With only a matter of
hours to go before Stuart Lancaster announces his squad for the
fast-approaching Six Nations, Alex Hawksworth-Brookes and Alex Dodd talk
through the teams they want to see line up at the Millenium Stadium in a couple
of weeks, before leaving cloud-cuckoo land with an “Expected XV”.
Alex
Hawksworth-Brookes' Wanted XV:
1 Joe Marler
The Harlequins captain faces some stiff competition with the
return of Alex Corbisiero, but a strong run in the Autumn and proven match
fitness see him get the nod for a starting position.
2 Rob Webber
Consistency at the set piece is essential for any team to
achieve dominance and the Bath hooker will bring that much-needed dependability
at the scrum and lineout.
3 Kieran Brookes
If you needed any reassurance that the Newcastle prop was a
star in the making, you need look no further than the fact that he has just
been signed by Premiership champions Northampton Saints. Injuries to more
established players and a strong Autumn would see Brookes start in my XV.
4 George Kruis
Injuries to Lawes and Launchbury mean that the Saracens man
has a chance to build on his Autumn appearances. The impending return of more
established players and the chance of sneaking into the World Cup squad should
give Kruis a great incentive to deliver some titanic performances.
5 Dave Atwood
Atwood has been at the heart of a powerful Bath pack this
season and will need to bring equal levels of intensity against Wales. With
Parling on the bench whilst his injury, Atwood will be instrumental at the
lineout.
6 Chris Robshaw (C)
It’s hard to imagine an England team without Robshaw at its
heart – although he’s seldom the most flamboyant of players, his tireless
work-rate and leadership are essential parts of Stuart Lancaster’s setup.
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| Chris Robshaw is the beating heart of this England team |
7 James Haskell
The Wasps captain has had a real resurgence this season, and
has been at the heart of a powerful and exciting team who are on the verge of
heading into knock-out European rugby. Tom Wood is unfortunate to miss out, but
Haskell will bring a more physical edge.
8 Thomas Waldrom
Billy Vunipola and Nick Easter have both been putting in
impressive performances, and Ben Morgan would have been a shoe-in had he not
been injured, but it’s hard to argue for the omission of the Premiership’s
leading try scorer. Yes, that statistic is correct.
9 Joe Simpson
It’s highly unlikely the Wasps scrum half will even get a
call up, with Care, Youngs, and Wigglesworth all ahead in the pecking order.
However, Simpson has been in fine domestic form, and his sniping runs will
bring some much-needed impetus to England’s attack.
10 George Ford
There should be no argument here; the Bath 10 has been one
of the standout players in the Premiership. Ford’s intelligence and flair will
be key to unlocking well-drilled opposition defences.
11 Jonny May
One of the greatest performers from the Autumn campaign – if
the Gloucester flyer can continue his skyrocketing form on the international
arena then England fans will be incredibly happy. Let’s hope that his
crab-running days are well and truly done.
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| Jonny May will be hoping to add to his Autumn tries |
12 Luther Burrell
Unlucky to miss out in the Autumn, now is the time for
Burrell to demonstrate why he was first choice this time last year. With Ford
on the inside and Jonathan Joseph outside, the Northampton Saint will bring
some essential muscle and direct running.
13 Jonathan
Joseph
If single-handedly undoing the Toulouse defence isn’t enough
to get this man into the England team, then nothing will. Undoubtedly one of
the most exciting players in the Premiership at the moment.
14 Jack Nowell
A return from injury has seen the Exeter winger reach new
heights. As dependable in defence as ever, he’s also been in fine try-scoring
form.
15 Anthony Watson
Were it not for a season-ending injury at the weekend, I
would have had Ben Foden lining up at 15. However, one man’s pain is another
man’s gain, and there are few more exciting than Bath’s Antony Watson.
16 Alex
Corbisiero
It’s great to see the Lion Corbisiero back to full fitness,
but he’ll need some strong cameo performances to win back his starting spot.
17 David Wilson
Prop is one of England’s most competitive positions, but
Davey Wilson gets the bench spot on the back of strong domestic and
international outings. He’s also handy to have around for when clearance kicks
are called for:
18 Dylan Hartley
Disciplinary concerns aside, the Saints captain is one of
the best hookers around, and will be desperate to prove that he can keep his
cool at the highest level.
19 Geoff Parling
Another man on the return from injury. Once instrumental to
England’s lineout, the Leicester Tiger will be looking to prove he is still an
integral part of the pack.
20 Billy Vunipola
After an earlier dip in form, the Saracens 8 looks to be
back to his best, and will need to be if he’s to fight off the competition for
the starting jersey.
21 Danny Care
He hasn’t been completely on song recently, but if the
Harlequin can rediscover his best form England’s back line will get some
much-needed go-forward.
22 Henry Slade
It seems only a matter of time before this man makes his
full England debut, having played against the Barbarians last summer. His
versatility allows him to cover fly-half and centre from the bench.
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| Is now the time for Henry Slade to make his full England debut? |
23 Mike Brown
This time last year, Mike Brown seemed undroppable, but he
has struggled to reach the incredible heights that saw him named 2014’s man of
the series.
Alex Dodd's Wanted XV
15 Mike Brown
Would keep his place partly down to memories of his
performance/ form in last year's Six Nations tournament and partly down to Ben
Foden's unfortunate injury, received whilst playing for Northampton against
Ospreys. Brown at his best is mercurial but hasn't come close to that form
since the end of last year's competition. Here's hoping he rediscovers it by
the 6th of February.
14 Anthony Watson
Since getting his first start in the autumn he has as looked
at home in an England shirt. Added to which, question marks still remain over
Christian Wade's defence. Watson, therefore, gets my vote for the 14 shirt.
13 Jonathan
Joseph
Would you really want to question Joseph's inclusion? Watch
this and say no more.
12 Luther Burrell
Burrell was the find of the tournament for England last year
and his bulk and physicality will prove to be a huge asset against Wales's huge
power runners in the opening game.
11 Jonny May
His scintillating try against New Zealand in November was
arguably the best try scored in an England shirt for some time and shows there
really is nothing like out and out pace in order to get defences scarpering. In
my mind, May has more than earned his place in the team against Wales.
10 George Ford
Hailed as the England backline's saviour last autumn, after
finally getting them firing against Australia, Ford has been pivotal to Bath's
flair this season and hopefully can replicate it in the White of England.
9 Joe Simpson
Sadly Simpson is unlikely to make the squad in what is a
hotly contested position for England. His pace however means he'd outgun most
outside backs in a footrace and has been in exceptional form, in what has been
a renaissance year for Wasps.
8 Billy Vunipola
After taking the number 8 position for the national side by
storm, Vunipola is another who, of late, hasn't quite reached the same heights
of form. He can count himself incredibly lucky that Ben Morgan's awful injury
happened when it did, as he'd almost certainly have lost the starting spot
after the autumn tests. That said, his powerful display against Munster last
weekend resulting in ‘the man of the match award,’ could not have come at a
better time. Fingers crossed he can sustain that kind of ability for the next
year.
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| Billy Vunipola may be set for a recall to the starting XV |
7 Chris Robshaw
(C)
Robshaw is unlikely to ever catch the headlines like many of
his international opposition at openside but few can doubt his commitment in
the 7 shirt. Always near the top end of statistics for tackles made and ball
carries so expect the same after the final whistle is blown in Cardiff.
6 James Haskell
Being appointed captain for his club side seems to have
rejuvenated Haskell's performances. He appears to be playing near his best pre
2011 form. Abrasive, physical and now not afraid to get his hands dirty either,
he is likely to be on the bench for the 6th of February but for my mind
deserves the starting spot.
5 Geoff Parling
2013 Lion, lineout guru and perhaps the only man in an
England shirt who could still hold his head high after the drubbing his
countrymen received in the corresponding fixture two years ago. Not a bad
replacement for the injured Courtney Lawes.
4 Dave Attwood
Would likely have missed out on a starting spot had
Launchberry been fit, but, few can deny that Attwood has been on fire this
season. Lancaster can thank his stars at the surplus of talent to draw from in
the tight 5 especially given the number of injuries.
3 David Wilson
Solid in the scrum and increasingly useful in the loose,
Wilson needs a big game if he's finally going to shake off the stigma of
keeping Dan Cole's shirt warm and retain it for himself come the world
cup.
2 Dylan Hartley
Hartley may be fresh from the naughty step, but, for my mind
no one has yet proven themselves worthy of the number two shirt and for this
reason, he retains it in my team.
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| Question marks still remain about Dylan Hartley's discipline |
1 Joe Marler
Newly appointed Quins captain and ever entertaining in the
post-match interviews, Marler has shaken off his frailty in the scrum and is
another who seems to grow game by game. For this he retains his shirt even
after the return of the man in the 16 jersey.
Reserves
16 Alex
Corbisiero
A welcome return to the test arena, but, he needs a strong
performance off the bench to retain his shirt.
17 Dan Cole
2013 Lion and one of World's best when firing. A shoe in.
18 Rob Webber
Really does need a big game if he's to claim the hooker
position for himself.
19 George Kruis
In the match day 23, mainly down to the injuries at lock,
but, I’m sure he will make a handy replacement for the regulars in the
meantime.
20 Steffon
Armatige
Another addition unlikely to be included, but, if winning
ERC player of the year wasn't enough for Lancaster to invoke the
"exceptional circumstances" clause then perhaps scoring a hat-trick
at the weekend, combined also with Ben Morgan's untimely injury, he just might
get the call-up.
21 Ben Youngs
Another player entrusted with the Captaincy at club level
who seems to be finding something near their best form again. Danny Care's dip
in performance has allowed a resurgent Young’s back into the frame for
international duty.
22 Danny Cipriani
Cipriani would well be starting in my mind if we'd perhaps
seen more of him at international level last year. At his best there's no fly
half like him in England and he's been a pleasure to watch in a Sale shirt this
season. Alas we could be witnessing his last season in the premiership as he's
likely to be overlooked yet again by an England management desperate to avoid
another 2011 style PR disaster.
 |
| With interest from French clubs building, it's now or never for Danny Cipriani |
23 Kyle Eastmond,
Quite frankly Eastmond has been outstanding this season and
needs to be squeezed into the match day 23 wherever he can be.
Expected Match Day
23
15. Mike Brown, 14. Anthony Watson, 13. Luther Burrell, 12.
Brad Barritt, 11. Jonny May, 10. George Ford, 9. Ben Youngs, 8. Billy Vunipola,
7. Chris Robshaw, 6. Tom Wood, 5. Geoff Parling, 4. Dave Attwood, 3. David
Wilson, 2. Dylan Hartley, 1. Joe Marler.
Reserves
16. Alex Corbisiero, 17. Dan Cole, 18. Rob Webber, 19.
George Kruis, 20. Ben Youngs, 21. Owen Farrell, 22. James Haskell, 23. Marland
Yarde.
