england saxons team for scotland a match

wood brooker doran-jones
slater robson
gaskell saull
johnson
spencer lamb
twelvetrees joseph
may monye
abendadon gray,harden,myall,seymour,hodgson,burns,benjimen

England Saxons team to face Scotland A

15 Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby)
14 Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
13 Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
12 Billy Twelvetrees (Leicester Tigers)
11 Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
10 Ryan Lamb (Northampton Saints)
9 Ben Spencer (Saracens)

1 Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby)
2 Chris Brooker (Harlequins)
3 Paul Doran-Jones (Northampton Saints)
4 Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers)
5 George Robson (Harlequins)
6 James Gaskell (Sale Sharks, captain)
7 Andy Saull (Saracens)
8 Tom Johnson (Exeter)

Replacements
16 Joe Gray (Harlequins)
17 Rupert Harden (Gloucester Rugby)
18 Kearnan Myall (Sale Sharks)
19 David Seymour (Sale Sharks)
20 Paul Hodgson (London Irish)
21 Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
22 Miles Benjamin (Worcester Warriors)

Yeah interesting that Garvey is not there at all after a good performance...and TOm Johnson is at No.8...

I guess with Johnson they must have figured theres a limit to the number of speacilist 8s they have need for. The first 6 choices in that position (Dowson, Morgan, Robshaw, Narraway, The Hutt, Haskell) are either injured, unvaulable or with the senior squad ( plus Crane injured might have been in the mix and Easter as emergency could step in anytime cover) so is there really any value in playing an out and out 8 whos a nuclear holocaust away from the first team?
Instead they are focussed on developing a ball winning 7, with Saull and Johnson two of the players up for this. They are both given gametime, one out of position, instead of a plyer that Lancaster isnt really interested in looking at.

Gah! Why is Gaskell in there again?!

Other then powderpuff at 6 it's a pretty good team, odd that Garvey isn't in there at all, has he done something we've missed? Or maybe on his way up?

Looking forward to seeing how Joseph goes and fingers crossed for a big game from Twelvetrees after last week.

Lots of Tigers seem to be praising Slaters performances at the moment as a tough player with brains aswell so be good to see.

I think many of the selection changes will be down to giving all the squad members an opportunity over the two games.

I like the pace and stepping ability added to this week's backline.

Is this on tv?

Not sure why Myall and Gaskell are still in there, they didn't impress last week and Gaskell's continual racing out the line is a hazard in defence. Garvey went off at half time last week so I wonder if he's tweaked something?

Good to see Slater getting his chance, he's got a good bit of pace for a lock and good hands. His tendancy to play as a ball carrying back rower rather than a second row enforcer has held him back but Cockers has clearly gone to lengths to make him more aggressive. This season has seen a low penalty count with Slater throwing his weight around quite effectively whilst retaining the step, pace and hands (see the winning try vs Saints). He could be a cracking player if this level of improvement continues he deserves a game at Saxons level.

I guess he had to put Billy in at 12 to avoid him retireing from International rugby

Scotland team:

15 Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors)

14 Tom Brown (Edinburgh Rugby)
13 Alex Grove (Worcester Warriors)
12 Matt Scott (Edinburgh Rugby)
11 Simon Danielli (Ulster)

10 Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors)
9 Rory Lawson (Gloucester, CAPTAIN)

1 Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors)
2 Dougie Hall (Glasgow Warriors)
3 Ed Kalman (Glasgow Warriors)
4 Rob Harley (Glasgow Warriors)
5 Tom Ryder (Glasgow Warriors)
6 Stuart McInally (Edinburgh Rugby)
7 Chris Fusaro (Glasgow Warriors)
8 Richie Vernon (Sale Sharks)

SUBSTITUTES

16 Pat MacArthur (Glasgow Warriors)
17 Ryan Grant (Glasgow Warriors)
18 Ryan Wilson (Glasgow Warriors)
19 Roddy Grant (Edinburgh Rugby)
20 Henry Pyrgos (Glasgow Warriors)
21 Phil Godman (Edinburgh Rugby)
22 Peter Murchie (Glasgow Warriors)


A few experienced internationals, a few promising youngsters (Hogg, Scott, Weir, Harley, McInally not far from the Scotland squad). Welsh and Kalman have been scrummaging well for Glasgow but it's a second choice Glasgow second row (Harley's usually a 6).

Don't think it's on TV but Galashiels isn't far from England, and anyone who is driving up for the Calcutta Cup game could stop off there on the way!

I hope it's the fact that Garvey is injured Sam, rather than any judgment on his performance. As if it was the latter, I would have serious issues over their evaluation of him. I was shocked he went off at half time with no discernible injury, and thought he played extremely well. With Attwood returning to his club he has a real chance to replace him in the EPS.

Like the team otherwise than that, and understand the Johnson thing as PSW explained it. It's time they supported Saull a bit, but also that he himself steps it up a gear, saw little from him against the Wolfhounds.

Don't think it's on TV but Galashiels isn't far from England

Well its not far away from us in Newcastle...

Dom Waldouck has replaced Joseph for Saxons......Joseph has tweaked his groin.

Christ Adam - you are using some commas! Have they upped your medication ?

Looks like a good match. Maybe more exciting than the Calcutta Cup contest too, if that's not too controversial?