut but Croft is still in the EPS. JTH should be out for Burns, Monye out for Wade, Botha out for Kitchner.

[PM76]

IMO:

Hookers: Hartley and Youngs (Youngs in for Webber)

Props: Cole, Marler, Vunipola, Wilson, Corbisiero

Locks: Parling, Launchberry, Lawes, Kitchener/ Robson (Launchberry in for Palrmer & Kitch/ Robson for Botha, Botha will stay though)

Flankers: Robshaw, Wood, Croft/ Haskell, Kvesic, Johnson (Kvesic for Dowson, Haskell covering Crofty’s injury)

8s: Vunipola, Morgan (Vunipola for TTTE, a tough choice, especially for a Tigers fan!)

S-Hs: Youngs, Care, Dickson/ Simpson (Dickson/ Simpson is a tough call as Simpson is showing form but Dickson offers a different sort of option, Dickson will stay though)

10s: Flood, Farrell, Burns (Burns for Turner-Hall)

12s: Barritt, Allen (similar and interchangeable, Billy hasn’t done enough since joining Glaws IMO but the press are suggesting he will come in, so he probably will)

13s: Manu, Jospeph

Back 3: Ashton, Sharples, Foden, Brown, Goode, Wade (Wade for Monye, although the rumours suggest Strettle!!)

I doubt the likes of Waldrom, Dowson and Botha will be taken out but IMO they have had their chance, the latter two didn’t take it, TTTE played well but B. Vunipola is the future at 8 and, like Launchberry was, should be pushed up the pecking order. I doubt Kvesic will come in either, Lancaster will probably bring in Haskell, if anyone to cover the back-row.

[BG01]

I'm torn on Billy Vunipola coming in, especially ahead of TTTE. Without doubt Vunipola will be there or thereabouts come 2015 but I do think people are getting a bit carried away. I think it might be worth holding out and bringing him in later in the year when he has matured as a player, especially given that the back row is already so cluttered players such as Morgan, Johnson, Wood, and TTE have really put their hands up over the past year or so.


Maybe I'm just saying this because I thought he was very underwhelming vs Bath last weekend. And I get that EPS != starter. But still, let's not get carried away.

[DickyP]

Surely the one certainty to be promoted from the Saxons to the EPS is Tom Youngs!

[youngtiger]

According to the agreement between the RFU and clubs, (totally forgotten the actual name) SLancaster can only make 5 changes to the EPS and Saxons squad unless there are retirements.

[sapajo]

Interesting that Martin Crowson has tweeted "One final bit of news is that I expect former Tiger Billy Twelvetrees to replace Anthony Allen in England's EPS tomorrow"

[Bertos]

I'm torn on Billy Vunipola coming in, especially ahead of TTTE. Without doubt Vunipola will be there or thereabouts come 2015 but I do think people are getting a bit carried away. I think it might be worth holding out and bringing him in later in the year when he has matured as a player, especially given that the back row is already so cluttered players such as Morgan, Johnson, Wood, and TTE have really put their hands up over the past year or so.

I'd agree with that and the same goes for a few people on the cusp of the squad. England are touring Argentina this summer without their Lions contingent so that might be a good oppertunity to bring in a few players while the eyes of the rugby public are firmly on Australia.

[jgriffin]

Congratulations to Ed Slater above all - IMO the boy will be in the EPS sooner than later.

Boos all round to the selection of Callum Clarke.

[Moose]

Billy Vunipola also training with the squad as possible cover for Croft - much as I think Croft should be in the squad long term, might it be better for him to sit out this 6N and fully complete his club rehab? How often do players come back (more) broken after an international series?

[Rykard]

looks like with the eps/saxons and international call ups the first teams gone woe is us....

[Skin_and_Muscle]

Congratulations to Ed Slater above all - IMO the boy will be in the EPS sooner than later.

Boos all round to the selection of Callum Clarke.

Ed Slater deserves to be there. Unlike you I don't see him as an 8 but a quality lock but, either way, he deserves to be there!

Regarding Clark, I also feel pretty bad about the selection. I don't want to sound bitter but it is a difficult selection to take when he ruined Hawkins chances of getting into the England touring squad at the end of last year.

He may have been playing well since his return (I haven't been taking notice) but there are plenty of good second/back row players who don't have question marks over their temperament (a euthamism for latent thuggishness? I guess we'll have to see).

[Moose]

One on the merits of the squad itself, and one re: the effect on the Tigers squad?