Andy Goode thinks that Steve Borthwick needs to take a gamble with his lineup and strategy for the Ireland match on March 9th, or else risk completing the entire Guinness Six Nations without gaining much insight.
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He wrote: “Joe Marler, Dan Cole, Elliot Daly and George Ford all have a huge number of caps and have had long international careers, but I’m not sure they are offering outstanding leadership and you can’t just wait for them to exit stage left on their own terms.
“Cole is 37 in May, Marler is unlikely to be around at the next World Cup and might decide this summer’s tour to Japan and New Zealand isn’t for him, and the same question marks that have always surrounded Ford are still there.”
Andy Goode’s England XV to face Ireland:
15. George Furbank
14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
13. Tommy Freeman
12. Ollie Lawrence
11. Cadan Murley
10. Marcus Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge
2. Jamie George (capt)
3. Will Stuart
4. Ollie Chessum
5. George Martin
6. Chandler Cunningham-South
7. Ben Earl
8. Zach Mercer
Four players who’ve been blacklisted by England boss Steve Borthwick
Rumour has it that Head Coach Borthwick has shifted focus from a number of aging stars, who have disclosed their plans for next season.
Zach Mercer
Mercer, has declared that he’s taking a break from England duty for the time being, expressing his disappointment at being excluded from the upcoming Six Nations Championship squad.
Mercer said: “I’ve been open with Steve, I’ve told him my opinions on it. I thought I haven’t really been given a crack which is what I feel like, to not even be given a game to try and prove myself is tough.
“I just don’t feel like he values what I can offer as a player and that’s me being honest, I don’t think he values what I can bring.
“Obviously I don’t fit into the system that he wants to run and, whether I agree with that or not, it is what it is.
“My focus now is on Gloucester and England can take a step aside for the moment.”
Borthwick response:
“Zach and I had a conversation last week. We’ve had a number of conversations over the last couple of weeks with Zach since he’s come back from injury.
“We’ve highlighted areas where players have done well and the areas where they bring a point of difference. It’s a competitive arena.
“And [we highlight] areas where we want them to develop them and add to their game. That’s the same conversation I had with Zach.
“When I’m talking to a player, I’m basing it in objectivity. I’m basing it on targets for them to go after, and then we can shape a shared understanding of what we’re seeing.
“Granted, sometimes as a coach you want something specific in a team, I’m always looking at all the coaches and all the players that are able to provide that.”
