Care or Youngs?

After this weekend there is not a lot of doubt for England number 9....... Danny Care by a mile!

I rarely defend Youngs but wasn't this his 2nd game back?

I agree Care is obviously the frontrunner but Youngs needs some time to bed back in at Tigers.

Toulouse away is certainly a tough 2nd game when you've come back from injury.

As it stands though I would start Care and give Youngs more time to get back to his best at his club.

Well, the other contenders -
K.Dickson - didnt get on.
L.Dickson - had a solid game I hear (havent seen the game though)
B.Youngs - had a game to forget, made silly decisions and poor execution.
Simpson - How did he get on for Wasps Amlin game?
W-worth - did well but still being rotated with D-Kock

Care seems to be the sharpest of the lot at the moment (despite the hair doo).

propdavid_london wrote:Well, the other contenders -
K.Dickson - didnt get on.
L.Dickson - had a solid game I hear (havent seen the game though)
B.Youngs - had a game to forget, made silly decisions and poor execution.
Simpson - How did he get on for Wasps Amlin game?
W-worth - did well but still being rotated with D-Kock

Care seems to be the sharpest of the lot at the moment (despite the hair doo) .

Not 'because' of the hair do then?

Ha - No, that is not what I'd call a sharp hair doo!

Youngs has been rushed back too often in the past... given how well the Dickson brothers are also playing I think he should be given the autumn to get back into shape and form at Tigers before he's named in an England squad.

Interesting difference between Cockers and COS in management style. Cockers has publicly lambasted Youngs for trying to run the quick tap, whereas when Care has tried and failed in a similar way COS has been publicly supportive ("That's what we have him for, and we don't want to change him", or words to that effect). Is everything happy in the Tigers camp at the moment?

Is everything happy in the Tigers camp at the moment?

I think there was a lot of frustration as Tigers really did throw the game away with some stupid moments. Cockers rarely sugar coats his views. Having said that Youngs wasn't that bad, he kicked well and really had little protection.

Got to agree with everyone else, Benny to stay with Tigers until the 6N. When fit and in form he's England's best 9 but only when fit and on form and currently he is neither.

I think it has to be Care at the moment, Youngs wasn't comfortable yesterday, and Care is on great form.

I'd say probably Dickson (Lee) and Simpson should also be involved.

Youngs could benefit from some time away from the England camp. I say this selfishly as I want him fully fit and firing for the Lions.....

I agree with most of the comments above. Let Youngs get his feet under him and play his way back into game shape through the autumn in hopes he is on form for the 6 Nations.

I have to play the Dickson brothers, Lee starting and Karl on the bench.

Care, if in an England jersey, represents all of us who live in or are of English stock. But not with a haircut like that. Get him out of there. There are people in prison who look better.........

I agree, on purely aesthetic reasons Care shouldn't be within 10 miles of an England shirt.

Remember, as a back, it is all about the aesthetic.........

There isn't really a debate on abilities... Care is head and shoulders above everyone else.

Hair cuts wise, couldnt agree more, must be something they put in the protein shakes at the stoop, Marler looked a right pillock for most of his previous career.

I am sure O'Conner was thinking "thank god for early hair loss", and is probably wishing the same on Care.

MM that is funny - Stoop haircuts.

Simpsons passing is very poor for a SH though...he could do a job on the wign though...

OP: yes Care on current form.

If you want to bring intangible mumbo jumbo like 'form' into this then Care is your man. If you base your seletion on a good short back and sides is Youngs all day long!

Simples really. Care is the man in form (no question) but SL will have both in his AI squad and more importantly, with Flood as the likely 10, it has to be worth something (when the call is more 50:50 between the two, as it will be as Youngs claws back match sharpness) for one of his scrum halves to have formed a consistent half back hinge at club level.

Care had a great weekend & Youngs had a bad one. Things will even out as Youngs gets game time & doesn't have to play against Toulouse away every week.
I don't think there is a great deal between them when both are on form. At the moment Tigers don't look sharp whereas Quins looked mustard & when one of your set piece moves comes off like Care's score from the line out you look a million dollars.

England are fortunate to have strength in depth at SH.