Montpellier and Castres boost top-six hopes

You seem to have some laughable opinions about the most hated, rubbish, overpaid, overrated team in the world right now. England are really, really, REALLY, awful at rugby. They just don’t know how to play it really. I think you might have to take the Irish and Scottish and French approach and poach another Samoan like Tuilagi.

How does the past influence the now?

Your starry eyed view of the NH competition is just completely ridiculous. Which hemi has more RWCs? How about recent test match performances? What about crowd turn out, points differential per match, competitiveness? There was a recent article posted in RP which is really good and mentions that SRP is the most competitive it’s ever been, and honestly I’ve watched those NH teams play, and the only ones who know how to actually play the game is the French, and Henry Pollock. The rest are completely rubbish.

No point in arguing with someone who just isn’t impressed by anything unless its a white Englishman though I guess.

There are also two slots vacant in the squad and it will be no surprise whatsoever if they are ultimately filled by mssrs Farrell jnr and J Willis.

Jamie George was unfortunate losing out to Kelleher no doubt at all but Daly was very fortunate to be included ahead of Tom Jordan, and similarly for Hansen over Darcy Graham. For Ben Curry, you can easily swap Jamie Ritchie or Rory Darge’s name too, narrow calls for all.

“…who vilify Itoje for his background” - an excellent point and one that should be highlighted as it’s a regular contradiction.

I’d be more on the side of the working class heroes myself but rinsing someone for a privileged upbringing is no different to scorning someone who grew up with nothing. In either cases it’s not the individuals problem or something they control. All equal on the pitch.

I did think his discipline was an issue but he’s well on top of it now.

The right captain for sure