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#Post#: 149047--------------------------------------------------
Re: 4 Quins in England A team to play Ireland XV
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: February 3, 2026, 3:42 pm
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Even more unpopular opinion: Dombrandt's "plenty of chances"
(which I don't disagree with in terms of numbers) all came under
crappy management, with an even crappier game plan - thus
setting him up to fail. Now England are gradually finding some
fluidity and expanding their attacking game, maybe it's time for
a few more chances as the next cab off the rank if and when
required. I for one haven't given up on him showing the world
what he so frequently does for us.
#Post#: 149048--------------------------------------------------
Re: 4 Quins in England A team to play Ireland XV
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: February 3, 2026, 5:07 pm
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--- Quote from: JammyGit link ---
>
> I'd expect the pack to get battered, honestly. Second best
from 1-8.
>
--- End Quote ---
I mean, obviously they are second best or they wouldn't be the A
team. But I don't think most of the pack are *that* far behind.
Yes, Quins have been terrible, but in terms of talent, with the
right gameplan, Kenningham and Dombrandt could give Underhill
and Earl a strong run.
You could also argue that Fasogbon and Tuipoloto would be as
good on the bench as the main team, too. Elsewhere, Searle has
been excellent recently, Murley is strong and fast,
Hassell-Collins is underrated. I could go on.
I wouldn't expect the A team to win, but I would expect them to
be reasonably close.
#Post#: 149049--------------------------------------------------
Re: 4 Quins in England A team to play Ireland XV
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: February 3, 2026, 5:29 pm
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I'd expect them to get hammered. I think it's closer in the
outside backs and some of those guys aren't a milion miles away
from selection, although Ford/Smith/Smith are streets ahead of
Searle and Bailey is significantly worse than Dingwall or Ojomoh
or Lawrence (or Atkinson, or Farrell!). But that front 5 is
miles off the main team, and while I do love Kenningham he is
absolutely not Underhill in physicality terms and Dombrandt has
very rarely shone at international level, whereas Earl has been
magnificent for England & the Lions. Roots is Curry without the
pace or talent, Pepper is twice the player he is.
You could argue that Tuipulotu is as good on the bench as LCD.
You could argue it, and I can't stop you from doing it, but I
can't see how it's even remotely true. LCD is an absolute
monster of an international player. Tuipulotu is still trying to
prove he's worth of a starting shirt at club level. Fasogbon has
had a chastening season and Davison has been very good for
Saints. And then you look at the fact that England has Itoje,
Pollock, and Tom Curry waiting to come on...
Hendy's a fine player, mind, and I think the 'A' team has two
better fullbacks than England's senior team has.
#Post#: 149050--------------------------------------------------
Re: 4 Quins in England A team to play Ireland XV
DIR By: MaidstoneQuin
Date: February 4, 2026, 1:49 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: TomBuckQuin link ---
>
> Even more unpopular opinion: Dombrandt's "plenty of chances"
(which I don't disagree with in terms of numbers) all came under
crappy management, with an even crappier game plan - thus
setting him up to fail. Now England are gradually finding some
fluidity and expanding their attacking game, maybe it's time for
a few more chances as the next cab off the rank if and when
required. I for one haven't given up on him showing the world
what he so frequently does for us.
>
--- End Quote ---
Dombrandt isn't the next cab off the rank in some ways, taking a
non Quins view out of it many have thought he's had a chance and
not taken his opportunity (Only quins fans seem to argue the
points above as a defence for including him). If the change in
approach with SB etc is deemed to benefit Alex then he should be
in the England 6n squad rather than the A team also, as I'm not
sure what's gained from playing him with players he in theory
won't be really lining up with, or have the same Borthwick
mentality applied.
#Post#: 149051--------------------------------------------------
Re: 4 Quins in England A team to play Ireland XV
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: February 4, 2026, 2:43 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: JammyGit link ---
>
> while I do love Kenningham he is absolutely not Underhill in
physicality terms and Dombrandt has very rarely shone at
international level, whereas Earl has been magnificent for
England & the Lions.
>
--- End Quote ---
That's why I say you need a different gameplan. Neither of them
work well with England's current gameplan. But they are both
fast, good with ball in hand, and excellent at turnovers, which
neither Earl nor Underhill specialise in.
#Post#: 149052--------------------------------------------------
Re: 4 Quins in England A team to play Ireland XV
DIR By: Yareet
Date: February 4, 2026, 2:58 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: FrostAndFire link ---
>
> That's why I say you need a different gameplan. Neither of
them work well with England's current gameplan. But they are
both fast, good with ball in hand, and excellent at turnovers,
which neither Earl nor Underhill specialise in.
>
--- End Quote ---
If they’re better at different things, in my view they’re not
really competing with Earl and Underhill. Although Earl is fast
enough.
#Post#: 149053--------------------------------------------------
Re: 4 Quins in England A team to play Ireland XV
DIR By: TomBuckQuin
Date: February 4, 2026, 3:17 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: MaidstoneQuin link ---
>
> Dombrandt isn't the next cab off the rank in some ways, taking
a non Quins view out of it many have thought he's had a chance
and not taken his opportunity (Only quins fans seem to argue the
points above as a defence for including him). If the change in
approach with SB etc is deemed to benefit Alex then he should be
in the England 6n squad rather than the A team also, as I'm not
sure what's gained from playing him with players he in theory
won't be really lining up with, or have the same Borthwick
mentality applied.
>
--- End Quote ---
I suppose I was defining "next cab off the rank" as any player
who is waiting in the wings for an injury or suspension to grant
them an opportunity to step up into the main England squad.
Clearly this A team is a bunch of players Borthwick would look
to bring in if and when required - or if their form demands that
they break into the main squad. In that sense, we can assume
that Dombrandt has not been exiled entirely as a result of his
previous international form and is still on the periphery of
Borthwick's plans.
#Post#: 149054--------------------------------------------------
Re: 4 Quins in England A team to play Ireland XV
DIR By: JammyGit
Date: February 4, 2026, 4:21 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: FrostAndFire link ---
>
> That's why I say you need a different gameplan. Neither of
them work well with England's current gameplan. But they are
both fast, good with ball in hand, and excellent at turnovers,
which neither Earl nor Underhill specialise in.
>
--- End Quote ---
Earl is very good at turnovers, and while Kenners is faster than
Underhill I wouldn't call him fast. Earl is the quickest of the
4.
It wasn't the game plan that made Dombrandt drop the ball and
miss tackles, unfortunately, and regardless of the game plan the
back row is going to need to be extremely physical.
#Post#: 149063--------------------------------------------------
Re: 4 Quins in England A team to play Ireland XV
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: February 4, 2026, 7:41 am
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I kind of feel like some people are interpreting "could give the
main team a run for their money" as me saying that they would
beat the main team rather than saying that they would give them
a good match, which is what it means. In a few positions,
individual players could put the case for being as good or
nearly as good as their equivalents in the main team. And,
clearly, they are the next in line or potentially next in line
if there are injuries to the first choice players.
#Post#: 149157--------------------------------------------------
Re: 4 Quins in England A team to play Ireland XV
DIR By: FrostAndFire
Date: February 6, 2026, 2:17 pm
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England A making fairly easy work of Ireland XV. Good to see our
back-ups are in decent form.
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