I could do people a big long preview of Le Crunch part 2, but I figure there's not a lot of point. It's a pre-season friendly between two teams who play each other a lot, and with both teams at close to full strength, everyone knows what to expect. I'm sure there'll be something interesting to talk about after the match but I don't really know what it is right now. If I did, I'd probably be too busy fleecing bookies. So stuff previews. I'm pretty sure you're not mean to open articles with negative rambles about what you're not going to talk about, but there we go. Maybe it's some avant-garde bullshit.
What I am going to talk about are the players to whom today really matters. Some of them are pretty secure and just there for the run out. Dan Cole could probably concede a penalty at every scrum and still start in the World Cup. But today, some of them will fight for their dreams - and some of them will see their dreams die. DRAMA.
Jamie George
Jamie George is not fighting for his dream of going to the World Cup and that's pretty much been the case ever since Luke Cowan-Dickie picked a really bad game to get his throwing wrong. George will have to be actively trying to make a mess of it to miss the squad now. His dream will be to challenge Rob Webber and get a place in the match day 23 and right now, that seems pretty feasible. Going by selection, Webber seems to be a player than the management like but don't love. The Bath hooker probably has the edge at the moment thanks to experience, but a big game from the bench could change that.
Of course, the real prize here for George isn't just the World Cup, it's about nailing down a long term place while the older competition falters and before his younger rivals show up. Webber might not get back the Bath starting spot he lost to Ross Batty at the end of last season, which would really crimp his style. Meanwhile, Dylan Hartley must surely be beginning to try Lancaster's patience. I'm not predicting it to definitely happen, but it wouldn't be a surprise if neither man was involved come next autumn. There's a fair crop of young hookers waiting to exploit that - Sale's Tommy Taylor and Hartley's understudy Haywood both spring to mind - but George has first go and has earned it. His throwing has been accurate, his work rate very high and his carrying game strong. It's within his potential to finish this World Cup as a rival to Youngs - but only if he gets it right today.
Joe Launchbury
Ok, I might be stretching this one a little, but I really like talking about Joe Launchbury so whatever. In any case, everyone's favourite mutant thirteen year old has been out of contention for a bit, and therefore he does have something to prove. Just that in his case, all he has to do is to show he's still got it and we can all be happy that the closest thing England have to an openside in the squad is back.
In fact, not only will he be back, but to judge from the RFU's stats, he and a little extra will be back. He's now allegedly just over 18 and a half stone and if he's retained his pace, he should be a very unpleasant person to run into. It might also bring an improvement in Launchbury's tight play, which maybe hasn't been his strong suit. If these things have happened, then I might finally put him in the same bracket as Retallick and Etzebeth.
James Haskell
Also not at risk of missing out barring a horror show, this is all about Haskell nailing down the 6 jersey. So far, he's never worn it in a serious game when Wood has been available and Lancaster head honcho. His presence today suggests this may have changed but it's probably best not to assume, particularly with Lancaster constantly talking about starting the flowerpot men. So a big performance is needed today - but really, what I'd really like to see from Haskell, is that string of big performances he's been threatening his whole career.
Danny Cipriani
Very much at risk. That he's England's third fly-half is currently beyond doubt but it's clear that the management are happy to do without their third choice if they can get more strength in the squad from somebody else who can fill in there if needed. Say, Henry Slade or Alex Goode, both of whom had good games last time out. When CIpriani turned down Toulon, with their pots of gold and cabinets of silver, this probably wasn't what he had in mind. But he is here now.
Maybe this second chance points to the England management wanting to take him. To my mind, it'll be instructive to see where they put him on, and I think full-back would actually be better news for Cipriani. While there's no doubt he's stronger at fly-half, no one cares. The question is whether he's strong enough at full-back to cover both. If he can shine there, he's got a good chance of going - and why not? He's quicker and more elusive than Goode and just as good a playmaker. The question lies in his defensive duties, particularly against the kicking game, and I suspect that's what Lancaster will be judging. If he does goes well, Cipriani might be well advised to remember just how old most of England's full-backs are; it's probably going to be the easiest route into the team over the next four years.
Tweedletrees and Tweedlethump
Neither Burrell nor Twelvetrees will have enjoyed watching Burgess and Slade last week with a whole heart. However, that's now gone, and so too are our promising centres; it's up to the old guard in their chance to redeem themselves. Which seems odd; both Burgess and Slade demand further investigation in my eyes. Meanwhile, Burrell's been showing off poor ball protection and poorer tackling for England, while Twelvetrees is a law unto god alone.
Still, here they are and truth told, I'm not quite sure what Lancaster's looking for. I rate both guys at their best, but the likelihood of getting their best seems too low, or even just an above average international game, and I'd have dumped them by now. However, I do think he sees this as a play-off for one spot and given that Lancaster is supposedly looking for four centres and has given Cipriani another go, I'm not sure this bodes too well for Henry Slade. I'll burn that bridge when I get to it, but I'm increasingly unimpressed with such a notion.
Jonny May
Finally, Jonny May. Now, Jonny isn't even remotely fighting for his space in the squad, not with three wingers kept. Short of being unveiled as people traffickers, all three guys are in. The argument's about who starts the big games and its now up to Jonny to seal the deal. It doesn't even have to be a big game from him, although you'd get excited about his form if he did.
It just needs to be solid. Everyone knows that he's deadly coming round into the 13 channel, that he's got incredible feet at more or less full tilt and his full tilt is elite by rugby standards. I'd like to think appreciation for his kickchasing (for which he's peerless in this England squad) and use of the touchline as a defender will grow. May didn't lose his place in the England team because of those things though. He lost it because he was making mistakes when the game contracted. Given that England have gone from three playmakers to one outside scrum-half, the space May will get today will probably contract. If May can't deal with that, his career as an international wing will always be precarious.
Anyway, I lied. Most of these people aren't playing for their spot in the squad, just jockeying over position within. Still, what's informative writing without DRAMA? That's what the Mail tells me. Maybe next week I'll blame it all on immigrants and women and my infection by the Mail will be complete.
Until then.
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