2016: OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH THE NEW

Eddie "Miracle Worker" Jones has finally decided to rid English rugby of messrs. Farrell, Rowntree and Catt, replacing them with (probably) Steve Borthwick, Paul Gustard and Alex King. I personally think a "clean sweep" is the right decision, leaving no bad odours lingering for the players, who should now feel they all have a fair chance of being selected for the Six Nations and beyond. There just remains the small issue of paying off the Funboy Three, whose contracts the RFU had extended to 2019 just recently (yes, I know, they can afford it though).

Funboy Three have left the building

All of Eddie's selections have good reputations, from Borthwick's obvious influence on Japan in RWC 2016, Gustard's effective Saracens "wolf pack" defensive system conceding only six tries in 9 games and King's attacking CV demonstrating obvious progress at Clermont Auvergne and Northampton. The clubs affected, Bristol, Saracens and Northampton, are not impressed and are typically flexing their (legal) muscles to prevent such change, but we assume the RFU will chuck more cash at them (the only language millionaire owners understand) and England will move slowly forward.