So 20 players with anyone from the top 5 clubs and Wasps still to come Disappointed I wasn't picked at this rate
The lions took 45 didn't they? I doubt many of these will play a Test match but there's a midweek game against the Crusaders, plus the Baba's and first test where we'll be missing players so it is necessary imo
I'm just pretty underwhelmed by the selection of half a squad, many of which won't be on tour anyway. Good news is that 36 is fit.
Still to come: 1: Marler, Vunipola, Corbisiero* 2: Hartley, Ward 3: Wilson, 4: Lawes, Attwood, Slater 5: Launchbury, Parling, Kitchener 6: Wood, Croft/Gibson* 7: Robshaw, Haskell* 8: Vunipola 9: Care, Youngs, Dickson 10. Farrell, Ford, Myler* Centre: Eastmond, Burrell, Tuilagi, Joseph* Wing: Ashton, Watson, Wade* 15: Brown, Foden, Goode *maybes Looking at that I think Morgan, Twelvetrees, Yarde and May will be in from the original group, and then the new selections need to come in at tighthead and hooker only. So maybe 6-8 out of the 20 will actually go.
It's not the England Saxons. It's not the England Angles either. Possibly the England Jutes with a smattering of English Beaker People. Good to see Chris Pennell get a little change out of the season though.
Corbs + Wade are already c'd not to be touring, Myler can't go as well surely with who's already in there
Would easily rather play him over Burns. I'm guessing he is 4th after Cipriani but I wouldn't complain abut 3rd.
I must say, whatever the result, it's nice to be able to field a lot of promising young players there. Even three years ago we'd have been drafting in old stagers like Cueto, Tindall, Worseley and Thompson about now.
Myler's probably the closest doppelganger for Farrell we have. Safe pair of hands (read: boot) and a good decision maker. Unlikely to scythe through defences but equally unlikely to drop the major bollocks some of the more gifted ball-players we have as stand-off options might and/or have. See Heef's mate Paterson gets a candle too.
Will rage so hard if he's on the plane. Even with Lawes not there there are still 5+ locks ahead of him.
So we now know we won't be considering any Saints or Saracens & that Cole, Corbs, Youngs (T), Croft & Nowell are broken. XV for the first test? My guess: Marler ? Stick a pin. Ward? Wilson Launchbury Attwood Johnson(?) Robshaw Morgan Care Ford Yarde Twelvetrees (assuming fitness) Tuilagi May Brown (assuming fitness)
Is Parling fit? Would rather him that Attwood I also read that Corbs was going to be fit... not that it makes a difference to the lineup
