Rugby

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it's that time again

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Farrell out for the whole tournament - massive boost for England.

Not Farrell's biggest fan as a character or particularly, in isolation, as a player however I can see the positive (and negative) impact he can have as an influencer and leader....

Ultimately I prefer an England team without him, especially thinking of the future, as I think his status and perceived role in the team/set-up can be stifling for players around him and also, himself

Thanks for the reminder.

Going for my usual terrible 1st round selection, inspired replacements 2nd round, fall from grace 3rd round, lucky captain 4th, lap of the gods final.

COYBoyos!

So Exeter rebrand... Can't say I thought it was going to happen. Thought the club had dug its heels right in. Did the shirt sponsorship snub at the start of the season (wasn't that a combination of bad press and asking for too much £££) bite a bit more than was let on?

And excellent reminder, as DethBeard says above. Ta.

Thank god, as a chiefs fan I thought it was ridiculous to continue down the path.
New branding makes much more sense, and actually ties back to the original meaning of chiefs in Devon much more.
I suspect it was a combination of shirt sponsorship but mainly the members voting in support, there was a pretty concerted effort on it.

I haven’t bought any merchandise for a fair few years, will buy something next year.

mainly the members voting in support

Did not know this. And I agree with you.

But actually if you remove the controversy for a second, it's a pretty good rebrand anyway from all the press bits and the rest that I've seen.

Yeah, tide very much turned in feeling I’m the last year, Tony Rowe said he would do want the members wanted at the AGM, thankfully he did.

Yeah, it’s a solid rebrand. Wish they changed the font, but that is personal preference. It has also been pointed out that the chief bares a resemblance to Jack Nowell…

Edit: the two min video with Rob Baxter narrating is really good I think.

Wish they changed the font

Why do it all at once, so you have no excuse to buy more merch next year when they do just that...

Not to rely on stereotypes but I’m not sure the average chief supporter cares much about the font, I mean half the people down here can’t actually read

Fucksake, Eddie...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/60243473

I would not have predicted that team in a million years.

I guess Genge over Marler is due to lack of training.
Surprised by Isiekwe, but guess he has been playing well.
Amazed he picked Simmonds over Dombrant (and that’s coming from a chiefs fan!)
Don’t get why Marchant is on the wing, if you want a physical winger, why not play Nowell who is you know an actual winger?
10-12-13 of Smith, Slade and Daly is certainly ball playing… wonder if Marchant and Daly will interchange lots.

He can't help himself. He has to have at least one player out of position, just so it looks like he's doing something radical.

Isiekwe is an excellent 5 1/2 - expect him to move out to the flank, if there are any injuries. Saints fans will tell you all about his influence last season too. Proper workrate and engine too.

Pack is certainly mobile, but lightweight for the setpiece I fear.

I don't get Ewels. Please someone explain why him over, George Martin, Harry Wells, Dave Ribbans, Joe Launchbury, the King of Southmead, etc...

And I'm afraid the Daly at 13 ship has sailed for me. I thought Atkinson would work very well with Smith and Slade then gets his best position outside.

Yep, he finally puts Daly in his best position and does it by moving Marchant out, doh.

I am at least glad he is picking a specialist 8 (two in fact!) and playing actual flankers on the flanks at least.

He's picked a pacy side. However, watch it now rain for 48hrs straight in Edinburgh...

It's a decidedly weak pack. No real grunt, he can't rate the Scots physicality much.

Don’t get why Marchant is on the wing, if you want a physical winger, why not play Nowell who is you know an actual winger?

Absolutely, I guess the only explanation is that Nowell is still playing himself into form? Eddie picking a side on form is certainly a surprise.

Which would be odd, given England lost at home last year in a proper arm wrestle.

Who do you think he could have picked to strengthen it with the players available? I assume Marler wasn't considered viable to start post covid/lack of training... I guess Mako maybe but once he wasn't in the squad EJ was never going to bring him back.

I'll take a punt... Maybe Dombrandt at 8 (Simmonds to the bench), Isiekwe to 6 and a bigger lock alongside Itoje would beef it up?

Sinkler is not an international standard scrummager and is only really good for a 2o minute cameo when/if the game becomes loose. Genge is also not dominant scrum time, I'd have gone Marler and Collier. There's an obsession with 'ball playing' props but you just need to nail that set piece.

Isiekwe is too lightweight at test level especially alongside Itoje (who's not huge by international lock standards).

I'd have gone Dombrandt over Simmons and Barbeary over Ludlam in the backrow. The Scots will fancy their chances!

Yeah pretty much

hmmm maybe. He has been very good for the last month.