England 2023/24

[Which Tyler]

The Breakdown | From Feyi-Waboso to Evans: the 2023-24 Premiership team of the season

We look at the XV who have lit up the Premiership this season, including Henry Slade and Courtney Lawes

www.theguardian.com

1. Beno Obano
2. Curtis Langdon
3. Thomas du Toit
4. Maro Itoje
5. Charlie Ewels
6. Courtney Lawes
7. Will Evans
8. Zach Mercer

09. Ben Spencer
10. Finn Russell
11. Ollie Sleightholme
12. André Esterhuizen
13. Henry Slade
14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
15. Tyrone Green

Rationale in the article.
Bath have been better than expected this season, but even I am not sure we deserve quite that many.

Obano is great when he's on it, but Newcastle were far from the first team to get on top of him / make the ref think they've got on top of him
Ewels is so much better than he's been before, but Bath's lineout is still dodgy as hell.
Russell has been great for the whole team, but then, so has t'other Fin and FH, who's team are flying higher (with fewer stars, apparently).

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

No deal to televise the Japan game yet.

Sky will show the ABs games, but "remotely" which I guess means the commentary will be done from a studio. Eurosport style.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

No deal to televise the Japan game yet.

Sky will show the ABs games, but "remotely" which I guess means the commentary will be done from a studio. Eurosport style.

Really? I hate having to get sky for a month just for a series. Annoying.

 

[BPM]

Yeah. Do they still do 'day passes'? If not, I'll be making unreasonably early trips to the in-laws

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I was sure TNT (or maybe Amazon) had the mid year internationals now

Yeah. Do they still do 'day passes'? If not, I'll be making unreasonably early trips to the in-laws

£14.99 for a 1 day pass, absolute daylight robbery

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I was sure TNT (or maybe Amazon) had the mid year internationals now


£14.99 for a 1 day pass, absolute daylight robbery

Cheaper to go to the pub and have buy 1.5 pints for that money!

 

[Which Tyler]

Yeah. Do they still do 'day passes'? If not, I'll be making unreasonably early trips to the in-laws

Bloody hell - surely it's not Christmas yet!

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Pretty sure is actually a contract renewal announcement through - I don't think a club would tease a departure j this manner

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Pretty sure is actually a contract renewal announcement through - I don't think a club would tease a departure j this manner

100%. And Baxter said a few weeks ago that he expected him to stay.

Fair play to Slade for staying. Although being at a club with a seemingly bright future and being first choice for England will have made the decision easier.

(Will appear a total plank if he's going!)

 

[Scotty]

Welsh rugby: WRU to boost exile programme in 'battle' over players

It has been described as a "race to the bottom" as countries compete over the eligibility of young rugby players.

www.google.com

"Welsh rugby is to ramp up its exile programme in a bid to win what has been branded a "race to the bottom" over dual-qualified players.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is in a "battle" to not only identify players qualified to play for Wales but also hold on to Welsh talent.
Of particular concern is the number of young players being lost to England after moving schools or universities across the Severn Bridge.

Among the ideas is establishing a "scouting network" in England to identify potential future stars."



So because some Welsh qualified players chose England they will step up their own 'race to the bottom' efforts? Seems like they think that they dont try to temp away English players who are qualified for Wales already? All teams do but i dont think England is at all the worst for it. Next IFW gets brought up.

 

[Reiser99]

Welsh rugby: WRU to boost exile programme in 'battle' over players

It has been described as a "race to the bottom" as countries compete over the eligibility of young rugby players.

www.google.com

"Welsh rugby is to ramp up its exile programme in a bid to win what has been branded a "race to the bottom" over dual-qualified players.

The Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) is in a "battle" to not only identify players qualified to play for Wales but also hold on to Welsh talent.
Of particular concern is the number of young players being lost to England after moving schools or universities across the Severn Bridge.

Among the ideas is establishing a "scouting network" in England to identify potential future stars."



So because some Welsh qualified players chose England they will step up their own 'race to the bottom' efforts? Seems like they think that they dont try to temp away English players who are qualified for Wales already? All teams do but i dont think England is at all the worst for it. Next IFW gets brought up.

While Wales are not Scotland, they certainly aren't innocent in luring players to Wales either. Instead of trying to fix this race to the bottom, they want to win it instead...wonderful. I honestly feel sorry for all these young player who are going to have so much pressure on them, especially when part of it is based on trying to fix a failing Welsh system.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

Ellis Genge looks small for a prop. Jason Leonard was twice the size.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Ellis Genge looks small for a prop. Jason Leonard was twice the size.

Leonard: Height: 1.77 m. Weight: 113 kg.
Genge: Height1.86m (6' 1); Weight116.5kg

Not sure if that was a joke?

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Great bench press but after I watched that Bristol game last week it struck me how lazy Genge is on the pitch at times.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Genge strikes me as the kinda guy who benches more than he squats

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

CCS with another really strong game, apart from his handling, which is astoundingly poor

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Genge picked up a calf injury and is a doubt for summer

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Genge picked up a calf injury and is a doubt for summer

Now he definitely benches more than he squats

 

[BPM]

Genge picked up a calf injury and is a doubt for summer

First test in NZ is 6th July so might be just about enough recovery time if it's not too serious.

If not, it's good news that Obano, Baxter and Rodd are in good form.

 

[Reiser99]

At the moment props are one of the biggest worries in terms of depth. I feel like there is a real danger that we get one year out to the WC with another Youngs situation of having either props with a ridiculous number of caps or having no/a few caps.