Stuart Lancaster names England EPS & Saxons Squads

Big Nelly

England Interim Head Coach Stuart Lancaster has named the 64 players who will make up both the Senior EPS Squad and England Saxons squad.

In all, there are 9 new names in the EPS squad, including Owen Farrell, Ben Morgan and Joe Marler. The captain will be named in the week before England’s first match against Scotland on February 4th.

Senior EPS Squad:

FORWARDS (18)
Mouritz Botha (Saracens)
Calum Clark (Northampton Saints)
Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers)
Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Lee Mears (Bath Rugby)
Ben Morgan (Scarlets)
Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Matt Stevens (Saracens)
Rob Webber (London Wasps)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)

BACKS (14)
Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
Charlie Hodgson (Saracens)
Joe Simpson (London Wasps)
Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby)
David Strettle (Saracens)
Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Saxons Squad:

FORWARDS (18)
David Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Chris Brooker (Harlequins)
Paul Doran Jones (Northampton Saints)
Matt Garvey (London Irish)
James Gaskell (Sale Sharks)
Jamie Gibson (London Irish)
Joe Gray (Harlequins)
Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)
Luke Narraway (Gloucester Rugby)
David Paice (London Irish)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
George Robson (Harlequins)
Andrew Saull (Saracens)
Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks)
Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers)
Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby)

BACKS (14)
Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby)
Anthony Allen (Leicester Tigers)
Delon Armitage (London Irish)
Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby)
Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
Karl Dickson (Harlequins)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
Ryan Lamb (Northampton Saints)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby)
Billy Twelvetrees (Leicester Tigers)
Micky Young (Leicester Tigers)

Players unlucky to miss out on the senior squad include Joe Gray, Luke Narraway, Billy Twelvetrees and Paul Doran-Jones.

Strange to see Armitage and Banahan in Saxon squad??

Reloc8

Big Nelly wrote: »

Strange to see Armitage and Banahan in Saxon squad??

I agree in that they're known quantities and not coming back from injury needing a run out. Armitage is 28 and if he's not considered up to it for the EPS I don't see the logic in playing him in the development squad, leaving aside the fact that I don't like the guy as a player in any event.

Banahan is 25 and so maybe a stronger case could be made but is it realistic to think he's going to develop into a test standard three quarter or is he just what he is - big and quickish for his size with it but not up to scratch unless you're obsessed with large wingers.

Hype710

Only one recognised 13 and he is out injured, so possibly the Saracens midfield of Hodgson-Barritt-Farrell? Even in Twickenham I'd expect us to beat them.

Big Nelly

Would expect Ireland to get Triple Crown this year and France to win!

its_phil

Big Nelly wrote: »

Senior EPS Squad:

FORWARDS (18)
Mouritz Botha (Saracens)
Calum Clark (Northampton Saints)
Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers)
Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Lee Mears (Bath Rugby)
Ben Morgan (Scarlets)
Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Matt Stevens (Saracens)
Rob Webber (London Wasps)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)

BACKS (14)
Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
Charlie Hodgson (Saracens)
Joe Simpson (London Wasps)
Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby)
David Strettle (Saracens)
Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Like that squad don't think it's going to set the 6N on fire, but it is a step in the right direction for English rugby.

Credit to Lancaster for dropping Danny Care shows their is no room for egos and acting the fool. Also heard his press conference, I was very impressed with how he spoke.

porterbelly

Big Nelly wrote: »

England Interim Head Coach Stuart Lancaster has named the 64 players who will make up both the Senior EPS Squad and England Saxons squad.

In all, there are 9 new names in the EPS squad, including Owen Farrell, Ben Morgan and Joe Marler. The captain will be named in the week before England’s first match against Scotland on February 4th.

Senior EPS Squad:

FORWARDS (18)
Mouritz Botha (Saracens)
Calum Clark (Northampton Saints)
Alex Corbisiero (London Irish)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers)
Phil Dowson (Northampton Saints)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Lee Mears (Bath Rugby)
Ben Morgan (Scarlets)
Tom Palmer (Stade Francais)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
Matt Stevens (Saracens)
Rob Webber (London Wasps)
David Wilson (Bath Rugby)
Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)

BACKS (14)
Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints)
Brad Barritt (Saracens)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Lee Dickson (Northampton Saints)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers)
Ben Foden (Northampton Saints)
Charlie Hodgson (Saracens)
Joe Simpson (London Wasps)
Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby)
David Strettle (Saracens)
Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers)
Jordan Turner-Hall (Harlequins)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

Saxons Squad:

FORWARDS (18)
David Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Chris Brooker (Harlequins)
Paul Doran Jones (Northampton Saints)
Matt Garvey (London Irish)
James Gaskell (Sale Sharks)
Jamie Gibson (London Irish)
Joe Gray (Harlequins)
Tom Johnson (Exeter Chiefs)
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors)
Luke Narraway (Gloucester Rugby)
David Paice (London Irish)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
George Robson (Harlequins)
Andrew Saull (Saracens)
Henry Thomas (Sale Sharks)
Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers)
Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby)

BACKS (14)
Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby)
Anthony Allen (Leicester Tigers)
Delon Armitage (London Irish)
Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby)
Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
Karl Dickson (Harlequins)
Alex Goode (Saracens)
Jonathan Joseph (London Irish)
Ryan Lamb (Northampton Saints)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Ugo Monye (Harlequins)
Henry Trinder (Gloucester Rugby)
Billy Twelvetrees (Leicester Tigers)
Micky Young (Leicester Tigers)

Players unlucky to miss out on the senior squad include Joe Gray, Luke Narraway, Billy Twelvetrees and Paul Doran-Jones.

Strange to see Armitage and Banahan in Saxon squad??

I wouldn't have Narraway in the Connacht team. Extremely overrated player.

Turner Hall is a very poor choice in the senior squad. Don't think much of him at all.

Wouldn't have picked Joe Marler either, Saxons squad at most. The lad can't scrum at all

its_phil

porterbelly wrote: »

Wouldn't have picked Joe Marler either, Saxons squad at most. The lad can't scrum at all

Marler is a very good prop considering he is only 21 years old. I think he's at an equal enough standard to Healy at that age. Good in the loose too

MOTM vs Connacht iirc

yimrsg

Armitage is well behind Mike Brown and Ben Foden for fullback, only thing going for him is he's a bit more versatile. With his current streak of form Mike Brown should be starting ahead of Foden although Foden scored a try against him over the weekend.

Tox56

Would be good if Kidney was to give this many chances to young playes.

Hype710

yimrsg wrote: »

Armitage is well behind Mike Brown and Ben Foden for fullback, only thing going for him is he's a bit more versatile. With his current streak of form Mike Brown should be starting ahead of Foden although Foden scored a try against him over the weekend.

That's not true at all, Foden has actually been playing extremely well and scoring lots of tries too. There's an argument for pushing him to the wing to accommodate Brown but he is England's best attacker and should remain there.

padraig.od

Tox56 wrote: »

Would be good if Kidney was to give this many chances to young playes.

A little off topic, but is seeding for the next RWC determined this season or next? Might explain a few conservative selections over the coming weeks...

yimrsg

Hype710 wrote: »

That's not true at all, Foden has actually been playing extremely well and scoring lots of tries too. There's an argument for pushing him to the wing to accommodate Brown but he is England's best attacker and should remain there.

Foden has been good of late but Brown's hit a purple patch I think he's scored something like 10 or 11 tries compared to Foden's 5 or 6. It doesn't say anything about his defence or other aspects of his game but his try scoring form has pushed him into serious contention. I'd say both will be given starts during the 6 nations but I can only see one making a match day squad. I'd go with Foden for the away match in Scotland and maybe give Brown a start in a home match.

PhatPiggins

yimrsg wrote: »

Foden has been good of late but Brown's hit a purple patch I think he's scored something like 10 or 11 tries compared to Foden's 5 or 6. It doesn't say anything about his defence or other aspects of his game but his try scoring form has pushed him into serious contention. I'd say both will be given starts during the 6 nations but I can only see one making a match day squad. I'd go with Foden for the away match in Scotland and maybe give Brown a start in a home match.

Quins play a style of game thats far more conducive to the 15 scoring then the setpiece game that Northampton play. I wouldn't pay much attention to that stat to be honest.

Brown isn't as quick as Foden and to honest although he's been playing well this season I'd question his form over the last 2 and half seasons. Foden has been very good/excellent consistently for the last three years. When Quins played Saints 2 weeks ago Foden burned Brown numerous times. Foden at 15 all day long for me.

thomond2006

Foden was one of the few England players that actually impressed during the World Cup. I can't see him being moved from 15.

Foden is an utter genius, Brown is a clown compared to him. They'll both get gametime though as they're clearly looking to experiment with different setups (aka building a squad), something we have never seen in Ireland.

Sindri

I would have had Twelvetrees in the Saxon squad. He looked like he had a lot of potential against London Irish last weekend.

irishbucsfan

Deleted User wrote: »

Foden is an utter genius, Brown is a clown compared to him.

Absolutely completely disagree. Brown is the smartest player in the Premiership for my money. I think Fodens the better international, but Brown is no clown.

Brown is super dependable as well. And he is always there when needed for Quins (last season's Amlin final being a great example).

thomond2006

Sindri wrote: »

I would have had Twelvetrees in the Saxon squad. He looked like he had a lot of potential against London Irish last weekend.

He is in the Saxons squad.

Sindri

thomond2006 wrote: »

He is in the Saxons squad.

Oh right:o. That's good, he looks like one for the future. 29 points at such a young age and the confidence not to end up bottling it.

irishbucsfan

Sindri wrote: »

Oh right:o. That's good, he looks like one for the future. 29 points at such a young age and the confidence not to end up bottling it.

He had 29 points last time against Wasps as well!

Leicester have played Wasps twice this season, scoring 58 points in total, and Twelvetrees has scored every one of them. Wasps fans must hate him.

dtpc191991

At last an English coach wakes up and realises that a young squad is the only way forward. I can only pray that we do the same.

PhatPiggins

dtpc191991 wrote: »

At last an English coach wakes up and realises that a young squad is the only way forward. I can only pray that we do the same.

I suggest you invest in some comfy kneepads then.

Zuffer

I've watched a couple of videos of Lancaster today speaking at press conferences. I never heard of him before he got the England job, but he seems to be exactly what they need right now.

I liked his attitude and style. No bull, but not naive either. Kinda scared of where England could go with a couple of years with him at the helm.

yimrsg

PhatPiggins wrote: »

Quins play a style of game thats far more conducive to the 15 scoring then the setpiece game that Northampton play. I wouldn't pay much attention to that stat to be honest.

Brown isn't as quick as Foden and to honest although he's been playing well this season I'd question his form over the last 2 and half seasons. Foden has been very good/excellent consistently for the last three years. When Quins played Saints 2 weeks ago Foden burned Brown numerous times. Foden at 15 all day long for me.

Really disagree with you there, that has no relevance to picking a player for club or country, a player's current form is far more important than how a player played 2 or 3 years ago.

Brown and several other Harlequins players have been in electric form this season (up until recently) in the prem and the heineken cup. Foden has been head and shoulders above others in the past, Brown has narrowed that gap.
Foden's try which he scored against Brown came when quins were down to 14 and there was a 2 man overlap for Saints. @45 seconds onwards:http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/video_audio/157128.html?genre=2

Either way, Lancaster's probably chuffed to have the pick of 2 quality fullbacks.

Flincher

I know he's not long back from injury, but I think Anthony Allen is too good for the Saxons squad. He's come on massively since joing Leicester, and he's unrecognisable from the lad who was thrown in against the All Blacks back in 2006.

Typically English development. Hyped by Sky, thrown in at Test level when he was finding his feet at club level, and then dumped.

He's definitely a superior player to Turner-Hall.

PhatPiggins

yimrsg wrote: »

Really disagree with you there, that has no relevance to picking a player for club or country, a player's current form is far more important than how a player played 2 or 3 years ago.

Brown and several other Harlequins players have been in electric form this season (up until recently) in the prem and the heineken cup. Foden has been head and shoulders above others in the past, Brown has narrowed that gap.
Foden's try which he scored against Brown came when quins were down to 14 and there was a 2 man overlap for Saints. @45 seconds onwards:http://www.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/video_audio/157128.html?genre=2

Either way, Lancaster's probably chuffed to have the pick of 2 quality fullbacks.

Thats the important part isn't it. Armitage should be the third option but his discipline is appaling and exactly what Lancaster is working to move away from.

I'd love to see Foden utilised in the same way Brown is with Quins. He largely has to make his own luck with Saints and England which is a waste.

As a side bar do you/anyone think Thomas O Leary could reinvent himself in the same way Foden has ?

little173

Tox56 wrote: »

Would be good if Kidney was to give this many chances to young playes.

England have chucked so much against the wall hoping some will stick and they also have a huge number of players to choose from in comparison so not comparing like with like.

Overall, its not an Eng squad that scares me, Leicester must have the smallest representation for many years esp in the pack, Quinns are going well without having any real stars, the outside backs and half backs will be strong beyond that they will be vunerable this year.

its_phil

According to the Telegraph, Robshaw is going to become England captain.

Is it just me or is that crazy?

Did anyone see Quins last week versus Gloucester, he went for the scrum instead of taking 3 right in front of the posts in the last 10 minutes when they were 2 down! Harlequins conceded penalty or free kick (cant remember) off the fourth or fifth reset. They came back up eventually and got the try but choosing that option was incredibly stupid and cocky on Robshaw's part. Nick Easter had ran back up to the half way expecting the penalty, that's how unexpected it was

Robshaw did something stupid in the Northampton game too, think it was a quick tap rather than take points when 10 points down??

England need a very stable leader in this important time of transition, I think a guy who makes those kind of decisions is not the guy for them. Maybe in the future with more experience he could be captain. But now?? I dont think it's wise.

cgpg5

its_phil wrote: »

According to the Telegraph, Robshaw is going to become England captain.

Is it just me or is that crazy?

Did anyone see Quins last week versus Gloucester, he went for the scrum instead of taking 3 right in front of the posts in the last 10 minutes when they were 2 down! Harlequins conceded penalty or free kick (cant remember) off the fourth or fifth reset. They came back up eventually and got the try but choosing that option was incredibly stupid and cocky on Robshaw's part. Nick Easter had ran back up to the half way expecting the penalty, that's how unexpected it was

Robshaw did something stupid in the Northampton game too, think it was a quick tap rather than take points when 10 points down??

England need a very stable leader in this important time of transition, I think a guy who makes those kind of decisions is not the guy for them. Maybe in the future with more experience he could be captain. But now?? I dont think it's wise.

It surely would've been Tom Wood only for injury? I think he's ruled out of at least the first game so they probably went for Robshaw as a result. Personally I'd have kept Easter on and left him as captain he was one of England's only natural leaders in the RWC. They don't appear to have any natural leaders as such in the current squad.

vinny chase

its_phil wrote: »

According to the Telegraph, Robshaw is going to become England captain.

Is it just me or is that crazy?

Did anyone see Quins last week versus Gloucester, he went for the scrum instead of taking 3 right in front of the posts in the last 10 minutes when they were 2 down! Harlequins conceded penalty or free kick (cant remember) off the fourth or fifth reset. They came back up eventually and got the try but choosing that option was incredibly stupid and cocky on Robshaw's part. Nick Easter had ran back up to the half way expecting the penalty, that's how unexpected it was

Robshaw did something stupid in the Northampton game too, think it was a quick tap rather than take points when 10 points down??

England need a very stable leader in this important time of transition, I think a guy who makes those kind of decisions is not the guy for them. Maybe in the future with more experience he could be captain. But now?? I dont think it's wise.

Yeah, I remember being absolutely baffled by that decision by Robshaw. It'd be one thing if you had a 6 or 7 point lead and were looking to put the foot on the accelerator in search of a bonus point; but from a position of being behind and needing to secure the win first and foremost, turning down a nailed on three points is questionable leadership.

Tough thing for England at the moment though, and I think it applied to their WC squad too, is that while they have a lot of talented players, they seem to really lack leaders. I think this is evidenced by the conduct of the squad in NZ. Just can't imagine that happening in the Irish side, as lads like BOD, POC, ROG, Rory Best, Jamie Heaslip, Jonny Sexton, etc all seem like good solid leaders.

Hard to know who I'd pick to captain England; Hartley is a good player on the field, but has his own discipline issues to question his leadership, other guys who should take this mantle like Toby Flood, Nick Easter etc in recent times are simply not good enough to inspire those around them. This was best evidenced by the length of time Steve Borthwick remained captain of England, when he wasn't good enough in all likelihood to justify his inclusion as a player.

leonard7

would have serious concerns over robshaw as captain if i were english!

Big Nelly

leonard7 wrote: »

would have serious concerns over robshaw as captain if i were english!

Explain

leonard7

he seems to be struggling to control a harlequins team that are finally beginning to lose matches and has displayed poor decision making in big games...in the match last weekend i assumed he thought he could use the scrum to get a gloucester player sent off giving them the higher likelihood of scoring but tonight again refused to go for goal from kickable positions (despite the wind)...just seemed to be helped along by easter tonight in terms of his captaincy body language between the two reflected this

CatFromHue

leonard7 wrote: »

he seems to be struggling to control a harlequins team that are finally beginning to lose matches and has displayed poor decision making in big games...in the match last weekend i assumed he thought he could use the scrum to get a gloucester player sent off giving them the higher likelihood of scoring but tonight again refused to go for goal from kickable positions (despite the wind)...just seemed to be helped along by easter tonight in terms of his captaincy body language between the two reflected this

I dunno did Quins turn down points opportunities tonight? Even if they did Evans was 1 from 3 and Quins were very much on top in the scrum and lineout. I can't really fault Robshaw tonight to be honest.

leonard7

there was one that jumps to mind which was inside connacht 22 where they went for a scrum which was with and close to posts...no matter evans form on the night it wouldve been a kick that international level kickers dont miss. Robshaw is one of my favourite english players and this is not a jibe at his playing ability as i would have him starting no problem just more a case of him being brought to light as a good captain on the back of a winning team...england won't win every match this 6N and i dont know how he'd react as a captain behind a struggling team...still like him as a player tho just think losing wood was a problem for england and even worse noone else stands out as captain...