Fazlett out of the 6N opener

[Skippy]

Surely this news will see bookies shorten England's odds.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/60083055

[Westy68]

Surely this news will see bookies shorten England's odds.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/60083055

At least we can now get a proper 12 playing there and Marcus can just get on with his own game

[mike909]

Alfie to play 12, surely?

[Neils]

Alfie to play 12, surely?

👍

[WonkyWasp]

Fazlett out?  Oh dear.  What a shame.

[coddy]

So who starts at 12 against the Scots? Mark Atkinson? Luke Northmore? who have one cap between them or a more experienced centre who normally operates at 13?

[Shugs]

I’d go Atkinson. Although to be fair I think this really only means Smith plays. I really like Northmore but I see him more at 13.

[JonnyD]

With the squad full of outside backs and Atkinson arguably the only 12 there anyway he’s the only choice (surely) Northmore has played there but much more of a 13 for me with his lines.

This should help Smith too as Atkinson can play the Estherhuizen role, can crash and distribute if needed and then find Smith space for the outside backs.

Atkinson definitely isn’t the answer at 12 but the longer Farrell is out the better

[WonkyWasp]

Hopefully Courtney Lawes  will be Captain.  That is someone I respect.

[Trevs Big Tackle]

Hopefully Courtney Lawes  will be Captain.  That is someone I respect.

Playing in the second row or back row?

[WonkyWasp]

     Whatever he wants is OK by me!!  (I was thinking Captain actually)

[Westy68]

If he is seeing a specialist then the injury is likely to be at least fairly serious, therefore a possibility of at least missing a majority of the 6 nations.

[mike909]

If he is seeing a specialist then the injury is likely to be at least fairly serious, therefore a possibility of at least missing a majority of the 6 nations.

That was my first thought too. It's a good op to plan for a Farrell- free England. And we really do need to see who can play 12 as England have either played a 10 in OF or a 13. It's probably just me, but I really don't get the "numbers on the shirts don't matter". If people play week in week out at 12 or 13 or 15, it's probably better if they play there in internationals. I do see that there are cross over players in the back three. At club level, moves between 10 and 15 are not uncommon. But last 6Ns Lawrence was sacrificed it seemed....

[wasps]

. It's probably just me, but I really don't get the "numbers on the shirts don't matter". If people play week in week out at 12 or 13 or 15, it's probably better if they play there in internationals. I do see that there are cross over players in the back three. At club level, moves between 10 and 15 are not uncommon. But last 6Ns Lawrence was sacrificed it seemed....

I get the theory that sometimes a player is so naturally talented that they can just play and it doesn't matter where.
However that's surely an exception rather than a rule.


Eddie's been trying this since at least 2003.

[mike909]

That's where I am too. I mean Danny played 15 in a Euro final...But Jones thinks he has some special knowledge...