[2023 Six Nations] England Squad

[TRF_Olyy]

Forwards
Ollie Chessum
Dan Cole
Ben Curry
Alex Dombrandt
Ben Earl
Ellis Genge
Jamie George Jamie Blamire
Joe Heyes
Jonny Hill
Nick Isiekwe
Maro Itoje
Courtney Lawes Dave Ribbans
Lewis Ludlam
George McGuigan Tom Dunn
Bevan Rodd
Sam Simmonds
Kyle Sinckler
Mako Vunipola
Jack Walker (Harlequins, uncapped)
Jack Willis

Backs
Elliot Daly Ollie Lawrence
Owen Farrell
Tommy Freeman
Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, uncapped)
Dan Kelly Guy Porter
Max Malins
Joe Marchant
Alex Mitchell
Cadan Murley (Harlequins, uncapped)
Henry Slade Anthony Watson
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Marcus Smith
Freddie Steward
Manu Tuilagi
Jack van Poortvliet
Ben Youngs

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Honestly that's better than I expected

Ben Curry!

Mako the only real red flag

 

[will311293]

Honestly that's better than I expected

Ben Curry!

Ahhh noooo our leading light and captain Tom Curry is injured, god i wish we had an identical replacement with very similar skillset.... oh hold on a second....

Feel bad for Ribbans and VRR as playing well and tbh i'd have taken Tom Willis over Sam Simmonds but mainly happy.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Hmmm good squad, imagine ford won't be fit enough.

Looking at that squad I'm calling it Chessum or Isiekwe will be Lawes cover.

My guess of a team
1. Genge
2. George
3. Sinckler
4. Itoje
5. Chessum
6. Lawes
7. Willis
8. Dombrandt
9. Youngs
10. Farrell
11. OHC
12. Kelly
13 Marchant
14. Malins
15. Steward

16. McGugian
17. Mako
18. Cole
19. Hill
20. Earl
21. JVP
22. Smith
23. Freeman

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Looking at that squad I'm calling it Chessum or Isiekwe will be Lawes cover.

Itoje Isiekwe
Chessum Willis Dombrandt

That's a tasty back-5

More likely to be:

Itoje Hill
Lawes Earl Dombrandt

But you never know, I'm still thinking in terms of EJ's selections

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Itoje Isiekwe
Chessum Willis Dombrandt

That's a tasty back-5

More likely to be:

Itoje Hill
Lawes Earl Dombrandt

But you never know, I'm still thinking in terms of EJ's selections

I think Willis will start.
Borthwick loves Reffell I would argue that Willis is very similar style to Reffell compared to Earl.
Rumoured Borthwick was desperate for Willis at Tigers

 

[MarkyH]

Blimey. Could pick a good team out of that! Most positive squad in years.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Honestly, esp after his game against Racing, Murley is way above OHC and Freeman for me.

But I am super biased

 

[will311293]

Honestly, esp after his game against Racing, Murley is way above OHC and Freeman for me.

But I am super biased

I'd pick OHC and Murley. One quick, strong and jinking winger in Murley, OHC/Freeman slightly bigger and more direct winger. Love the combo.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

First time no injury list in the england squad I think...

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Faz captain.

The first thing I'm ****** off at.

BorthersOut

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Whats the worst possible team that could be picked I guess?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Freeman's been playing really well recently, I'd go for him and Murley starting with Malins on the bench

 

[Saintjay]

Thanks for saving Ben Youngs till the end of the list. It was like reading a good book, ruined by the climax........insert your own ruined climax jokes at your peril.

 

[TommiG88]

I would have liked to have seen Lawrence but other than that, generally happy with the squad.

 

[Geordie]

No Lawrence, No Hill, Mako over VRR....i give up...

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

How about team of
1. Genge, 2. McGugian, 3. Cole
4. Hill, 5. Itoje
6. Lawes, 7. Earl, 8. Simmonds
9. Youngs, 10. Smith (Either)
12. Farrell, 13. Slade
11. Steward, 14. Malins, 15. Daly

 

[Phil Wilson]

My first reaction was one of deflation, felt the forwards were uninspiring. Then I sat back and thought this is mostly the pack Borthwick got to a World Cup Final, if he's going to build something it'll be on players he trusts. Feel VRR and Ribbans are really unlucky.

I was very surprised by Fin Smith, I thought if he went for a 3rd 10 and Ford wasn't fit, it would almost certainly be Atkinson, Ollie Lawrence is unlucky but i'm excited by the back three options.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Lawrence probably misses out due to rigidity

Kelly and Manu only play centre (and inside centre, at that, these days) but Marchant and Daly are both capped at multiple positions and Slade will do a job covering 15 and even 10 if there's multiple injuries in a game
I'd have had Lawrence in over one of Marchant (form has dipped quite a lot this season) or Daly (Malins can cover the utility slot on the bench) or Manu (one or two good games over the last few seasons), but can understand why he's missed out - hopefully he's next cab off the rank

 

[EdBirch]

With my Worcester head on would've liked to have seen T Hill and Ollie Lawrence in there but this is a good squad