More tweaks than radical overhaul, England's new EPS squad holds few major surprises as Stuart Lancaster prepares for the Six Nations.
Lancaster spoke at West Park Leeds Rugby Club about creating a period of stability - a very different statement from this time a year ago when the new coach made 15 changes from the previous EPS squad to launch a new era.
The promotions from the Saxons include Freddie Burns, Tom Youngs, Joe Launchbury, Mako Vunipola and James Haskell, who all impressed during the November Internationals, with David Strettle, Calum Clark and Billy Twelvetrees coming in from the outside.
The inclusion of Burns and Twelvetrees reflects the excellent level of understanding the Gloucester midfield combination have created in a relatively short space of time. Twelvetrees' exit from Leicester was seen as a gamble, yet more time on the pitch has seen him leapfrog former team-mate Anthony Allen.
Lancaster's initial plan when he took over as England coach was to operate with two distributors in midfield and Twelvetrees certainly fits that mould. How and when England decide to use him will be intriguing.
Burns' debut against the All Blacks was encouraging and his form in the Aviva Premiership this season warrants selection. For all the praise surrounding his playmaking skills, he is also the league's top point-scorer with 185.
Strettle's try against Sale highlighted his finishing abilities as he becomes the latest contender to try and fill what is becoming a troublesome position on the left wing. Accommodating one of Ben Foden or Mike Brown has been the preferred option in recent times but Strettle may change that mentality, whilst Christian Wade bides his time in the Saxons squad.
As for Clark, his reputation may be tainted due to the 32-week ban he received at the end of last season, but his versatility and athleticism remain assets that Lancaster admires.
The addition of Billy Vunipola to the England Saxons will be met with great anticipation after his performances for London Wasps so far this season.
The number eight will train with England during their camp in Leeds and it would be no surprise to see him involved off the bench at some point over the next two months given the impact he has made.
Beyond the senior squad, the brightest prospects in the Saxons include Worcester flanker Matt Kvesic and Wasps back Elliot Daly, with both youngsters in line to be part of England's tour of Argentina in June.
There are also two league converts with Joel Tomkins and Kyle Eastmond. Tomkins' defensive abilities and leadership in Saracens' midfield have caught the eye as he continues to adapt to Rugby Union, while Eastmond's impressive footwork has resulted in some great tries but he also has work to do, with the Saxons more likely to use him as a winger rather than in the outside centre role he fills at Bath.
A high number of changes to the EPS would have suggested that Lancaster was struggling to settle on the right squad to take England forward, but progress has been made since the first squad last year.
To drop a player such as Phil Dowson, who Lancaster has always held in high regard and led England against the Barbarians back in June, indicates that he is willing to make tough calls over personal attachment.
Expectations will rise in the coming weeks over what England will and should achieve in the Six Nations, but with a settled squad and minimal yet positive additions to the set-up, the omens are good.
by Ben Coles
@bencoles_
Comments
hellovanite says...
markpat... So give them more opportunities. Develop a game that blows the opposition away early by putting on 20 points in the first 20 mins, the great thing is that you now have a team that is capable. New Zealand do it regularly. Over recent years England have started to produce a more athletic type of forward, especially in the second and back rows. It is evident to me that SL has the balls and insight needed to sum up what's right for the team, and that sometimes means attitude, commitment and rugby intuition and not just out and out physical ability. The likes of Morgan, Wood, Robshaw, Waldrom, Clark and Dowson etc... All bode well. I like Clark very much, yes he was a bonehead, but he's done his time and quite frankly he is a really really good player, as is Launchbury. This really could be a watershed period in English rugby and I think on that point with SL at the helm you have the right man in charge. He is building a formidable team, no squad of players that have big game experience. England are certainly moving in the correct direction and should, I feel, take the triple crown with possibly Ireland proving the only hitch, France are however a sterner prospect. Should be a very interesting match up. Don't buy into all the SH posturing, we in the SH are certainly more interested in NH rugby than we have been in a long while. It's a pity that we don't get more NH teams coming down and playing games like the SH sides do in Oct/Nov up there. Certainly a Club Match between the HC and the S15 teams would be good, and no I for one would not predict a cake walk. On the Goode thing, I like him, he is an unselfish player with a real head for making the right choices, I think at Fullback he would go well with Varndell. You know it's not always a matter of a player just dotting down on the end of a move to score a try but the way they bring themselves into the game.
Posted 23:32 11th January 2013
markpat says...
My preference, would still be to have Brown/Goode, Foden and May as my back 3. All 3 can tackle, distribute, kick, catch, work in-field, plus all 3 are good finishers.
Certainly in the 6-nations, you need wingers who can defend and kick. No point having a winger who can only finish if they don't get many chances. That is the other thing about look at number of tries as it is not necessarily a reflection on the ability of the finisher, it "might" be related to the number of opportunities (or the ease) with which they are provided.
For me, Varndell and Wade are too weak defensively, but you could have them on the bench as impact players. Imagine if we had Alex Goode as fly half/centre cover and Wade or Varndell on the bench to come on.
Posted 12:53 11th January 2013
jestnation says...
Echo most of the comments so far.
The lock to back row balance looks odd but there are some versataile guys in the squad so I'm willing to see how it goes.
The Waldrom one is a bit of a mystery. I think a lot of people unfairly judge him on appearances: he's faster, smarter and more skillful than people think he is. The problem with him is he's not as fast, smart and skilful as he think he is.
If England got the Waldrom that Leicester get then I'd have no major complaints but so far his England appearances have seen him going for gaps that aren't there, running into people not through them and forcing passes that aren't on.
Billy V has a big future but I think integrating him gradually from the Saxons over the next season and a half is sensible. Given the prescence of Morgan, Haskell, Robshaw's ability to cover 8, and the stated intention to get Billy in the squad I'd have rather seen another second row than The Tank. Could have been a good time to have a look at Robson or Garvey.
As for the inclusion of Ashton and Strettle over form players like Wade, Biggs & Varndell, I can only see it as an admission that we're not sure about the balance in the back three. We're going to be looking at how to get the best out of 3 very talented fullbacks and that itself will take a bit of tinkering so maybe they figure it's not the right time to brink in newer players to the mix.
Yet again when I see the squad I see some real potential, some players starting to really bloom and some decent depth in some positions.
I then kneel, close my eyes and pray to every God in the book that Dan Cole stays fit!
Posted 12:42 11th January 2013
APV1 says...
@ hellovanite - "... like an "old boys" pie smuggler from way back,"
Nice turn of phrase.
Posted 10:47 11th January 2013
lawynd says...
@hellovanite - at last, someone who appreciates what the Tank can bring!
Posted 09:44 11th January 2013
hellovanite says...
If England are truly going to look to play an expansive game scoring tries over conversions I would have though Varndell fitted the mold nicely. It is refreshing to see an England squad with so many options, and even more in the Saxons. Even still, it is a unbelievable oversight not to have Varndell in either squad. He is a much improved defender and more importantly scores tries. Too many wasps wingers?
What Thomas Waldrom brings is a nose for the try line and significant momentum over a short distance. With him appearances can be deceiving, he may look like an "old boys" pie smuggler from way back, but he has something to offer.
Posted 07:09 11th January 2013
TVaddict says...
@ArmchairGeneral
I agree Strettle probably won't get game time but I'd still much prefer Wade. I'm pretty convinced that Wade will be starting at 14 for England's tour to Argentina so let's get him into the squad now to get used to the systems in place. Wade is younger, scoring more tries, has played at 11 as well, and is equivalent to Strettle in other skills except kicking.
Posted 14:46 10th January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
@Keybone. Perhaps I'm being harsh on Varndell. No questioning his ability to score but I'm not convinced he's going to put the tackles in and hunt and look for work although he's improved. And if you take a finisher take Wade. However you are probably right... Too many to Pick! I read the reason Stretttle got the nod is his comfort at playing 11 which beats Sharples and Varndell... But not my preference Wade. Vs Wade Strettle is good at 14. i don't think Strettle will get game time but its good squad cover. I've come around to it.
Posted 14:26 10th January 2013
Jediboy says...
Oops - pressed wrong button.
I'm not comparing him to Richard Hill, but Dowson goes about his business in a workman like manner, and a lot of his good work goes unnoticed.
That said, does he make the 1st 15? Not sure. But he's there or there abouts for me.
Posted 13:14 10th January 2013
Jediboy says...
I agree that Varndell has earned his chance at the top level, he's a prolific try scorer and its a shame he hasn't had the chance to do it in an England shirt.
Strettle, for me, provides very little, and I'd rather see Varndell, Wade or Sharples. I think Ashton is lucky thang ok to his place, he's not done much recently for England.
On Dowson, I think that a lot of his work goes unnoticed. His always consistent and works hard, but doesn't seem to get the glory. I'm not comparing him to Richard
Posted 13:12 10th January 2013
kybone says...
ArmchairGeneral- I think Varndell has more than gone the extra mile. To be fair he has never failed to make the grade with England because he's never really had the opportunity- he's only got 4 caps and actually he has 3 tries.
Posted 11:21 10th January 2013
sirtidychris says...
NHsaints
Id imagine for wade to get in the england team over strettle you would need an ex wasps coach in the england set up, just like Mako vunipola, Mourtiz Botha,Owen Farrell, Brad barrit, Chris Ashton, Alex Goode and Strettle have an ex sarries coach in the set up....its the only explanation i can find....strettle has had so many chances and has been found wanting then gets injured...time for a change.....please !
Posted 10:50 10th January 2013
lawynd says...
@NHSaints - remind me what Dowson's done lately? He's never mentioned whenever I watch a Saints game and has been pulverised by Waldrom and the Leicester back row at every meeting recently. Waldrom isn't necessarily the ultimate answer for England but he's done a sight more at club and international level than Dowson!
Posted 09:56 10th January 2013
gingergenius says...
With Clark, I was appalled by what he did to Hawkins and it did remind me of the petulant red card he got for the U20s - all in all, a bit of a nasty piece of work.
However, Lancaster's call with Launchbury seems to have been inspired. In the 6N when he was drafted into the squad, even though he was never going to get capped, I thought it was a bit of a leftfield choice. Clearly SL saw something there and it really paid off, Launchbury was one of England's standout performers in the Autumn and I really don't think another young beast, Eben Eztebeth, was any better when they met.
So with Clark I'm prepared to back Lancaster's judgement and faith. It's a little soon to talk about him for a starting place, but if he is a 'test match animal' then there is no harm having him around the squad and he will get capped shortly enough.
Those complaining about Waldrom - he and the likes of Dowson, Botha and Hodgson I think are being used as stop-gaps by Lancaster, waiting for other players to mature and be ready to take the place. If we remember, in the 6N nobody had any great suggestions for a number 8, as Morgan and Waldrom were untested and not particularly outstanding performers. So, now we know that Morgan can influence a game, and that Haskell still has a lot to bring (even from 8), we can start slowly phasing out the Dowsons and Waldroms of this world who bring good club experience even if they won't worry any opposition with their names on the teamsheet. Vunipola I'm sure, will gradually come through.
Ultimately, I think Lancaster's got England on exactly the right track, so that by 2015 we can have a fairly settled (and much more experienced by then) squad with a good backup of reserves with plenty of experience or some young tyros waiting in the wings in case of injury etc.
Posted 09:30 10th January 2013
NHsaints says...
It's a really good squad but I'm very dissapointed to see a player with the quality and commitment of Dowson dropped for the virtually talentless mass that calls itself Thomas Waldrom...otherwise my only dissapointment is in strettle being favoured over wade...I mean for GOODNESS SAKES what does he have to do to get an England selection?! Clark I'm also glad to see back, yes his record is a terrible one after 'that' incident but I don't doubt for a second his potential or skill.
Posted 21:32 09th January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Kybone: agree Varn is better. Lomu is not too smart though. I'd put Varndell as a potential JP Pieterson for England but still prefer Brown and Foden on the wings with Wade on bench. Varndell is a finisher but may get cold out on the wing waiting for the ball in the 6 nations. He'd be targeted with high ball. He should have to go the extra mile because he did not make the grade last time for England and that was more down to temperament than lack of skill.
Posted 20:58 09th January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
APV1: my thoughts exactly. Only I think one has to make the choice per campaign between new stars and Wade just beats Biggs. in the Autumn id go for Biggs and last autumn as hes a tough tackler... But Wade should get a go in 6 nations and if Wade cements his place then no need. Than means tackling the likes if Visser and North as well as making look like uncos.
Posted 20:50 09th January 2013
APV1 says...
Interesting analysis and a fair reflection too. I like that we're getting a little more stable, after the initial flux. I can't agree on all the selections, but no-one would expect me to.
Strettle should be in the Saxons at best and Varndell should be there too (even if Bendy can run rings around him to win Try of the Week!). Biggs deserves a shot at top flight Test rugby, as does Wade.
I must be missing what SL sees in Waldrom over Dowson.
Are the Saxons our nom,inated 2nd Team this season? I hope so, as it will silence any critics about eligibility once they've been capped. No, you're right, it won't. But I live in hope.
Posted 16:02 09th January 2013
kybone says...
I know i've mentioned this on a couple of threads now, but im completely baffled as to how SL, and most others commenting on his squad, seem to consider Strettle a better option than Varndell. It just doesn't make sense. He has a record of almost a try per game so far this season, plus he's not as defensively frail as some would have you believe. And yet he doesn't even get a look in, not even to the Saxons. I once read a quote by Jonah Lomu where he was saying that in his opinion Varndell would be an All Black if he was from NZ, and that England were wasting one of the most talented wingers of his generation. And actually Varndell is a better player now than he was when Lomu made those remarks.
Posted 15:10 09th January 2013