OT Eddie at it again ...

[Bloke in North Dorset]

From the Beeb, my emphasis:

Flanker Michael Hooper and fly-half Quade Cooper have been left out of Australia's World Cup squad by coach Eddie Jones.

Hooper, who has captained the Wallabies for the best part of the last decade, and 80-cap fly-half Cooper were the headline omissions in the 33-man squad.

...

Hooper, who has played 125 times for Australia since 2012, was named co-captain of the Wallabies with James Slipper for the Rugby Championship earlier this year but only played in the opening loss to South Africa before being sidelined by a calf injury.

Cooper, 35, had been expected to be Australia's starting fly-half in France after recovering from a ruptured Achilles to return to the squad.

Carter Gordon, who played his first Test last month, will now travel to France as Australia's sole specialist number 10 with Ben Donaldson, who has played two internationals, backing up as a utility player.

[COYW15]

With the other 'utility' player Josh Kemeny listed in the squad being a back row - another candidate for his flanker on the wing experiment?

[Egret]

Would you prefer the Borthwick approach to selection or Eddie's?

I'm preferring Eddie's young guns to the Borthwick dour approach and looking forward to seeing if bazball can be applied to rugby.

[Bloke in North Dorset]

I don't know enough about Aussie rugby to comment on the abilities of the individuals, but young guns or old stagers I'd rather have at least 2 specialist 10s and maybe a FB who can step in at a push.

[Chunky24]

Would you prefer the Borthwick approach to selection or Eddie's?

I'm preferring Eddie's young guns to the Borthwick dour approach and looking forward to seeing if bazball can be applied to rugby.

If Eddie wanted Bazball style rugby wouldn't Quade Cooper be his Ben Stokes?

[westwaleswasp]

Would you prefer the Borthwick approach to selection or Eddie's?

I'm preferring Eddie's young guns to the Borthwick dour approach and looking forward to seeing if bazball can be applied to rugby.

Both coaches are aerial tennis merchants. Eddie always used to say ad nauseam that you need 800-900 caps to win a WC, minimum. It was bullshit. Unsurprisingly his tune has changed.

[Shugs]

Neither. Jones was deliberately bizarre. Borthwick is just beige.

[backdoc]

What sort of ban will Farrell get, with no mitigation and multiple previous reds? Hopefully 12 weeks.

[NellyWellyWaspy]

I think the maximum is 6, given his good behaviour record, I think 3 or 4.

[Chunky24]

4 weeks, reduced to 3 for saying sorry and 2 for going to tackle school again.

[WonkyWasp]

....  but if you really sorry you don't do it  again ... and again ... and again ...ad nauseam do you.  Unless a) you don't care, b) you know you'll get away with it anyway, or c)  'a)' and 'b)'  together.

[Shugs]

I?m expecting a new mitigation - are you Owen Farrell. If you can answer yes the ban is immediately squashed. Ironically Englands best hope is that he gets a long ban.

[DGP Wasp]

If it were the RFU determining the ban then I am in no doubt strings would be pulled, backs scratched and St. Owen would be back in time for the WC.
This one is World Rugby's call though, so remains to be seen if the "Sexton. Effect" will lead to a shorter ban to ensure that the WC has its big names or whether they will actually back up all their well intentioned noise about reducing head injuries.

[mike909]

Neither. Jones was deliberately bizarre. Borthwick is just beige.

When he was one of Jones' assistants, England were playing mostly well - perhaps at times performing as well as could be hoped for. But, (c.f. 6Ns 2018/SA Tour) too often looking like they didn't understand the script.

Regardless - a beige Borthwick that's only doing the forwards (which I think was the case) and didn't have to do media - or not much - was in his element? But like too many experts in many walks of life/business I've come across, you'd probably not have them in charge.....It's quite rare that people manage to be both (expert/in charge)

The current England situation is a result of a number of factors, but after deciding Jones was going to end of RWC '23, a sacking and appointment of a "beige" coach probably wasn't going to go well. And I'm at the point of looking forwards to watching some good rugby (no not from England) and hoping that 6Ns 2024 shows England looking forwards.

[Bloke in North Dorset]

I think Mike's right, we won't really learn about Borthwick until next year's 6N. The question is if he then isn't up to it, or at least showing he has some vision will the RFU take the hard decisions? Probably not because its hard to see the finances being turned round by then.