Red-hot England run Italy ragged in Rome

Don't forget that Brad Shields (The Hurricanes vice-captain) is in the picture also. Will be interesting to see if he gets selected for the SA June tour (both his parents are English so he is eligible right now).

Eddie has already said he sees SS as a 7 but using as a stop gap 8. Billy V and Nathan H the 8s. Sam U and Sam S the 7s. it is the 6s that are the issue. Robshaw Haskell Mercer . Lawes and Itoje the 5/6s. but it all depends on injuries as they go along. several good 6s to choose from like Don Armand , Michael Rhodes ( when qualified) Jackson Wray , Dave Ewers in case also there was reports that chiefs 7 Sam Jones may never play again after the injury he suffered in training in 2016.

Brown will be there till 2019 but at some point in time he will get another concussion and then end up like Muliania - no farewell match !!! Watson May Daly - Novell on the bench. then hope and pray both Watson and Daly dont get injured at the same time :D

That’s one word for it.

Interesting.

Gees mate, if England play well and win they are still slaughtered and if they play poorly and still win they are still slaughtered by the likes of you. Since you are the expert mate why don't you take over from Eddie and play this perfect flawless rugby you want and put 60 past Italy like they will be robots and let you pass them like they are not there. One loss in like 23 or 24 and you are still moaning, seriuosly. You sure can't please everyone that's for sure.

But I can see the point why EJ keeps Robshaw, Hartley, and Brown close to his heart. He needs their experience and it is a long road before the World Cup. To clean out the house before the World Cup makes little sense. Overall I think EJ top 30 guys are coming along pretty nicely. I think we could pick Englands WC squad already now and only be wrong on a few fringe players. More importantly is that England finally is building some real depth in the back row and it is pretty fun to play around with combinations. On another note: WalesOnline never disappoints to deliver. Right now their headline is: "Wales Six Nations breaking news LIVE: Coaches meet to select team for England clash" https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-six-nations-breaking-news-14246095

Lovely to see England backs passing the ball in a way that most other top tier nations seemed to have managed with ease for years. Even when England have dominated European rugby, we've rarely had that degree of fluidity. Agree on Mike B. I've always been a fan, but the factors which would make me pick him (security under the high-ball, ability to beat men) are on the slide, leaving his deficiencies more obvious. I don't think Eddie J is over-sentimental or stubborn about selection and I'd be surpised if Brown is still first choice (injuries allowing) come the autumn. The comparison of Simmonds and Hooper also struck me, though I don't see it as a conundrum. We after all don't have a Pocock. But I don't buy the love-in with Italy. Some of the England tries were laughably easy (and before fatigue could be a factor). Conor O'Shea has deserved a degree of credibility based on his track record. But I fear, like good coaches before him, eking real improvement out of Italian rugby will prove beyond him. I expect this England win to be put in perspective when the Italians get mullahed over the next few weeks.

I'd agree. But requires Eddie to get over his bromance with Robshaw - same as he needs to with Brown at 15.

Billy V comes back in at 8 - no ifs buts or maybes. Lawes and Robshaw in a horses for courses battle at ‘6’. I think Simmonds can make it at 7. The pure jackal is going out of the game. Lawes, Simmonds and Vunipola is a very tasty backrow.

One more thought on Sunday's game. In Sam Simmonds, have England produced a back row selection conundrum similar to that caused by Hooper for the Wallabies? The similarities as players are notable. Physical dimensions are practically identical at 6' and just topping 100kg's. Simmonds also scored two tries at the sort of pace and acceleration we've seen from Hooper in his pomp, as well as a neat pair of hands in the line to put over Nowell for his try. He also topped England's tackle count, as well as topping metres made and joint carries for the team - something we've also seen from Hooper in the past. In his favour over Hooper is the fact he's three years younger and despite the same physical dimensions, appears stronger than Hooper - it's hard to imagine an Australian pack with Hooper successfully holding it together at 8 ...at least not one marching backwards. But that's not suggesting Simmonds could usurp Billy or has a long-term future at the back of the pack. It will be interesting to see what Jones does with him in the build-up to the RWC.

Fear Eddie will have to get over his bromance with Brown before that can happen - while just about everyone else is begging for Watson (or Daly) to go to 15 and Watson/Daly with Nowell and May fighting over the wing picks. That's a seriously attacking backline - and as hard on Daly as it might be, putting him to the bench gives you cover at FB, wing and centre, without losing anything if he comes on.

I have this feeling that Brown will be England's Mils Muliaina within the next two years. England have 2 quick guys in Watson and May , with the skills of Daly and Novell waiting. I think just like in 2011 when half way thru Dagg replaced Mills , Watson will go to 15 and May and Daly will take over the wings. the 3 of them are as good as they come.

If Italy play like that and cut out the soft pens, they'll cause a couple of teams problems in this 6N. And if better teams than them exploit England's defensive frailties out wide, England will have problems of their own if they don't fix it.