England Centre's

If you had to pick four from the following options for the upcoming six nations, who would you choose and why?

Riki Flutey (31) Shontayne Hape (30) Brad Barritt (25) Matt Banahan (24) Anthony Allen (25) Jordan Turner-Hall (23) Olly Barkley (29), Owen Farrell (20) Manu Tuilagi (20) Jonathan Joseph (20) Dom Waldouck (24) Henry Trinder (22) George Lowe (21) Billy Twelvetrees (22)

I would probably select Manu, Jonathan Joseph, Trinder and Twelvetrees. Although interestingly thats 2 center/ wingers, 1 fly half/center and only one out and out center. Only a few seasons ago i would have had JTH in there as well but i havent seen a lot from him recently to warrant a selection.

Manu, Banahan, Barkley and Twelvetrees. In no particular order.

Barritt, Tuilagi, Trinder & Twelvetrees.

I'd then select Farrell as the third FH and Joseph would take one of the 5 back three places as a wing/centre.

Barritt & Tuilagi would be first choice and Joseph would be a strong candidate as a bench option.

What about Tindall?

Brad Barritt
Anthony Allen
Manu Tuilagi
stuck for the last spot. England gots 12s, need another 13, eh?

Jonny May

I reckon England will pick

Flutey and Barritt

Banahan and Tuilagi

*With Farrell as a 10/12 and possibly Joseph as an option at 13 and wing.

Barritt, Tuilagi, Trinder, Joseph.

With Farrell also in the squad as 3rd 10/centre cover.

Won't happen though.

Johnno will go with Hape/Flutey, Bananaman, Tuilagi and one other, most likely 36 or Trinder.

Barritt and Tuilagi for now, Trinder and Lowe for the future

England have a lot of potential at 13 - Tuilagi, Joseph, Lowe, Trinder. MJ really needs to try to identify who he thinks is going to make it and give them some exposure to top level international rugby.

I would be interested to see JTH play with Tuilangi. Otherwise Allen and Tuilangi.

Starting
12 Barritt 13 Tuilagi

Squad
12 Allen - Has the skills to cover 13 if required

Then its either George Lowe...or if Twelvetrees does well in Allens injury absence...stick him in as a wildcard who has those moments of brilliance....

Barritt, Tuilagi, Jospeh and Trinder/Twelvetrees (Trinder has been playing very well, shading Lowe in my opinion, whom he seems to have a touch more class in terms of running lines over, but makes more sense to have 2 ICs and pick Twelvetrees).

Allen is meant to be out for another 3 months, so even if he makes it back in time for the beginning of the 6N, he would have had next to no game time this season. I really don't think he can seriously be considered for a place.

Barrit, Tualaghi, Trinder Jth.

JTH was touted to be an english international at the beginning of his emergence: what happened? Each time I have seen him I have been impressed, and I think he and Tuilangi would be a very formidable centre partnership.

Sadly, Lowe will be out for 2-8 weeks after last night's game. I'd like to see JTH given a shot. He's in excellent form

"Allen is meant to be out for another 3 months"

Ah i didnt realise thought it was only a month he was out.

"Sadly, Lowe will be out for 2-8 weeks after last night's game"

Ah bad news....guess its trinder then.

My picks would be.
12. Barritt 13. Tuilagi.
Farell (back up 10/12), Trinder & Josepth in the squad.

However, know MJ we will probably get
12. Hape 13. Tuilagi
Flutey & Banahan

The analysis I've seen of JTH before compared to Barritt & Allen is that he gets turned over surprisingly often and that he relies too much on his carrying, not distributing enough. If I remember rightly, last season he carried twice as often as he passed (so about 30%), whereas Barritt passed the same percentage as he carried (50%) and Allen passed about 40% of the time.

JTh took a long while to get his confidence back after dislocating his shoulder 18 months back. His form at the end of last season and particularly the start of this is much better.

Tuilagi, Trinder, Twelvetrees, Jon Clarke

The stats from this season suggest similar traits.

Comparing him to Barritt, they've both played 8 matches, JTH has passed 33% of ball and been turned over 9 times (1 in 7 carries), Barritt has passed 46% of ball and been turned over 5 times (1 in 14 carries).

Tuilagi, Trinder, Twelvetrees, Jon Clarke

Tuilagi, Barritt, Trinder, May

EnglishReign wrote:Tuilagi, Barritt, Trinder, May

Tom May is quality but i think maybe just a little late now. Lots of youngsters coming through...maybe stick with them now....

Although with a huge gap at 10....maybe an understudy role to Flood

Is everyone agreed that the Banahan trial should be put to bed....

no, no that tindall has gone hes like a younger fitter, faster, bigger center who can actually pass the ball and offload in the tackle.

He now has experience playing in hostile international games, at the very least he deserves to be in the EPS and will be a good foil to Tuilagi, they can tag team the crash ball stuff keeping the opposition away from ganging up on Manu.

Thats the idea anyway, but it won't happen, unless Jonno stays as he clearly sees something in Hape and Banahan in training that the rest of us don't

It's an easy one for me.

12. Barritt
13. Tuilagi

Barritt runs the Sarries midfield so would have the organisational skills to keep Tuilagi in line. Barritt is both a solid unit in terms of carries, but also combines that with soft hands which would enable Tuilagi to find some space. Tuilagi is one of the most destructive runners in the English game, and outside Flood and Barritt could find the sort of space he craved at the WC, and with Ashton and Short/Sharples on the wings and Foden at 15, would have the sort of support runners to work with him.

I agree with ExiledScot, for me it's:

12. Barritt
13. Tuilagi

With JTH and Trinder/Joseph as back-ups for these positions.

4 centres

Inside centre: Barritt and Allen
Outside centre:Tuilagi and Trinder

Farrell in the squad somewhere.

Hopefully Turner-Hall can make the step up this season and return to the form he had a few seasons back because when he gets the bit between his teeth there are few 12's that can match him for raw power, and he's not slow either.

Quite a few injuries at 12 making it hard to judge the right back-up to Barritt (who is miles ahead of the rest at the moment). Twelvetrees, Allen and Barkley all out and for me, all good contenders for the 12 jersey.

13 is suddently quite an exciting contest now that Tindall is on the naughty step. Tuilagi would be my first choice but behind him are several exciting options in Trinder and Joseph, and people should not forget about Dan Hipkiss. He was very sharp and impressive against Glasgow and a less biased judge than Scott Hastings would possibly have named him MOTM. He did not deserve to be on the losing side and his power and ability to stay on his feet would serve England nicely, especially the likes of Croft and Ashton who love running onto offloads.

England should not neglect the "older" players like Charlie Hodgson, Ryan Lamb, Ollie Barkley and Dan Hipkiss. Rob Andrew thinks there's a "missing generation", but personally I think these guys should not be overlooked.

Scott Hastings = biased? That's slander!!



fES, check you PMs pls

GeordieFalcon wrote:

EnglishReign wrote:Tuilagi, Barritt, Trinder, May

Tom May is quality but i think maybe just a little late now. Lots of youngsters coming through...maybe stick with them now....

Although with a huge gap at 10....maybe an understudy role to Flood

Is everyone agreed that the Banahan trial should be put to bed....

I actually meant 21 year old Jonny May! I'm a biased sod but I just think he's brilliant. Can't remember him not getting past at least one man against Toulouse on every break he made.

Ha ha...see the Falcons bias in me coming out there....

Geordiefalcon to answer your question yes the Banahan trial should be laid to rest.

Agreed. I think Banahan can offer a lot on the wing when used correctly but is just too stilted at centre, especially at 12. He might work well there at club level but at international level his skill set is too narrow.

When Barkley returns to full fitness, I think we'll see Bath with the following backline, which will see Banahan back on the wing:

9. Claasens
10. Donald
11. Banahan
12. Barkley
13. Hipkiss
14. Biggs
15. Abendannon

That is a serious backline, and Bath should prosper once that lot comes together.

I think I'd pick:

IC Barritt, Farrell
OC, Tuilagi, Trinder

With Banahan in the squad somewhere too.

Is everyone agreed that the Banahan trial should be put to bed....

No – he's had one crap game for England (away against Wales) when plenty of other players were also crap. Other than that he's played well when given a chance, and scored too.

He's a good young English player who has performed at GP, HC and international level. Powerful in attack and defence. Probably gets the most undeserved stick of any English player.

Eustace you forget the crap game Banahan had against Ireland away in the 6 nations as a centre.

Has Banahan performed at HC lvl?

Banahan might be considered as a winger but with so many contenders popping up in the centres....

Eustace you forget the crap game Banahan had against Ireland away in the 6 nations as a centre.

True – he was basically anonymous in that game, but there were plenty worse England backs on display that nobody (including myself) is calling to be dropped, such as Ben Youngs. Not a bad performance compared to the rest of the team.

I think he's a good, young, exciting 12. I genuinely don't know why everybody else doesn't. I'd still put Farrell and Barritt ahead of him for the 6N mind.

Anthony Allen
Jordan Turner-Hall
Manu Tuilagi
Dom Waldouck
Henry Trinder
Billy Twelvetrees

Any of the above, all better than a Hape & Tindall pairing, we all saw it so why didn't MJ and Co?

And Banahan doing some good stuff in the HC. I know a couple of clips don't mean much but...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id1a4uYdDcU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzHO-gEeLyQ&feature=related
(ridiculous card)

True Eustace most were rubbish that day. Well saying that Youngs has been in poor form for some time bar a good 20 minute cameo against a knackered Argentinian team. I would still keep him in the squad though.

I have the theory that the England management takes promising players in good form and essentially ruins them.

Is it a coincidence that Ashton and Foden are playing well again now they are back at Saints?

I just don't see Banahan as a 12 personally!

Sorry Bath BTGOG but aren't most of them injured?

You certainly couldn't have picked a crocked Waldouck for the world cup squad! Certainly not a 2nd choice centre for his club with virtually no experience (Twelvetrees). He's injured now too. Allen could have but is currently crocked now. Trinder - too inexperienced when the world cup squad was announced. JTH is not as good as Allen or Barritt anyway.

Manu Tuilagi obviously went but his temperament is questionable.

I have the theory that the England management takes promising players in good form and essentially ruins them.

Is it a coincidence that Ashton and Foden are playing well again now they are back at Saints?

I actually thought Foden was good at the WC.

Youngs has had his fair share of poor games for Tigers over the past year too. I'm hoping it's more injuries that have disrupted his development. It is a bit worrying. Fingers crossed he'll come back on Saturday, tear Ulster a new one and all will be well and good with the world again.

My Choice would be 12: Tuilagi and 13: Trinder.

Tuilagi busting the holes and Trinder picking up the offloads along with Ashton and Sharples.

Everytime I have watched Trinder play he has been great. On Sunday his hands where great (Sharples Try), Defense was good and showed good speed to finish off his try.

Would be a good balance to the centres. Also looking toward RWC15

Playing Tuilagi out of position would be silly and needless. If you want him as a 12 then he needs to play there first for Leicester before England, and with Allen and Twelvetrees in the squad I don't think that's likely.

Agreed on Trinder though. A superb prospect.

leachy15 why move Tuilagi?

Tuilagi is an outside centre, Flood is a fly half,Monye is a winger, Banahan is a winger. Let's not please shunt people around for the sake of it.

Is Trinder so much better than Tuilagi at outside centre that Tuilagi needs to move?

Eustace agree about Youngs. Hope he comes good.

FES

I too would love to see Tuilagi at 12....HOWEVER

Surely with him being so young, we should let him enjoy his game at 13, where he was Englands stand out player in the WC.....

Especially when we have Barritt a proven classy 12, who will compliment him well. A real bruising yet talented midfield that we have been sorely missing.

If in the future Tuilagi is seen as a 12 then fair enough....

A Backline of :

9 Youngs / Care
10 Flood
11 Wade / Sharple
12 Barritt
13 Tuilagi
14 Ashton
15 Foden

could cause some serious headaches for the opposition.....

Agree Geordie. That looks like a good backline.

Bias comes into play but I think some more focus should be for James Short for the wing. Keep an eye out for him.

Farrell has been getting all the headlines but IMO Short was the MOM against Treviso.

Beshocked....to be fair the wing position is a luxury for England....

Short , Wade
Sharples , Banahan
Ashton , Monye
Ojo , JSD
Cueto, Varndell (?)
Strettle
etc etc

Very true Geordie.