Rugby Union - England announce Six Nations Squad

Tyler Durden

England have announced their squad for the forthcoming Six Nations tournament, which is as follows -

Backs: Balshaw (Gloucester), Cipriani (Wasps), Cueto (Sale Sharks), Flood (Newcastle), Gomarsall (Harlequins), Hodgson (Sale Sharks), Noon (Newcastle), Richards (London Irish), Sackey (Wasps), Strettle (Harlequins), Tait (Newcastle), Tindall (Gloucester), Wigglesworth (Sale), Wilkinson (Newcastle), Vainikolo (Gloucester)

Forwards: Borthwick (Bath), Croft (Leicester), Chuter (Leicester), L Deacon (Leicester), Easter (Harlequins), Haskell (Wasps), Kay (Leicester), Mears (Bath), Moody (Leicester), Payne (Wasps), Rees (Wasps), Regan (Bristol), Shaw (Wasps), Sheridan (Sale), Stevens (Bath), Vickery (Wasps, capt), Worsley (Wasps)

I'm personally not happy at the inconclusion of Vainokolo. I'm sure that, if fit, he will be a wonderful addition (especially at Six Nations level) however I have an issue with players representing the country that they merely "reside" in. In the example of somebody like Mike Catt, who had a parent that was English and a family of anglophiles, I can pretty much accept it. This inclusion pushes the legitimacy too far (imo).

There are some good inclusions. I'm pleased to see Strettle back. Pleased also to see Gomarsall, Shaw and Regan retained (for now) and not dropped just because of their age. I've not seen enough of Lewsey this season to know if his de-selection is justified. Farrell is an experiment (an expensive one) that was always doomed to failure and has finally, seemingly, been written off.

But I'm particularly unhappy with Noon keeping his place in the squad. The guy is a junior Mike Tindall and not even a good one at that. England's performances usually (and the World Cup was yet another example) improve when he get's dropped or injured! It would seem that Hipkiss must be injured (to not be selected....if he's not then this error in selection is even graver). Even without Hipkiss and trying to think of Tait as a full back, Ollie Smith or even Lewsey or James Simpson-Daniel would have been much better outside centre picks than Noon.

Personally I'm also unhappy to see Balshaw and Hodgson back in. Both guys are blessed with talent, but Balshaw has broken down on every single occasion he's been pushed forward internationally and at 28 is never going to be the player he should have become. I would have preferred Tait at full back with Abendanon as cover. Hodgson is a truly excellent premiership player, but his nerve at Test level has repeatedly been found wanting. We have such a plethora of young fly halves not in the squad (Geraghty, Barkley, Lamb) that to include Hodgson on the basis of him being cover for Wilkinson is meaningless. At least Cipriani got in.

Anyway they are my thoughts!!

The Phantom

Pretty much what I expected really apart from the inclusion of Vainikolo. I must admit I rarely watch English clubs unless it’s in the Heineken or EDF Cups so I don’t know who’s got into the side on current form or what not.

I did see Vainikolo in pre-season and to be honest I wasn’t impressed at all. In the test match arena he will be found out. All he is is a powerful runner. When put on the defensive by Rhys Williams (Cardiff Blues player) he was turned inside out. I think it’s far too soon for him to be involved in even the training squad. Most rugby league converts in recent seasons haven’t worked. Andy Farrell, Henry (or was it Robbie?) Paul, and Iestyn Harris have all under whelmed, and not lived up to the expectations thrust upon them. It’s no coincidence either that they’ve all been thrown in at the deep end and picked for the international squad straight away.

Why isn’t Tom Varndell in the squad? I’ve always thought he was a big threat to any side, and I expected him to be in.

Tyler Durden

Yes, I'd go with Varndell too who's clearly been in the gym and sorted out some of his defensive frailties this season as well.

I think the pure comedy of Vainokolo running at Shane Williams is our only positive out of this!

I will say that if any position of a rugby league player converting to union is moderately succesful it does tend to be the wingers. All the most noticeable failures have been in the decision making areas of the teams.

I've also been told Hipkiss has been dropped for Noon which is a shocking travesty.

The Phantom

I've just had a look at the Saxons Squad (why they call it that I do not know... just call it the A side!) and Varndell, Hipkiss, Simpson-Daniel and Geraghty are all involved in that side. I wouldn't be suprised to see all of them come into the main squad. Vainikolo should have been in the Saxons squad, at least it's a smaller step up from club rugby.

Shane will skin Vainikolo seven ways from Sunday, and you know it :P

I'm going to watch the Blues vs. Quins on Friday night, so I'll run my eye over Easter, Gomarsall and Strettle.

Tyler Durden

Like any of them will put out their "A Games" in an EDF match!!

As for the Saxons, I like the make up of that squad. That excites me much more!

The Phantom

It's Heiniken Cup! Not the EDF rubbish!

Tyler Durden

They may grace you with 75% effort then, which should be good enough!!

The Phantom

Oh I hope not, we're top with Bristol, so we need all the help we can get to go through to the QFs.

The Phantom

After watching Balshaw this evening against the Ospreys, I am scratching my head, and thinking why his he in the squad?