Sharples or May

Charlie Sharples form has dropped off a bit this season, while every time I see Gloucester play I am impressed by Jonny May.

So if Stuart Lancaster picks just one young Gloucester flyer in the EPS, who would you prefer?

Is there a reason he can't pick both?

Watching the premiership you would rather hope May was a certain selection if supporting England...! Sharples is quick, great season last, maybe slightly better marked this.

I hope Lancaster picks both too, and can't see why he won't!

Sharpples I would have thought is pretty much a given for Lancasters senior EPS. Hes a player Lancaster picked consistently for the Saxons sides and one he wa spushing for the WC squad.


May is flavour of the month, a center whos suddenly popped up on the wing and scored 3 tries after a period sat on the bench. Prior to this his scoring record for his club has been pretty poor.
Hes never been in the Saxons ( OK you could say thats his age, he was in age group sides) but is he suddenly ready to make the jump bypassing that stage? Hmm.

Theres a lot of comeptition for wing spots with Ashotn also a given in the starting side. As a center? Again endless options with better credentials. I suspect the dreaded "bit small for internationals" would raise its head with him too.

Wasnt everyone wetting themselves over that lad from Northampton this time last year?

which lad from Northampton was that peter?

You're right about the intense competition for places though, especially on the wings and in the center. I don't think May would be undersized for an international, at the end of the day it's all about the single player's defence. Noon was only 5'10 but he was a beast in defence, similarly with O'Driscoll who is even smaller (5'8, 5'9).

Sharples, he's got more experience. May needs a full season and some time in the Saxons first.

Was James O'Connor or George North ready to make the jump?

gowales wrote:Was James O'Connor or George North ready to make the jump?

Lack of other options being only 4 regions to choose from.

Was Matthew Tait?

True but also because the coaches saw potential

I would put May in the Saxons for the moment...or leave him with GLos to continue his development....

We have enough quality backs for the EPS....and they're all young aswell...

It's tempting to see May's youthful exuberance and confidence and want to include him, but I'd rather see him in the Saxons at the moment. I don't necessarily think he is too small to play in the centre either. At 6ft 1in and 14 stone plus he could probably just about hold his own. Ultimately he is only 21 and will naturally fill out over the next few years too. (Hopefully not too much though!).

Although to contradict myself, if the main EPS was a bit more settled I could really run with the idea of him as a bolter.

Is Sharples actually comfortable playing on the left wing? Most of us are agreed that Ashton is nailed on for one wing slot and he plays much better when on the right but every time I've seen Sharples play for the Cherries he's also played on the right (or fullback occasionally) with JSD on the left wing. Not all wingers can play 11 or 14 equally and most have at least a preference for one or the other.

If this is the case then it's a lot to ask a player to make their international debut in a position they are not comfortable with.

B91212 wrote:Is Sharples actually comfortable playing on the left wing? Most of us are agreed that Ashton is nailed on for one wing slot and he plays much better when on the right but every time I've seen Sharples play for the Cherries he's also played on the right (or fullback occasionally) with JSD on the left wing. Not all wingers can play 11 or 14 equally and most have at least a preference for one or the other.

If this is the case then it's a lot to ask a player to make their international debut in a position they are not comfortable with.

Well he made his England debut off the bench at 13.

Most likely England are looking for someone to take on Cuetos role as a second fullback-cum-wing, Sharples has the attributes for that.

May might be a good bench option with Burns. Between them they cover the entire backline. Lancaster tended to go for the utility options on the bench with the Saxons.

^PSW; I thought Sharples came on for Tuilagi but moved onto the wing and banahan played at 13?

If Jonny May is too small for internationals, then so too are Sharples, Trinder, Farrell, Flood & Ashton, not to mention all the SHs.

May - 6'1" & 14st2lbs
Sharples - 6' & 14st8lbs
Trinder - 6' & 13st5lbs
Farrell - 6'2" & 14st2lbs
Flood - 6'2" 14st5lbs
Ashton - 6' 14st7lbs

niwatts wrote:If Jonny May is too small for internationals, then so too are Sharples, Trinder, Farrell, Flood & Ashton, not to mention all the SHs.

May - 6'1" & 14st2lbs
Sharples - 6' & 14st8lbs
Trinder - 6' & 13st5lbs
Farrell - 6'2" & 14st2lbs
Flood - 6'2" 14st5lbs
Ashton - 6' 14st7lbs

They are all around my height and weight when I played (at an extremely lower than low level admittedly, plus I was very crap) and I played in the backrow. Goes to show how much bigger players have become in the last 10 years that we are discussing that a player may be too small at over 6' and 14st!

I'd like to see May settle in one position first. I think long-term a Glos midfield of Burns at 10, May at 12 and Trinder at 13 looks very good going forward, but I'm not sure how it would go in defence.

It's a toughie. May is arguably in better form at the moment and, believe it or not, is actually faster than Sharples. I agree that he needs to settle on a position though; Sharples is an out and out winger and must get the nod.

Been very unimpressed with Sharples this season after a belting one last year. I'd get May involved asap, that boy has serious talent.

bluestonevedder wrote:^PSW; I thought Sharples came on for Tuilagi but moved onto the wing and banahan played at 13?

Quite possibly the case Im happy to be corrected, it would make sense.

I agree both should get a look in, i dont buy into this stuff about a player needing to have a full season in the premiership before we give them a chance internationally, other nations put in their young talented players and see what they can do, it seems to work pretty well (North and OConnor to name 2)
Maybe if Sharples had gone to the world cup while he was in awesome form last season he would of had a stormer of a tournament and his form may not of dipped this season because of the experience he picked up there, we will never know now but why wait before giving May (or even Wade) a chance?