All Blacks Vs England, Twickenham

[sparky]

@booboo I wasn't going to think about the bench until the injury situation became a bit clearer and we knew who was travelling to Europe.

But I guess the bench Vs England will be something like this:

Aumua, Williams, Tosi, Tuipolutu, Finau, Roigard, DMac, ALB.

[sparky]

Ollie Chesham is a doubt for England:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/articles/c20nnw2xdqzo

[mariner4life]

I honestly don't believe the best use of Finau is off the bench.

[Catogrande]

@sparky

He’s a loss for us. We only have three good locks, him Itoje and Martin, any others are a real step down. Plus he offers good cover at 6, which gives us more flexibility on the bench. We’re struggling at prop too, with Borthwick seemingly reluctant to give many youngsters a go. Cole and Marler don’t have too many miles left in them.

[sparky]

@mariner4life

I'd be tempted to go Finau, Savea, Sititi and then Cane off the bench, but I'd be surprised if Robertson is that bold.

[sparky]

@Catogrande

Itoje didn't play for Saracens yesterday. Is he fit to play on Saturday?

[Mr Fish]

@sparky said in All Blacks Vs England, Twickenham:

@Catogrande

Itoje didn't play for Saracens yesterday. Is he fit to play on Saturday?

Elliot Daly (Edit: Henry Slade, not Daly!) is the only player from the squad who was released to play (because he's returning from injury).

[nostrildamus]

@sparky said in All Blacks Vs England, Twickenham:

@mariner4life

I'd be tempted to go Finau, Savea, Sititi and then Cane off the bench, but I'd be surprised if Robertson is that bold.

Does Cane offer much off the bench?

[sparky]

@nostrildamus Experience.

I like Lakai but does he offer that much off the bench?

[nostrildamus]

@sparky said in All Blacks Vs England, Twickenham:

@nostrildamus Experience.

I like Lakai but does he offer that much off the bench?

Faster than Cane. Cane also doesn't seem to bend /react from the waist down, as he showed again yesterday.

[mariner4life]

If it was me I would be starting
Finau
Cane
Sititi
And Savea off the bench.

Funau, if he plays like yesterday, puts actual starch in our defence, and he improves our lineout. I would understand if he doesn't get picked though, he's not quick to his feet after smashing dudes, and test selectors hate that.

Sititi and Savea are very similar, I just think young Wallace has more form.
Cane is suited to playing up north.

I expect we'll see Sititi, Cane and savea though.

[Frank]

@mariner4life
So badly wants Finau to be good.......................

[booboo]

@Frank said in All Blacks Vs England, Twickenham:

@mariner4life
So badly wants Finau to be good.......................

In all honesty so do I

[Catogrande]

@sparky said in All Blacks Vs England, Twickenham:

@Catogrande

Itoje didn't play for Saracens yesterday. Is he fit to play on Saturday?

He’s fine and is in camp.

[Catogrande]

@Mr-Fish said in All Blacks Vs England, Twickenham:

@sparky said in All Blacks Vs England, Twickenham:

@Catogrande

Itoje didn't play for Saracens yesterday. Is he fit to play on Saturday?

Elliot Daly is the only player from the squad who was released to play (because he's returning from injury).

Slade is playing for Exeter today to prove his fitness. In the space of 11 months he’s gone from being ditched by Borthwick for RWC to getting a central contract when he’s injured.

Go figure huh?

[sparky]

So apart from Alex Mitchell being out and question marks over Chessum and Slade, England are likely to be at full strength.

[Mr Fish]

@sparky said in All Blacks Vs England, Twickenham:

So apart from Alex Mitchell being out and question marks over Chessum and Slade, England are likely to be at full strength.

George Ford is also touch and go. Hasn't played for a month so probably unlikely to start against the All Blacks.

[mariner4life]

@Frank said in All Blacks Vs England, Twickenham:

@mariner4life
So badly wants Finau to be good.......................

Hi Frank

Jog on

Finau is already good.

But hey, let's get Blackadder back on to run around heaps.

[Jet]

I’m worried about the option taking of our 10’s when we are not making easy meters at the gain line.

I fear there is going to be a lot of crabbing sideways behind the advantage line and panic kicking.

[mariner4life]

@booboo said in All Blacks Vs England, Twickenham:

@Frank said in All Blacks Vs England, Twickenham:

@mariner4life
So badly wants Finau to be good.......................

In all honesty so do I

Our only genuinely big body loose forward? Nah I hope he's shit forever. What a waste of space.