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FORUM / RUGBY /  England drop key players for November tests; by MITCH PHILLIPS

England drop key players for November tests; by MITCH PHILLIPS

Started by Just_win17 REPLIES312 VIEWS· 22 Oct 2014, 19:30
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JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
22 Oct 2014, 19:30
#1
22 Oct 2014, 19:30#1

England coach Stuart Lancaster has dropped Chris Ashton from his squad for the November internationals and handed a first call to Fiji-born wing Semesa Rokoduguni, while Jonathan Joseph gets another chance to secure a berth in the centres.

Danny Cipriani and Freddie Burns were also left out, as Stephen Myler joined Owen Farrell and George Ford as the three flyhalves in the 33-man squad, which is likely to be tweaked after the next weekend's matches.

Rokoduguni, playing for Bath on sabbatical from the British Army, could be thrown in at the deep end when England play New Zealand on November 8 ahead of matches against South Africa, Samoa and Australia, all at Twickenham.

The absence of injured Manu Tuilagi means that his power might be deemed necessary, with Jonny May, Jack Nowell and Marland Yarde also in the wing mix after Ashton, who has 19 tries from 39 tests, was omitted despite a good start to the season.

Rokoduguni turned professional only two years ago after Bath coach Mike Ford was so impressed when seeing him play for the Army that he signed up the Afghanistan veteran for a trial.

"Rokoduguni is an exciting prospect and we've talked about starting him (against New Zealand)," Lancaster said when announcing his squad in central London.

"I know (backs coaches) Mike Catt and Andy Farrell are looking forward to working with him."

It is not only the wings that remain unsettled less than a year from the rugby World Cup as Lancaster is also still wrestling with his midfield options.

Luther Burrell and Billy Twelvetrees, who formed an effective centre partnership in the Six Nations when Tuilagi was again injured, could be reunited against the All Blacks but Joseph has been on fire for Bath and could push for his first cap since June 2013.

His slippery Bath team mate Kyle Eastmond and the ever-reliable Brad Barritt offer further, though contrasting, centre options.

"It's obviously disappointing to lose Manu but Jonathan has been in great form and deserves this chance, he's probably been the form inside centre in terms of attack this season, Lancaster said.

Northampton flanker Calum Clark, who was banned for 32 weeks in 2012 for breaking the arm of Leicester's Rob Hawkins, gets a chance to kickstart his international career after being named in a strong back row division alongside captain Chris Robshaw, Tom Wood, James Haskell, Ben Morgan and Billy Vunipola.

Robshaw had a slow start to the season after losing the Harlequins captaincy to Joe Marler but has been back towards his best in recent weeks and Lancaster was quick to support him.

"Chris Robshaw continues to lead from the front," he said.

Saracens lock George Kruis is the other uncapped player in the squad but will be strictly back up to the established and high-quality second-row pairing of Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes.

With injuries depriving Lancaster of several front-row regulars, Kieran Brookes, who won his two caps off the bench in the summer tour of New Zealand, is also included.

ENGLAND SQUAD

Forwards: Joe Marler (Harlequins), Matt Mullan (Wasps), Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), David Wilson (Bath Rugby), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), Rob Webber (Bath Rugby), Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby), George Kruis (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Calum Clark (Northampton Saints), James Haskell (Wasps), Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, captain), Billy Vunipola (Saracens), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)

Backs: 
Danny Care (Harlequins), Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath Rugby), Stephen Myler (Northampton Saints), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints), Kyle Eastmond (Bath Rugby), Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby), Mike Brown (Harlequins), Alex Goode (Saracens), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath Rugby), Marland Yarde (Harlequins)

JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
22 Oct 2014, 19:32
#2
22 Oct 2014, 19:32#2
Becs, what's your opinion on these selections?
BE
becsPro4,378 posts
22 Oct 2014, 20:49
#3
22 Oct 2014, 20:49#3
 We are missing many players through injury so have had our wings clipped a tad, particularly in the forwards. 
I must say that I am pleased to see players like Ashton omitted as his time has long since passed, but I do question some of the other selections.I would have liked to see Will Fraser in there instead of Callum Clark. The Backs are still not sorted out at all and we do have a plethora of injury worries there. I would have liked to see Henry Slade get a look in perhaps. I am not sure Myler is a good choice and Barritt has never been my pick, I am afraid. Wing wise, it is still not settled there at all.
A lot of players need to find some form and find it fast. 
SA
Saffolk Captain30,741 posts
22 Oct 2014, 21:31
#4
22 Oct 2014, 21:31#4
 Only players of note missing are Tuilagi, Cole, Corb and Croft
JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
22 Oct 2014, 21:55
#5
22 Oct 2014, 21:55#5
Well I am sure the Poms will be pumped so we should get a good game. It will be interesting to see if the ABs field their strongest team. They probably will as the US game will give some less experienced ABs a good run so the key players will be ready to go by the time they play England.
WA
WardadPro6,663 posts
22 Oct 2014, 23:37
#6
22 Oct 2014, 23:37#6
 I fecking hate that AShtonsswan diving rubbish ,ask that sevens player the other week about grounding the ball ! Whats wrong with Cippers I thought he was on the rise again ?
SA
Saffolk Captain30,741 posts
22 Oct 2014, 23:45
#7
22 Oct 2014, 23:45#7
 Selecting average Myler over Cip is short sighted
BE
becsPro4,378 posts
22 Oct 2014, 23:55
#8
22 Oct 2014, 23:55#8
 Wrong, Saffex...Tom Youngs and Mako Vunipola are also missing for starters. They are also both long term injury casualties. 
Then we move into players like Foden who have been dropped. 
SA
Saffolk Captain30,741 posts
23 Oct 2014, 00:08
#9
23 Oct 2014, 00:08#9
 Mako is bloody useless and a complete liability in the scrums. There is no way he would start ahead of Corb.
Youngs lost the plot completely with his line out throwing. He would not have smelt the starting side.
The on ly 3 real starters missing are Corb, Cole and Tuilagi
BE
becsPro4,378 posts
23 Oct 2014, 00:38
#10
23 Oct 2014, 00:38#10
 We don't know who would start because we don't know who he would be picking at the moment. 
Hartley has not been throwing in very well this Season......Corbisiero hasn't been scrumming too well.....
SA
Saffolk Captain30,741 posts
23 Oct 2014, 01:11
#11
23 Oct 2014, 01:11#11
 Hmmm becs with all due respect you are speaking shit about Corb s scrumming.
Mako is shit he would not be starting unless your coach is a complete idiot.
All I know is that the majority of your first choice players are available. Only 3 are not 

BE
becsPro4,378 posts
23 Oct 2014, 01:19
#12
23 Oct 2014, 01:19#12
 No, I am actually not. And when someone says that phrase, they mean anything but due respect....it's like saying trust me !!! Or I promise !! 

Mako would start if the first choice was injured....which they are ! Oh yes ! So that means we are at third choice as starter before we even get the team selected. Do you see what I am now getting at ? 

But I am, of course totally wrong and talking complete and utter rubbish. 
WA
WardadPro6,663 posts
23 Oct 2014, 08:00
#13
23 Oct 2014, 08:00#13
 With all due respect you should trust me when I say the check is in the mail!
SA
Saffolk Captain30,741 posts
23 Oct 2014, 10:09
#14
23 Oct 2014, 10:09#14

Crap Mako would not start, Marler would in the absence of Corb

 

And yes you are speaking complete rubbish regarding his scrumming unless of course you would like to point out exactly what his issues have been in that department?  

BE
becsPro4,378 posts
23 Oct 2014, 11:24
#15
23 Oct 2014, 11:24#15
 Thank you, Wardad. I look forward to the £1 million you promised you would give me  

As for the scrum issue, I take it you haven't watched many of our matches this season ? No, i don't suppose you have. 
JW
Just_winCaptain18,570 posts
23 Oct 2014, 11:33
#16
23 Oct 2014, 11:33#16
Becs, I have been told that there have been some very good NH matches lately & plan to download & catch up on how they teams are doing - good to see what's up before the England vs All Blacks game. 
BR
BrycyPro4,671 posts
23 Oct 2014, 21:51
#17
23 Oct 2014, 21:51#17
 ...a Fijian in the English squad lol...how disgusting was it for one certain unnamed poster when Anscombe , who has Welsh ancestry was signed by Cardiff...
BE
becsPro4,378 posts
24 Oct 2014, 16:33
#18
24 Oct 2014, 16:33#18
 As far as I am concerned, no-one should be in anyone's Squad if they are not of that Nationality. Plain and simple.I have never agreed with it and never will. 
The player you mention has been here for years and done a number of Army Tours, so would now qualify through residency, if we have to have those rules. 
As for Anscombe, he was being parachuted in to play in this Seasons matches to get in the Welsh Squad for the RWC. Again, I say what sort if signal does that send out to Welsh players born and bred ? 

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