Quote: Blobbynator "There is no class whatsoever in the backs, the only spark comes from Eastmond who is ideal to play an impact type role. The problem is, he isn't good enough to control a team yet as he has barely been given the chance to do it at Saints.'"
I fully agree with your point about a lack of class in this current England team, look how many points the aussies and the kiwis have scored over the years by having a class full back that supports the line, i don`t see that option with any of the current english full backs.
Eastmond is an exciting player who i rate highly, everytime he runs the ball he either looks like breaking a tackle by ducking low (Jason Robinson style) or you just feel that something is going to happen, with his first real touch of the ball tonight in some quality space he set up that try for Briscoe with a superbly weighted kick, it was great vision. Where was that similar vision from our starting half backs tonight ?
Class players create a lot of their own space as they make players stand off them as the opposition don`t want to commit themselves incase they get side stepped by quality and pace, you don`t get that feeling with many players in this england team playing in the pivots.
Personally i think Eastmond has to be involved from the start somehow, i would play him at left centre ahead of Shenton as Eastmond looked dangerous in that position for saints.
The halfbacks are a real problem though, even Danny Brough would have offered us a lot more from 7 as he can organise and isn`t affraid to bark out the orders, he has a fairly decent kicking game too. I`m still amazed that Rob Burrow was left out, sky said he was simply left out and wasn`t injured.
