Interim coach of England has already made his first gigantic mistake after such an ilustrious start. It is obvious he is thinking too much about the captainhood. I suppose that means that Tom Wood was indeed his original thought.
I’d say he’s stuck.
He can’t go Hartley even as an pretender. He can’t go Palmer or Deacon either because they aren’t capable.
Besides only one of those guys might start. If Lawes is back, he’s in.
Not much power in there except two guys and those two guys might not make the cut.
Me personally, I’d hand over the match against Scotland to the marginal selection of George Skivington* and he is not even in the squad. That’s a big ask from both Lancaster and me. So that leaves the last guy standing.
In all probability Chris Robshaw will get the nod. To me, he is a bit slow off the mark because he is such a big man and without a certified open side flanker, questions could be asked if not against Scotland against the next guys up.
Make a choice Lancaster or you’ll find yourself cleaning turf off boot studs in Leeds.
* Skivington should be in the squad and yet may be. Lawes may remain injured and Palmer and Deacon are journeyman only.
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The way I left the last bit of revelation was Lars having a good time, the owl-like Tony taking in the situation and squidgy faced Larry drinking heavily from the supply of rum. Neither were speaking much to anyone. All this time Tony and Larry and Lars had not really said much to me. We played on the same rugby team and this fantastic meeting place was only an extension of the bar after a hard practice.
All the while I fell into a sort of second dream state that took me to some remote foreign city in some dingy area with a woman much older than I who I had once loved. The feeling was eerie because juxtaposed was my real life relationship, one in which I found much comfort and love in the advanced stages.
The former was a bad thing and why I was there was never really explained. I could feel guilt. Guilt borne of betrayal though nothing really was happening except an imaginary setup of housekeeping. The hint of sex was nearby and that was why the guilt.
By the time I snapped into the second fantasy Tony and Larry were reveling, especially Larry who was following Lars’ lead and wildly dancing in some sort of inexplicable fervor. The dance bordered on the grotesque.
Tony the Owl seemed deep in observation as well as thought. I sensed some guilt but said nothing.
The moment was completely hazy when the faceless rugger entered the outlandish proceedings and embraced Mrs. Claus. The dwarfs made obligatory bows and the beautiful maidens waited for something to be said or done.
At the time Tony and Larry and Lars were nowhere in sight or sound so there was no diversion.
