Originally Posted by Kierenj:
“True but I'd rather have someone in the right position who seems to score tries than someone who just never creates anything but is "steady" as seems to be Twelvetrees only thing. Slade will go over him anyway I think as he can play 13 and cover kicking duties as well, and will be a 3rd choice 10. It's between Burrell and Burgess I think.”
You are entitled to your opinion, of course but as someone who has watched club rugby and been a Gloucester season ticket holder for more years than I care to remember I disagree entirely.
The problem with watching rugby, or any sport, on TV is the camera follows the ball, what it doesn't show is the bigger picture you see when you watch the game live.
Billy is far more creative that most of the players Lancaster has picked, I mean Barritt, really?? Burgess?? Manu-overboard Tuilagi, (although fortunately he has "unselected" himself)??
The difference is, though, Billy has a good rugby brain and doesn't mind going in where it will hurt. When he came on against France last Saturday he was, more often than not, playing as a openside and securing the ball because England's back row are so slow pedestrian would be exaggerating their speed and Lancaster seems to think retaining possession or trying to get a turnover are entirely optional.
Personally I think Billy is better off out of it as he won't be tainted by the mess it is very likely to become.