Best players in the AP - English - Top 3

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What would be your list of top 3 players in each position in the AP? (6 for locks,props and wingers). In order that you rate.

Props - Cole,Stevens,Corbisierio,PDJ,Sheridan,Marler

Hookers - Hartley,Thompson,Mears

2nd Row - Lawes,Deacon,Attwood,Botha,Borthwick,Kennedy

Blindsides - Croft,Robshaw,Johnson

Opensides - Moody,Wood,Saull

No 8 - Easter, Dowson,Narraway

Scrum halves - Youngs,Care,Wigglesworth/Simpson

Fly halves - Flood,Hodgson,Farrell

Inside centres - Barritt,Allen,JTH

Outside centres - Tindall,Tuilagi,Lowe

Wingers - Ashton,Strettle,JSD,Monye,Sharples,Short

Full backs - Foden,Goode,Brown

No overrated players in my list.

Strangely enough this would be my England squad though obviously Palmer and Wilkinson would slot in.

What would be your list?

Tight head - Cole,PDJ,Stevens

Loosehead- Corbisiero,Marler

Hookers - Hartley,Gray,Webber

2nd Row - Lawes,Robson,

Blindsides - Croft,Robshaw,Johnson

Opensides - Wood,

No 8 - Fearns,Easter, York

Scrum halves - Youngs,Simpson,Dickson

Fly halves - Flood,Hodgson,Farrell

Inside centres - Barritt,Allen,JTH

Outside centres - Tuilagi,Lowe,Trinder

Wingers - Ashton,Sharples,Wade,Short,Benjamin,Strettle

Full backs - Foden,Brown,Morgan

The left out names are where I don't have a bloody clue.

Are there really so few decent 2nd rows?

No outstanding ones. We have some alright like ones like Kitchener,Parling,Botha,Kennedy,Borthwick and Garvey but no special players.

Wood isn't really an openside though is he? I know he has been wearing 7 this year for the Saints, but he is out of position at 7. Would make more sense putting him at 6 and Robshaw at 7.

That openside who came on for quins has impressed me when i've seen him play, think his names wallace and hes only about 19. In the wasps game i remember him making a tackle and stripping the ball cleanly before handing it back to a team mate all in the space of about 3 seconds. He also linked up well with others and had a few good carries. Nutley at saints also impressed in the time he was on against tigers, not sure which side he plays though but i think its at 6, also only about 19. 2 for the future hopefully.

I remember seeing Kitchener and Marler playing for the saxons last year sometime. They and simpson daniel looked a couple of levels above everyone else on the pitch. Was really hoping to see Kitchener kick on this year but hasn't quite managed it, hopefully he should start to shine next year. Marler is exceptional in the loose but my god does he need to learn how to scrummage! Part of my thinking of getting him in the squad is so that Rowntree can sort him out. Would make a great impact sub during the last 20 and if he can learn to scrum we may get our own version of jenkins which would be nice!! Mullan might be worth a look at as well, solid in the scrum and decent in the loose.

Second row is a lot like most of the positions - a lot of players available of similar abilities, but none that are outstanding.

Including those named by beshocked any of teh following could be in EPS/Saxons squads and be no worse than people left out:

Robson, Botha, Borthwick, Kennedy, Garvey, Attwood, Brown, Hudson, Lawes, Parling, Deacon, Kitchener, Slater, Gaskell

You've always got Hudson and Swinson at Newcastle....

I mentioned Hudson

GeordieFalcon wrote:You've always got Hudson and Swinson at Newcastle....

I take it that the other 13 leave them down?

Wood isn't really an openside though is he? I know he has been wearing 7 this year for the Saints, but he is out of position at 7. Would make more sense putting him at 6 and Robshaw at 7..

I'd say Wood is by far the more stereotypical 7, he's much more likely to have his hands in the ruck trying to slow/steal the ball. Robshaw is almost like an upgraded Worsley (the tackling machine with hands and better acceleration). You can stick Robshaw where you like because he'll get through all the dog work in the same way and still support when he can.

I think half the problem is that the only real 7 we have plays in France! Haskell, Fearns, Robshaw, Wood all have great potential, but are any of them true opensides? The only one I can think of is Saull, but he is way down the pecking order at Sarries

You seem to have a few young options coming through though, such as Wallace and Kvesic etc, which will be a few years yet but it is better than nothing. Ireland don't have anyone at 7 coming through it seems.

I'd give Parling a crack in the second row. He has been excellent this season, but has unfortunately picked up another injury...

Would like to see Burns in the mix after watching Glos v Leic. Wallace and Joseph also impressive.

I am somewhat late coming to this, but have been banging on for years about this - Nick Wood is the best English loosehead and far better than those tightheads who have been shoe horned over! His form this season has been excellent. Rant over!