Paolo Odogwu set for first England call-up

[Raggs]

Cips constantly undermined his own opportunities. A huge waste of talent perhaps, but nevertheless it's easy to see why coaches may prefer not to have him. Especially with the erratic results he could often bring. He is brilliant indeed, but I can really understand not picking him when he seems to burn bridges so quickly. I wonder if he had/has a similar self destructive streak as Joe Marler when it came to internationals.

As for Wade. No arguments there. He should have been in. Pulled his hamstring just before what should have been his big break.

[hookender]

A lot of it is probably down to the perception of wasps playing attractive attacking rugby since lockdown with a host of young players coming through.

 Since first lockdown every game has been available to watch  fully rather than just highlights. So rather than just wasps fans  watching our games ,others have too.

If you think of the players who have come to the public attention  over the last year ,Willis  Barbeary
Atkinson Cruse even Rowlands and Robson ,people are looking for the next best thing and it just happens to be Odogwu’s turn

Forgot Umaga!

[wasps]

Cips constantly undermined his own opportunities. A huge waste of talent perhaps, but nevertheless it's easy to see why coaches may prefer not to have him. Especially with the erratic results he could often bring. He is brilliant indeed, but I can really understand not picking him when he seems to burn bridges so quickly. I wonder if he had/has a similar self destructive streak as Joe Marler when it came to international

I do agree.
Over the years, with various head coaches ignoring Cipriani, it became clear that there was something other than his on field ability that was affecting their decisions.
And personally, I'm all for having a happy team/squad/club above all else... So if he genuinely is a disruptive influence within the squad then I wouldn't want him



However, I firmly believe he would have been capable of transforming England's back play, and making us one of the most dangerous, attacking teams around.... Coupled with our usual forward dominance, I believe there's a strong chance England would have become a hugely exciting team and ranked No 1 in the world.

Yes, he undoubtedly has off games where he doesn't shine or goes missing, but he'll have a lot more games where he's makes all the right calls.
If you look through England teams for the last 15 years you'll see plenty of regular England internationals who have poor or quiet games where they're either not involved in the important moments, or make complete howlers, yet they continue to be regulars.


I feel that Cipriani's rugby ability is viewed differently to other players' ability because he has a higher skill level and vision ceiling than most, so when he doesn't hit those extreme highs, he's seen as poor ......... And then he gets drunk and gets hit by a bus.

I do believe it's all his own fault, but I also believe that for a few years we would have seen an unparalleled England side



Where do I donate my £5?

[COYW15]

Mail now reporting Randall also getting a call up, along with Youngs & Dobby.

Given that Jones has been reluctant to have more than 2 9s in a 31+ man squad, I find it odd that he will pick 3 in a 28 man squad. Then again I fail to see the logic in many of his decisions.

[hookender]

Mail now reporting Randall also getting a call up, along with Youngs & Dobby.

Given that Jones has been reluctant to have more than 2 9s in a 31+ man squad, I find it odd that he will pick 3 in a 28 man squad. Then again I fail to see the logic in many of his decisions.

The logic is give him a 5 min appearance to cap him out of Wales.

[Chunky24]

Mail now reporting Randall also getting a call up, along with Youngs & Dobby.

Given that Jones has been reluctant to have more than 2 9s in a 31+ man squad, I find it odd that he will pick 3 in a 28 man squad. Then again I fail to see the logic in many of his decisions.

The logic is give him a 5 min appearance to cap him out of Wales.

If the bubble restrictions prevent another player being quickly added after one of the 2 scrum halves is injured in training on a Friday then it makes sense to name 3 specialist SH in the squad, similarly the need for 3 full front rows as specialist positions, he then has enough interchangeable players in the backs plus likes of Itoje who can play second / back row to make up the rest of the squad, Randall also possibly wing cover.

[wasps]

Chunky...
That seems logical, but would it also not be logical to increase your squad size if that was the case?
As I understand it, other nations have named 30+ player squads. It seems weird that we would be naming seemingly redundant players in such a small squad.


I don't know how big the training bubbles are, but if we have a 28 man squad and lose a bubble to quarantine, do we still have enough squad players to put a match day 23 out?
Especially if you consider the natural injuries that happen in a training camp / tournament

[Chunky24]

Agree about squad size but presumably some sort of agreement / compromise between England and prem rugby to allow them to keep the players the full time in the bubble but at reduced numbers as none released back to clubs if not needed that weekend.

Presumably Wales/ Scotland/ Italy may have to release players back to their clubs who don't play in home country in certain weekends so have to allow for that, Ireland rugby pretty much have full control over their players.

[Montague Withnail]

Mail now reporting Randall also getting a call up, along with Youngs & Dobby.

Given that Jones has been reluctant to have more than 2 9s in a 31+ man squad, I find it odd that he will pick 3 in a 28 man squad. Then again I fail to see the logic in many of his decisions.

The article says "He will likely join two other scrum-halves, Ben Youngs and Dan Robson, in Jones’ 28-man squad selected on Friday evening." That seems a bit more speculative. My concern is that Jones is going to drop Dobby. While it definitely makes sense to have 3 scrum halves in the squad, it's much more important to have 3 of each front row position, and that more or less rules out being able to have both a 3rd scrum half and an extra outside back (assuming they are also right about The Dog). It would mean having no spare back-5 forwards.

I still think the most likely outcome is that either Randall or The Dog or both will actually miss out when the squad is announced. Next most likely if they are both included is that he's going to drop Dobby (the kind of outrage Jones thrives on). Least likely in my mind - but also possible - is that he'll only pick 5 props.

[Heathen]

WRT to 9s, Spencer must be in with a good shout. Eddie is spoilt for choice.

[westwaleswasp]

Eddie is spoilt for good 9s, and yet he always picks Youngs, who isn't one.

[Montague Withnail]

Eddie is spoilt for good 9s, and yet he always picks Youngs, who isn't one.

He is one but was totally wasted on Leicester and England. If he'd played for Wasps and Wales he'd be a legend of the game by now.

[Trevs Big Tackle]

Least likely in my mind - but also possible - is that he'll only pick 5 props.

Jones might gamble on 5 props. If some get injured or suspended what's going to happen? Are clubs actually going to refuse to allow another prop to be called up and force England to forfeit a match?

[Shugs]

Surprised to see Randall mooted. He's not Eddie's sort of SH for me.

[Hymenoptera]

Eddie is spoilt for good 9s, and yet he always picks Youngs, who isn't one.

He is one but was totally wasted on Leicester and England. If he'd played for Wasps and Wales he'd be a legend of the game by now.

I wholeheartedly disagree. Dobby, Spencer, Heinz, Randall..they all improve their team when they play, Youngs adds to Tigers malaise.