England internationals were 'excited' to get back to Saracens, says Owen Farrell | Rugby Union News | Sky Sports England internationals were 'excited' to get back to Saracens, says Owen Farrell Last Updated: 27/03/16 11:10pm Owen Farrell was instrumental in Saracens' 36-18 victory against Exeter on Saturday Saracens fly-half Owen Farrell says he has found it easy to return to club rugby, following England's Grand Slam Six Nations triumph. Farrell, along with fellow England internationals Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola, Maro Itoje and George Kruis, returned to help Saracens record a vital 36-18 victory over title rivals Exeter on Saturday . Sarries, who returned to the top of the Premiership following the victory at Allianz Park, next play Bath on Friday before facing Northampton in a crucial European Champions Cup quarter-final on April 9. Farrell says he is relishing the upcoming fixtures and believes his side are well placed to challenge for both the English and European titles. "They are big games," said Farrell.

Jamie George says confidence is high in the Saracens camp but is refusing to think about going all the way in the European Rugby Champions Cup "You don't feel like you have to pull yourself out of bed to get up for a game against Exeter, and next week we've got Bath away and then Northampton in the quarter-final in Europe. "It is easy for us to come back into this. Everyone was excited this week to get playing with the boys and to put a good performance in. It is good that we did that. "We've just come back (from England duty) and cracked on with it. "Everyone wants to get better here, and that is all everybody wants to do at England. It is just a case of getting on with what's in front of you. Farrell was part of England's successful Six Nations side, alongside club teammates Billy Vunipola, Mako Vunipola, Maro Itoje and George Kruis "To have nine lads away in a period where there is no break between Premiership games is tough for any team." Meanwhile, Saracens chairman Nigel Wray believes that this year's Six Nations schedule has detracted from the Premiership season.

Eddie Jones is expecting a hard time from his Australian compatriots in June Wray thinks that Test matches should be played around club fixtures, as in the norm in the southern hemisphere's Super Rugby competition. "Our supporters don't get to see some of the best players in the land for probably one-third to one-half of the season," Wray said in his programme notes for the Exeter match. Saracens chairman Nigel Wray has questioned the international rugby schedule's affect on domestic competition "The southern hemisphere has worked it out so that their Super Rugby season does not compete with international series. "It is absolutely essential that we organise our season so that the Premiership is not seen as some second-rate product to the Six Nations, but we play at different times and support, rather than compete with, each other. "We need to work together, not against each other, but the drive has to come from the Premiership clubs, the ones being wounded, the ones seeing their product downgraded." Farrell believes the issue has been exacerbated by the World Cup held in England last year. Alex Goode celebrates scoring a try against Exeter "It's not something I've thought about. It's different this year," he said.

"There have been eight weeks of Premiership games (with the Six Nations players away). Normally there's, what, four? This is a different year because of the World Cup. "It will be a tough period for some clubs, yeah. They are the cards you are dealt. We just get on with what we've got to do." Rugby union: Phil Vickery sidelined as Martin Johnson goes for England captain Steve Borthwick | Sport | The Guardian Share on Messenger Close Martin Johnson's decision yesterday to invest the England captaincy in Steve Borthwick for next month's series of internationals at Twickenham is a strong indication that Phil Vickery, the leader since the beginning of last year, is no longer seen as the first-choice tight-head prop ahead of Matt Stevens. Johnson, the England team manager, has chosen a captain who plays in the same position as he did, in the second row. Borthwick, who turned 29 this month and who led the side three times earlier this year when Vickery was unavailable, shares certain characteristics with his new boss, most notably an ability to keep the media at arm's length and an unwavering commitment to the cause, but he does not cut as intimidating a figure.

He is also sure of his place in England's full-strength side, something that cannot be said of Vickery, because of the strength of Stevens' performances, in the tight and loose, for Bath in the last two seasons. Borthwick is one of the more thoughtful forwards on the Guinness Premiership circuit, as he showed when leading Saracens against Northampton earlier this season. His side were trailing by three points when they were awarded a penalty under the posts; instead of taking the kick, he opted for a scrum from which Sarries scored a try on their way to victory. "Steve is a stand-out leader who has a great feel for the way a game is going," said the Saracens director of rugby, Eddie Jones. "He has such competitiveness and he is very serious about his rugby." Borthwick led England to victory in Rome in this year's Six Nations after Vickery pulled out through illness and he was captain on the tour in New Zealand in the summer. "Steve is a good leader who always prepares thoroughly for matches at club and international level," said Johnson. "I am looking forward to working with him.

I will not be giving him a specific amount of time in the job: I just want to support him as much as possible and I would like to thank Phil Vickery for everything he did while he was captain." Vickery took over the leadership for the 2007 Six Nations and captained England in the World Cup later that year. He is 33 in March and, with Johnson saying that he is looking to play a faster game than the men in white have employed in recent years, Stevens is likely to take over at tight-head prop. Against that is Vickery's experience in England's greenest squad this decade; only the Bath flanker Michael Lipman, who was promoted from the Saxons squad last week to replace the injured Lewis Moody, has captained his club on a frequent basis. Leadership, or the lack of it throughout the squad, was cited by Johnson earlier this month as one reason for the side's continued failure since they lifted the World Cup in 2003. "The week together we had in August showed me just how good a squad we have," said Borthwick. "That will hold us in good stead as we prepare for four very challenging games, starting with the tough Pacific Islanders on November 8.

My three games as captain of England have been away from home, so leading the team out at Twickenham will be a special moment for me. My overriding aim, though, is to get us off to a winning start in the series." Borthwick is the co-captain of Saracens this season with Andy Farrell, having led Bath to success in the European Challenge Cup last May, the west country club's first trophy for 10 years. He won the first of his 39 caps in 2001, when he was Johnson's understudy, but missed out on selection for the 2003 World Cup and he has only twice played a full series of Six Nations matches, including last season. The England squad gathered in their new headquarters in Bagshot on Sunday. Johnson has a problem at hooker: Lee Mears picked up a rib injury playing for Bath at Sale last Friday while Dylan Hartley faces being cited for allegedly punching the Saracens scrum-half Moses Rauluni during Northampton's EDF Energy Cup defeat at Vicarage Road last Sunday.

The Newcastle centre Jamie Noon was carried from the field during the defeat by Wasps with his neck in a brace, while the fitness of the utility back Mathew Tait and the No8 Luke Narraway, who both suffered hamstring strains playing for their clubs in the second round of the Heineken Cup, will be assessed at the end of the week. The Wales squad gathered for a three-day training camp yesterday after the Welsh Rugby Union last week gained a judge's ruling that the country's four regions had to release their players, but three who were based in England - the scrum-halves Dwayne Peel and Gareth Cooper and Peel's Sale colleague, the prop Eifion Roberts - did not show up because the union had not sought their release from Premier Rugby in time. Borthwick's baptism of ﬁre Italy 19-23 England Feb 10 2008 With Phil Vickery nursing an upset stomach Brian Ashton named Borthwick as his captain in Rome. England started strongly but a 20-6 half-time lead was squandered as Italy fought back.

New Zealand 37-20 England June 14 England were humbled on Auckland's Eden Park and humiliated off it as allegations of sexual assault surfaced. New Zealand 44-12 England June 21 England were given a hiding in Christchurch as the off-field drama gathered steam. The All Blacks, inflamed by Rob Andrew's mid-week rant, had a point to prove. Dan Carter kicked 17 points as New Zealand ran in five tries to England's two.

Autumn fixtures Nov 8 Pacific Islands Nov 15 Australia Nov 22 South Africa Nov 29 New Zealand Dextrous Vunipola may transform the way others play the forward role | The Independent Dextrous Vunipola may transform the way others play the forward role Sarries forward offers something completely different for England and the Lions Sunday 5 May 2013 23:40 BST Click to follow The Independent Online Vunipola may transform the way others play the forward role PA Mark McCall is quite possibly the last person on earth to look at his chosen sport through the prism of celebrity – raised in the workaholics' paradise of Ulster rugby, he is deeply suspicious of the cult of the individual – so it was no great surprise when he responded to yet another question about Owen Farrell with a rolling of the eyes and a raising of the brows. Yet the Saracens coach knows better than anyone that he has a star on his hands. And no, we're not talking about the England outside-half.

It is not inconceivable that Farrell's stock will rise to Jonny Wilkinson levels between now and the home World Cup in 2015 – even now, he does things that are beyond the saintly No 10, as he demonstrated at the weekend by hitting the Bath midfielder Tom Heathcote with a high tackle as mean as it was illegal – but by that time, the red rose selectors are likely to be more excited by the No 1 position. If Mako Vunipola's name is not the first on the teamsheet, something very odd will have happened. Last week, when the British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland revealed and then explained his left-field choices for the forthcoming tour of Australia, he said he had turned to players who offered "a point of difference". Vunipola was one of them, and with good reason. Not only does he offer a point of difference; he also scores points in different ways to everyone else. The try he scored early in the second quarter of Saturday's game – a touchdown that took Saracens into a 13-point lead and pretty much guaranteed that they would end the league phase of the Premiership campaign on top of the table – was not obviously a thing of beauty.

Grace and radiance are, almost by definition, beyond the scope of people who tip the scales at the best part of 20st and play rugby with their socks round their ankles and their shorts in the same place. But anyone who can maintain balance in six inches of space close to the corner flag and ground the ball legitimately despite being clattered by opponents as physically threatening as the Fijian wing Semesa Rokoduguni and the Springbok flanker Francois Louw has an elegance all of his own. Two minutes later, Vunipola set sail again, rumbling towards the Bath 22 before freeing Chris Ashton to the line with a wondrous pass out of contact. Sadly, the pass was ruled marginally forward – indeed, the margin was so small, it sparked a long and ultimately fruitless debate about the laws of physics pertaining to the flight of a ball propelled by a moving object – but in the end, it didn't much matter. There is barely another tight forward anywhere capable of offloading with such dexterity, within the law or outside it.

Together with his fellow surprise Lions package, Matt Stevens, the naturalised Tongan also made his presence felt at the set-piece, although just as in the Heineken Cup quarter-final victory over Ulster at Twickenham, he had to swallow some pride early on and rethink his approach to the close-quarter duties in order to find salvation. Once Vunipola completes his scrummaging education – he may look 48, but he does not turn 23 until after Christmas – England will not just have the best loose-head prop in the sport, but a player capable of transforming the way people in his position play the game. Bath used to have one of those, but the name of David Sole, a Lions Test prop in Australia in 1989, takes some remembering these days. It is also a fair old while since the West Countrymen were masters of all they surveyed. Saracens had already nailed down a home semi-final in this competition and were as flat as pancakes after being Wilko'd out of the Heineken Cup the previous weekend, but there was barely a moment when they seemed vulnerable to opponents sorely lacking in creative spark.

Mike Ford, the England defence coach at the last World Cup and an important member of the four-man cabinet currently in governance on the banks of the Avon, admitted afterwards that his side could use a dash of something out of the ordinary. "What we've concentrated on in our first season here is the culture: we wanted to lay the right foundations," he said. "But looking to next season, we've recruited people we think can play in a certain way: bright young British talent who can move our attacking game in another direction. I think there are exciting times ahead." To that end, Bath are still talking to the much-travelled, much-maligned Welsh midfielder Gavin Henson. "We have room for a third player in the 10/12 department," Ford confirmed. They would also happily kill for the signature of the Lions No 8 Toby Faletau, currently stuck with the financially challenged and competitively marginalised Newport Gwent Dragons. While Faletau is more of a medium-term objective than an immediate target, a large number of deals have already been completed. As a result, the coaches are about to replace the team bequeathed to them with one of their own design. Who knows?

Ford's son, the undeniably gifted outside-half George, could be the man-child to give the ambitious Bath owner Bruce Craig a return on his investment. If not him, the England centre Jonathan Joseph might turn the kind of trick craved by punters in the rickety old Recreation Ground stands. Or maybe the current full-back Ollie Devoto is the one. There were moments at the weekend when he looked a proper player. But there are other clubs out there who are ahead of the pack, especially when it comes to the pack. Vunipola is worth at least two of Bath's major back-line signings, and probably three. To think he learnt his rugby in Bristol, a dozen miles down the road. Scorers: Saracens: Tries Ashton, Vunipola, Farrell; Conversion Farrell; Penalties Farrell 2. Bath: Tries Webber, Agulla; Conversions Heathcote 2.

Saracens: C Wyles; C Ashton (J Maddock 70), J Tomkins, O Farrell, D Strettle; C Hodgson (D Taylor 54), N De Kock (R Wigglesworth 52); M Vunipola (R Gill 60), S Brits (J Smit 54), M Stevens (C Nieto 60), S Borthwick (capt, M Botha 52), A Hargreaves (G Kruis 70), K Brown, A Saull, J Wray. Bath: O Devoto; S Rokoduguni, B Williams, K Eastmond (T Biggs h-t), H Agulla; T Heathcote, M Claassens (P Stringer 66); P James (N Catt 62), R Webber (R Batty 47), D Wilson (A Perenise 60), D Day (W Spencer 48), D Attwood, F Louw (capt), G Mercer (M Gilbert 57), S Taylor (N Koster 70). Referee: M Fox (Leicestershire).

QBE Internationals: Lee Dickson gets the nod to start against Australia at Twickenham - Telegraph England QBE Internationals: Lee Dickson gets the nod to start against Australia at Twickenham Northampton's Lee Dickson is in line to win his 10th cap in a new-look half-back partnership with Owen Farrell when England head coach Stuart Lancaster names his team to play Australia at Twickenham Rewarded: Lee Dickson's outstanding form has won him a place in the England team to play Australia Photo: GETTY IMAGES By Gavin Mairs , Rugby News Correspondent 11:59PM GMT 30 Oct 2013 Follow England head coach Stuart Lancaster will reward Lee Dickson for his outstanding form with Northampton this season by handing him a starting place against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday ahead of British and Irish Lions scrum-half Ben Youngs. Dickson is expected to win his 10th cap in a new-look half-back partnership with Owen Farrell when Lancaster names his team for the first of the three QBE Internationals at lunchtime on thursday.

Lancaster’s line-up is also set to feature first Twickenham starts for London Irish wing Marland Yarde, Saracens centre Joel Tomkins and his club team-mate Billy Vunipola. Northampton lock Courtney Lawes is expected to the lead England line-out against the Wallabies after Geoff Parling was ruled out with mild concussion. Lawes will partner Joe Launchbury in the second row. It is Dickson’s elevation, though, that is the most eye-catching selection, given that Youngs, capped 33 times by England, had started the second Test for the Lions against Australia less than three months ago. Related Articles Parling injury blow for England 29 Oct 2013 Furthermore, the 28-year-old’s place in his own club side appeared to be under threat following the summer signing of Samoan international Kahn Fotuali’i, widely regarded as one of the best scrum-halves in the world game. However, Dickson, who started both of England’s Test wins against Argentina in June, has responded in impressive fashion, producing arguably the best form of his career.

With Dickson having fallen behind Youngs and Harlequins scrum-half Danny Care in the international pecking order last season after starting the last of England’s three Six Nations matches in 2012, the competition with Fotuali’i has brought a new running dimension to the Northampton man’s game as well as a cooler head under pressure. An impressive display against Youngs in the draw with Leicester at Welford Road clearly helped his cause and, while he continued that form into the Heineken Cup, Youngs endured a frustrating night in his side’s poor display in their victory against Treviso. Fotuali’i is in no doubt that Dickson has earned another England start. “Lee is a credit to himself and has put in the hard work,” Fotuali’i told the BBC last week. “Training-wise he is out there doing the extras – passing, kicking. We both do the same and feed off each other. We learn off each other. Well, I learn off him and hopefully he learns from me. I would pick him as England’s first number nine at the moment the way he’s playing.” Dickson also recently praised Fotuali’i’s for his resurgence in form.

“Kahn coming here has helped my game massively,” Dickson said. “He’s a phenomenal player and I have learnt so much off him. We are quite good friends and he has taught me a lot, telling me a few of his tricks. When Jim Mallinder called me in last season and said Kahn was coming, I was really happy.” Elsewhere injuries have ensured that the remainder of the side will be as widely predicted. Much as Parling’s loss is unfortunate England assistant coach Graham Rowntree acknowledged that the resources at lock are deep. “They are the strongest we have had for some time,” Rowntree said. “We have got some tight calls to make in the second-row. Courtney Lawes has impressed me with his consistency. He is a very athletic man and dependable. He has also developed into a line-out leader at Northampton. He is injury-free these days and playing 80 minutes.” Alex Corbisiero’s knee injury means that Mako Vunipola, who struggled against Australia’s scrum in the second Test for the Lions , will be picked at loosehead prop, and is expected to feature alongside his brother, Billy, another whose performances for Saracens have been eye-catching this season.

“Mako has matured while we think that Billy is ready,” Rowntree said. The absence of Brad Barritt and Manu Tuilagi also forces Lancaster to try a fresh midfield combination of Billy Twelvetrees, who cut an impressive figure on the Argentina tour, and debutant Tomkins. Tomkins had been due to tour Argentina as well but sustained an ankle injury. The former Wigan and England rugby league player has been one of Saracens’ standout players this season, however, and is seen as a genuine alternative at outside centre to Tuilagi. Lancaster will be hoping that Tomkins and Yarde, another of the new generation that made an impression in Argentina, not only make a convincing transition to the big stage but also bring a freshness and cutting edge to his backline. Australia are in a period of transition under new head coach Ewen McKenzie but showed in their narrow defeat by the All Blacks that their attacking game appears to be regaining its ruthlessness. Rowntree has no doubt that this is a seminal period for this generation. “It’s production time,” the England forwards coach said on Wednesday. “I would agree it is the end of the beginning, two years out from a World Cup.

That is the sort of pressure we are putting on ourselves and on the players.” Meanwhile, Harlequins centre George Lowe, who featured in the England squad that toured South Africa last year, has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a neck injury he sustained during the 22-12 defeat against Saracens at The Stoop on Sept 28 while making a tackle early in the first half. England: Mako Vunipola confirmed in Autumn internationals squad - Mirror Online "Exceptional": Vunipola's start to the season has dazzled the England coaches (Photo: Getty) Share Get daily updates directly to your inbox + Subscribe Thank you for subscribing! Could not subscribe, try again laterInvalid Email He only made his Premiership debut last month, yet Mako Vunipola will be handed an England shirt in a ­fortnight - as predicted by the Mirror . The 21-year-old prop has taken just five first-team starts to convince Red Rose boss Stuart Lancaster the time is right to promote him. “His form has been ­exceptional,” forwards coach Graham Rowntree said, when unveiling the England squad for the QBE autumn internationals.

“I’m looking for a fault in his game and I can’t find one at the moment. I have no doubt he’ll make his name in this series.” Vunipola, a 20-stone loosehead, was born in New Zealand, his father Fe’ao captained Tonga and six of his uncles also represented the Pacific island. “But he’s played throughout our age-group system,” Rowntree interjected. “What do I like about him? He loves a scrum. You know that turns me on!” Vunipola is one of four injury-enforced changes to the Elite Player squad for England’s upcoming Twickenham Tests against Fiji, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. He replaces Alex Corbisiero, whilst back row James Haskell fills in for Tom Croft and hooker Tom Youngs, the older brother of scrum-half Ben, takes over from Rob Webber. The recall of Ugo Monye, 29, in place of Ben Foden, proves Lancaster, who missed ­yesterday’s announcement for personal reasons, does not have an agenda against the older generation.

The continued absence of in-form forwards Nick Easter and Steve Borthwick might suggest so, but each remains on the radar, according to Rowntree. Whatever the truth, it is the fast-tracking of Vunipola which catches the eye – with England confirming he will at least be on the bench against Fiji on November 10. “He might look 35, but, as a 21-year-old, he is a special, special player,” said Saracens’ defence coach Paul Gustard. “Mako has the talent to do what no other prop in world rugby can do. He has got a hell of a step, he can carry and has the power to be an incredibly destructive loose-head.” The youngster’s call-up comes 22 years after another ­21-year-old Saracens prop began what turned out to be a record-breaking England career. His name was Jason Leonard and he went on to win 114 caps. No pressure then!

England squad for the Autumn Backs: A Allen (Leicester), C Ashton (Saracens), B Barritt (Saracens), M Brown (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), L Dickson (Northampton), O Farrell (Saracens), T Flood (Leicester), A Goode (Saracens), J Joseph (London Irish), U Monye (Harlequins), C Sharples (Gloucester), M Tuilagi (Leicester), J Turner-Hall (Harlequins), B Youngs (Leicester). Forwards: M Botha (Saracens), D Cole (Leicester), P Dowson (Northampton), D Hartley (Northampton), J Haskell (Wasps), T Johnson (Exeter), C Lawes (Northampton), J Marler (Harlequins), B Morgan (Gloucester), T Palmer (Wasps), G Parling (Leicester), C Robshaw (Harlequins), M Vunipola (Saracens), T Waldrom (Leicester), D Wilson (Bath), T Wood (Northampton), T Youngs (Leicester).

* Gloucester flanker Andy Hazell has been banned for 14 weeks for striking a French opponent with both his fist and knee. Hazell, 34, reacted furiously towards Mont de Marsan’s Sebastien Ormaechea, who he felt had tried to “severely injure” him by allegedly eye-gouging. Like us on Facebook Autumn Internationals 2014: England team to play Australia | The Rugby Blog Autumn Internationals 2014: England team to play Australia November 27, 2014 42 Stuart Lancaster has made three changes to the England side to take on Australia this weekend, from the one that defeated Samoa. Billy Twelvetrees gets his first start of the autumn after impressing off the bench last weekend, taking the place of Owen Farrell, who drops to the bench, at inside centre. In the pack, Dylan Hartley returns to the hooker berth in place of Rob Webber and his Northampton teammate Tom Wood comes back in for James Haskell, who is on the bench, on the blindside. Otherwise it’s as you were from the team that beat Samoa 28-9.

Lancaster said: “It’s good to be able to give Billy his first start of the series. He took on board the feedback we gave him when he first came into camp and he has worked hard both with us and at Gloucester and deserves his chance. Owen is a key part of our squad and will offer a huge amount from the bench. Video credit: Rugby Media “The Samoa game gave us the opportunity to give James and Rob a start and they made a good contribution. Tom and Dylan were disappointed not to be in the XV against Samoa. “They are desperate to go out and perform on Saturday to help us finish the series on a high.” England team to play Australia: 15. Mike Brown (Harlequins, 32 caps) 14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 3 caps) 13. Brad Barritt (Saracens, 21 caps) 12. Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby, 15 caps) 11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 10 caps) 10. George Ford (Bath Rugby, 5 caps) 9.

Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 41 caps) 1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 25 caps) 2. Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints, 60 caps) 3. David Wilson (Bath Rugby, 40 caps) 4. Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby, 15 caps) 5. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 35 caps) 6. Tom Wood (Northampton Saints, 33 caps 7. Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, 31 caps, captain) 8. Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby, 26 caps) Replacements 16. Rob Webber (Bath Rugby, 11 caps) 17. Matt Mullan (Wasps, 8 caps) 18. Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons, 5 caps) 19. George Kruis (Saracens, 3 caps) 20. James Haskell (Wasps, 52 caps) 21. Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens, 15 caps 22.

Owen Farrell (Saracens, 28 caps 23. Marland Yarde (Harlequins, 6 caps) No surprises, really, given the 23. It’s a decent side (and a great pack), apart from the usual question marks over the centres. Chris Lacharge says: I think the Team will play better without Farrell. Twelvetrees is an underrated player and I hope he will perform well. This team should take down the Wallabies Mike says: November 27, 2014 at 10:13 am Hmmm. Getting there. As with I think everyone else, I would prefer not to have Barritt at 13. But I would love for him to prove me wrong. Personnaly I thing both Burrell and JJ are better options, and are both up to the physical challenges. The rest of the team is much as expected/wanted?. The forwards look good in set peices and defence. IT is a concern that only our 8 seems to make any meters. possibly that will accelerate Youngs back in at hooker. But that may impact the lineout.

Really we should have a front row, second row and one or 2 backs rows who are able to make meters in the tight. The front row need to step up their game in that respect. Attwood and Lawes are also big lumps, so they should be making meters, ot just hitting and going down. The back row? Wood and Robshaw have never been the hardest carriers (though Robshaw is always willing). But there have been a number of occasions when that has not been a problem. In Lancaster terms it must come down to consistency. They (being 1 to 8) need to play in this way every time, with the front 5 taking more carrying duties, and effectively. Or he has to change the back row so that we can consistently make yards in the tight. Against New Zealand, Attwood made the most metres of any England player but May – so he is capable. Mike says: Almost all of which were in his one gallop which ended in him butchering a gilt edged chance. Not the hardest yards.

Pablito says: I’d have said any yards made by a lock against NZ are by definition hard yards brighty says: November 27, 2014 at 4:46 pm One reason I hate stats – yards made is so misleading. 1) The fullback nearly always tops the stat because he’s catching and running the ball back up to the first man. He could fail to beat that man every time and still have a great yards made stat. I’d like to see “yards made beyond the gainline” instead. 2) One phase of play, one screwy defence or missed tackle and all of a sudden a plodder is a hero as he has a chance to run the length of the field. Conversely a tackling machine with an eye for a great pass (or a scrumhalf) makes an anemic amount of yards in most matches. Stats schmats. Jimi says: Metres made beyond the gain line. That is an excellent idea! Benjit says: November 27, 2014 at 10:32 am What’s done is done, my reservations aside, time to get behind the team.

It will be interesting to see how 12t performs outside a more attacking fly half. Hopefully that will free 12t up to play more as a secondary rather than primary playmaker. Would also like to see improvements in the forwards too who have been far from perfect. Better breakdown work and fewer penalties please. Still don’t feel very confident about a win though. Pablito says: All depends on how well we retain the ball. Need to hit the rucks hard and disrupt their possession, and absolutely not kick it to their backs in space (which is less likely without Farrell) Mr Bronstein says: Top hole that man…..more champagne and caviar from the back of the £80k Range Rover at the Twickers West Car park…Must remember to wear the blazer and the old public school tie. Hurrah …Hurrah…… we going to smash the oiks…… Play up Tomkinson …… play up man ……or we’ll let lose Greybridge’s School’s Leopard Wonder if any Aussie’s had relatives in WWI or WWII? They’ll just love the new England shirt with its VC emblems that of course belongs only to the English Rugby Team and no-one else.. brighty says: Hello Enid.

Still fighting your misguided class war I see. Jonny says: November 27, 2014 at 11:27 am Scrum and lineout should go England’s way. Aus tight 5 aren’t overly powerful ball in hand either, but I agree with others above who feel it is a concern for England going forward. Mako Vunipola and Tom Youngs when fit could bring a ball carrying impact, albeit most likely off the bench. Back row simply have to step up, Hooper is very fast around the pitch, but isn’t actually that difficult to remove from rucks, the question will be whether the England pack can get there quick enough to remove him before conceding a penalty. Loss of Kuridrani is a massive boost for England, he’s probably been their best player this season. AAC is a classy player, but I think Barritt will be able to shackle him. I reckon England can get a lot of joy from turning the two wingers. England definitely have the advantage in terms of pace over them, and despite Folau’s AFL stint, his kicking game isn’t all that, but England need to put the ball into touch, not straight down his throat.

I still have nightmares about Toomua steamrollering 12T a year ago. He surely must be on his last chance now. Blub says: With reference to the heavy carriers, Brookes seems to be quite proficient in this area. Not sure about the “official stats” but he appeared very dynamic around the pitch on saturday. Dazza says: November 27, 2014 at 1:30 pm So Webber and Haskell were just starters for the Samoa game. Personally I think both should feel hard done by. Haskell in particular bought more physicality to the 6 role than we’ve seen from Wood for some time. Aside from that I’m not disappointed or surprised by this selection. I hope 12T and Barritt can play well together and prove a lot of people wrong. I also hope that Wiggy gets a bit more time on the pitch this week. I still think he has something to offer in the 9 role, that we haven’t seen for some time. i.e. a 9 who makes a nuisance of himself around the fringes and kicks efficiently. I assume they have the data to back it up (they do love their laptops).

Probably it’s the ability to keep it up for the full 80, Haskell is more likely to replace Morgs than Wood. Dazza says: November 27, 2014 at 4:31 pm Oh I’m sure they have all the statistics to prove they’re point. Just a shame they can’t watch what’s happening on the pitch to decide who should play. You’re probably right about him replacing Morgan. If Wood and Robshaw play the way they have been when Bill V has been playing at 8, then Morgan will be knackered at the end of the first half. I hope I’m wrong, and they all play their socks off, carry the ball, and destroy the gain line, but I just can’t see it happening. If Hooper breaks a tackle, or slips through a gap (as he often does around the rucks), would you trust Wood or Robshaw to have the pace to catch him and drag him down? Not sure I would. I guess that’s why Barritt is in, as the extra flanker!!

;-) Blub says: November 27, 2014 at 3:02 pm Dazza, I agree with you on the Haskell view. It is interesting that they have chosen Haskell for the bench as ordinarily they go with the spare No8 on the bench. I feel that Wood is more destructive than Haskell and I can see that they may feel they can target the Aussie breakdown better with Wood disrupting any quick ball they may hope for, and then Haskell coming on later with better ball carrying and more finesse at the breakdown. By “finesse” I don’t mean to say that he lacks physicality, but i feel he can target the ball more constructively than Wood. Wigglesworth – again, completely agree. November 27, 2014 at 4:24 pm Blub, Haskell is the spare 6, 7 & 8 for this match. No Billy V, and no Waldrom (thank god) on the bench. I just think Haskell is a more dynamic player with ball in hand. Wood might be better at the breakdown, but isn’t that what Robshaw is for? I would like to see a more dynamic player at 6.

This has been the problem when Billy V has played at 8. No-one else in the back row taking the ball up in attack. I suspect Morgan is going to get very tired this Saturday afternoon. Haskell could find himself on early! Much as I want England to win and play well, I can’t help but feel we’re in for another dull trudging performance with no dynamics in the pack. Apart from Haskell last week, the only other forward whose carried the ball memorably is Attwood, and when he’s come on Kruis hasn’t done bad. Which game were you watching? Haskell made precisely 0m from zero carries against Samoa. Dazza says: November 28, 2014 at 11:15 am You got your laptop out again? I think in general Haskell is a better ball carrier than Wood, and Moran and Billy V need an extra ball carrier in the back row. Wood is a good player, probably better than Robshaw in a lot of respects. I just wonder if we had either one or the other instead of both, would it improve our go forward ball?

November 28, 2014 at 11:31 am Yes, in general he is. As a Bath supporter I can tell you Webber, Attwood and Wilson also like a carry. So why aren’t they doing it? Is it because they can’t make the step up, or are they actively being told not to? Dazza says: I wonder the same thing. Is it something to do with the way Bomber wants the team to play? If so, it seems a little odd. Blub says: November 27, 2014 at 4:48 pm Yes Dazza, that is what Robshaw is for, but I believe that against Australia, who will hope to recycle the ball quickly all over the park, they want Wood in the same role. To be honest, Attwood carries a lot for Bath, and for England Marler, Lawes and Hartley also have to step up here. Brookes also when he comes on.

Bath, in contrast, have five back-rowers in the 23 (if we believe in Burgess being a back-rower), 4 of whom are big ball carriers, and the fifth is a second row Don P says: November 27, 2014 at 1:38 pm Mike I say, steady on, aren’t you beginning to sound like me (re Attwood)! You make sense tho. Don P says: November 27, 2014 at 2:02 pm Orthodox. Agree hard on Webber, Haskell. Can’t tell from 1 game, but team selected by coaches who really need a win. Again gone ‘D’ 1st with Barritt. What if he gets crocked? Farrell? Burrell or Eastmond would have made more sense. England must run @ Oz. Ford to kick quite a bit. Likely tight. Maybe ref’s call/s? Common dictates a home advantage win, but…? PS Who the hell’s Mr Bronstein? Not the Charles Bronswotsit cop character who used to rough justice shoot loadsa film baddies is he?

brighty says: November 27, 2014 at 2:57 pm I’m looking forward to this game as the inclusion of Ford means I can’t predict the phases from kick off. This is the type of game Ford can make his name in. Whatever happens I hope SL doesn’t ditch him and start the 6Ns with Farrel – that would be too Andy Robinsonesque. 12Ts – last chance saloon. I don’t watch the English Prem much so I’ve mostly seen him misfire in Euro tournaments or for England (I say mostly, I know he’s had the odd good moment, but “creative” he hasn’t been). The bench looks soporific – Yarde, Farrel, Wigglesworth … England better hope they’re 15 points up before they need to sub any of the backline on. Dazza says: November 27, 2014 at 4:35 pm Agree with you on 12T’s Brighty. A lot of people moaning about Barritt, but at least he’s consistent. 12T’s has blown hot and cold in all his England matches. Never sure what you’re going to get.

And as far as as I know, he’s never played alongside Ford? It could be amazing, boring, or an absolute disaster defensively in the 10-12 channel. There’s just no predicting it? brighty says: For a neutral Dazza it’s the unpredictability of it that makes it exciting. As a fan though I can imagine it’s a bit too exciting sometimes. Mike says: Thanks Brighty, I appreciate the support… Dazza says: I’ve been growing my fingernails especially!! Jimi says: November 27, 2014 at 5:52 pm Hi Dazza, both players started their careers at Leicester Tigers so have plenty of experience playing and training together. Cockers ridiculous selection policy forced them to move. And Brighty, I will be absolutely devastated if we have to use any of our bench except for Yard. I bet Cipriani is fuming at someone terribly out of form being picked ahead of him. Dazza says: I thought 12T had already left before Ford really came on the scene at Tigers. They may have played some A league games together, but I don’t think they ever played together at any level higher than that?

Jimi says: November 27, 2014 at 5:46 pm I’m so disenchanted by where the team is going recently. Every time we have a chance to look at creative players they are never given an opportunity. In almost can’t wait to see slamming Sam in the centre’s with manu now. But if we were going to have such massive ball carriers we would need Watson at full back and another lightning quick winger like yarde or wade taking his place. Brown doesn’t pass the ball enough. Those two passes from the last game must have been two of three he has made in his entire international career. Our back row are pretty pathetic when it comes to ball carrying. Would love some sort of ashley johnson type to arrive that can smash some holes and cause some chaos. And sorry, Lancaster did make Farrell look undropable and undermined his own professionalism by persevering with a player that’s so out of form and fitness. The whole point of having a squad is so we can breed strength in depth so we have options if someone isn’t firing on all cylinders.

Imagine what it must have been like for 12t, burrell and eastmond when an out of form and fitness fly half is chosen over three genuine inside centres for the 12 role. Pretty demoralising. And all the excuses about kicking and defense is a load of rubbish. Eastmond was just as tight in defence as Farrell was inside barritt. Farrell actually made a woeful attempted tackle where it resembled him slapping the guy on the chest. simon scantlebury says: November 28, 2014 at 8:39 am I can’ see anything other than a boring mechanical laboured performabce by this team.Coaching is too full of stats and management speak.The Australian approach is so different and refreshing.Sadly we are likely to get a dull flat uninspired England that will depress us all Blub says: November 28, 2014 at 11:28 am Well looking through my half full glass, I see a back three full of pace, with a clever passing 10 and 12, and a 9 who threatens the fringe defenders.

that is not intended to be a slight on Barritt, but I do think that his defence is very important to the team, and that if he is not the next Guscott/Horan/Sella (showing my age?) then thats OK if he has passers inside him and runners outside. ps I would prefer Eastmond at 12, and love Burrells lines, but do worry about his defensive positions. Why do I get the impression that all the contributors to this site all know each other? Anyhoo,back to the rugby. I said that Hartley and Wood were shoe ins for this game. Whenever Lancaster trots out the “he’s been showing a lot of promise and deserves his chance” line, the subtext is always “I don’t really trust you/think you are good enough,but I picked you so I’ll give you one run out just to look more flexible than I really am”. Haskelll and Webber need games,particularly webber in order to ensure they are genuine deputies(if not actual starters) come the 6N. Re the team? Pretty much what was expected. Lancaster has to settle on a midfield pairing though. Tempus fugit Stuart!

November 28, 2014 at 5:31 pm Jimi Yr last sentence is something I’ve apparently ‘regurgitated’ since Adam, but I can’t resist it. Spot on! And I didn’t mention the ‘C’ word. Don P says: November 28, 2014 at 5:46 pm Jimi Yr 2nd blog is also spot on! The only criticism I have of yr comments is that you simply DON’T regurgitate them enough (joke). If I do, I get flack, black balled, sent to Coventry etc, but for me, have put yr finger on the REAL issues for England. Maybe it’s because I’m SH, &/or have a slack bedside manner, of repeat the ‘truth’ tooooo often… but it ain’t just me then. If I were English, I’d be as concerned as you are. My perception is that others don’t really take in these issues that England have, but maybe it’s just that, perception? But I agree with you. Glad you ‘said’ it tho.

Question: Rugby union - for which club team do England internationals Stevens, Farrell and Vunipola play ?
Answer: SARACENS