[2025 Six Nations] England vs Italy - 9/3/25

[Leonormous Boozer]

Pleased for Jamie George. Pretty tough to get a 100 England caps especially when Hartley was around at first. The Mrs favourite player on the basis he looks like he rocked up for a Vets game.

Same, he photobombed me in a nightclub in Dublin after a Leinster v Sarries game many years ago now. Didn't realise until getting home and he's been one of the England lads I've liked most since.

 

[Reiser99]

Like Dingwall and JvP.

Daly is just a waste of a cap. We learn absolutely nothing playing him here.
Tom Curry should be rested, it's ridiculous and he's not needed in this game with Ben a suitable replacement and we could have an extra back instead of the stupid 6:2 split.

Why can't Borthwick just stop making stupid decisions that negate his good ones.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Pleased for Jamie George. Pretty tough to get a 100 England caps especially when Hartley was around at first. The Mrs favourite player on the basis he looks like he rocked up for a Vets game.

Everyone's favourite barrel on legs

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Dingwall is the saints defensive backs lead so shouldn't have any issues there. He can also bang people when needed but the question will be can he stand up when needed to international rugby.

Also interested to see if we box kick every 2 phases or play or if we are actually allowed to play rugby.

Dingwall looked a bit out of his depth when he previously got a chance. Not anti him getting another crack, but he doesn't really feel like a long term solution. Hopefully he'll ram those words straight down my throat.

Feel a bit for M Smith. Never really wanted see him at 15, but he's then canned for the game where he might have had the biggest impact….in favour of Daly who's in form, but isn't the future and is more than capable of being a complete liability at 15.

Don't think LCD deserves to be dropped but had a feeling George would get the shirt for his 100th.

Still bad that we can't field a lock on the bench but I don't think it will matter as much in this game.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Dingwall was found out in defence every time he's played at this level though.

Him and Guy Porter both looked very physical at prem level and come International looked wanting

 

[Which Tyler]

@Vieux Talonneur
Agreed on Dingwall, but I think he's I proved since then. He's also played some matches at IC, which helps if being asked to play IC.
Ultimately, he's my 3rd choice IC - which is comfortably ahead of Slade

Initially, I found the idea of Marcus at FB weird but intriguing. Now I find it full of promise, and think it might be the position that best suits his attributes - I just wish he had 30 (club) matches of experience opin the position.
Other than a try against France - manufactured on the fly by Finn and Ollie (and tried again to utter failure against Scotland), I'm really not sure what Daly's done to be considered in form. I wouldn't even have him in the wider 36 man squad. His only positive currently, is versatility.

Relieved of the captaincy, and not expected to last longer than 50 minutes, George is our best hooker IMO.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Dingwall's defence does look good for Saints but I can't get past the physics of him being 4ft6 and 7st vs giga chad Brex at 7ft9 and 23st


(I've eyeballed those stats, but even after Saints "improved focus on strength and conditioning" which saw all their backs pack on a stone or two of lean muscle in one off season while also doing a ton of cardio, he still does look small for international rugby)


Oh and also I'm disappointed we're not getting Langdon some minutes - but I suppose his time will (hopefully) come in the summer. Just a shame is all

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Also interested to see if we box kick every 2 phases or play or if we are actually allowed to play rugby.

We will reach the lofty heights of 3 phases

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Forgot to comment earlier as well, what must SB think of Coles or is he still not 100% fit for no lock on the bench. Big risk really.

I've said it before but Coles has had a season full of injuries and his form hasn't been fantastic. But he's a really good prem level player just needed to step up to international rugby which he hasn't done to date.

Odd how we haven't looked at another lock though.

 

[Geordie]

Dingwall was found out in defence every time he's played at this level though.

Him and Guy Porter both looked very physical at prem level and come International looked wanting

Dingwall makes Slade look huge.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

@Vieux Talonneur
Agreed on Dingwall, but I think he's I proved since then. He's also played some matches at IC, which helps if being asked to play IC.
Ultimately, he's my 3rd choice IC - which is comfortably ahead of Slade

Initially, I found the idea of Marcus at FB weird but intriguing. Now I find it full of promise, and think it might be the position that best suits his attributes - I just wish he had 30 (club) matches of experience opin the position.
Other than a try against France - manufactured on the fly by Finn and Ollie (and tried again to utter failure against Scotland), I'm really not sure what Daly's done to be considered in form. I wouldn't even have him in the wider 36 man squad. His only positive currently, is versatility.

Relieved of the captaincy, and not expected to last longer than 50 minutes, George is our best hooker IMO.

Having started the M Smith experiment this seems a very odd time to abandon it, and especially in favour of Daly. When M comes on, you can almost see him now being too keen to prove a point and forcing it.

No issue with George starting. Just thought LCD had done enough to keep the shirt, and for all the protestations about it being a squad game they'll all want a starting shirt.

 

[HamJan]

Opening gambit. Someone needs to give Genge a slap and reality check. If he really cant understand why England fans were less than impressed with the 1 point win over Scotland he needs words. Moving onto Italy. Quite simply we need to completely smash them. Not only to have any chance of being in the running come the last weekend, but to start setting a standard that as fans, we can get behind. I understand that not all games can be flowing champagne rugby. Sometimes the conditions play a part, or a style of the opposition etc. But against Italy there will be little excuse not to keep the ball in hand and play heads up rugby. Let the Smiths stretch their legs. Actually get the ball into the hands of Lawrence and get him carving up the middle. Lets get wingers involved. On that front I do wonder what the back 3 will be. One has to assume Freeman and Smith, but Slightholme had a bit of a shocker against Scotland and Daly really rather showed him up I thought. Could we see Daly start on the wing instead, or another winger altogether come in.

You've also gotta believe that JVP is at least going to get a Bench spot for this one. Other then that I cant see why we would need to change anything else bar injury.

The next two games have to be critical for the entire coaching team. Win convincingly and they may win a reprieve and we will then wait for the AAs to see if a corner has indeed been turned. Scrape wins, or worse still, lose to either Italy or Wales, and you've gotta hope time will be up and more experienced and competent hands will be sought out?!

I propose that you should be the man to give Genge a slap and a reality check. Please come back to us and tell us how it all went.

 

[IT157]

Overall happy with the squad.

Van Poortvliet suits Borthwicks style more than Randall.

Dingwell is actually a number 12. I agree he did seem a bit lightweight on his previous international appearance, but happy to give him another chance. I think Slade has been fine, but good to see what someone else can do.

Fine with Daly being at fullback, and M.Smith to come as a sub and cause mayhem against tired legs. Weren't a lot of people clamouring for him to be a bench player and then come on later? Although watch him come on for Daly to replace him at fullback instead.

George starting his 100th game makes sense.

We have fan favourite Ted Hill on the bench. He's definitely flavour of the month.

Honestly it seems like a lot of changes (Willis coming into the team, Hill making the squad, etc.) are what the fans wanted, and is what we are getting.

No matter what squad is chosen, there will be complaints I suppose.

 

[BrokenWing]

We will reach the lofty heights of 3 phases

SB thinks you have to be a qualified electrician to deal with 3 phases.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

SB thinks you have to be a qualified electrician to deal with 3 phases.

Expect all English support runners to be 120 degrees from each other.

 

[Geordie]

Dingwall is listed at 14st.

Menonchello is listed as 16'7, and Brex 15'8...so that's alot of weight to be giving away

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Overall happy with the squad.

Van Poortvliet suits Borthwicks style more than Randall.

Dingwell is actually a number 12. I agree he did seem a bit lightweight on his previous international appearance, but happy to give him another chance. I think Slade has been fine, but good to see what someone else can do.

Fine with Daly being at fullback, and M.Smith to come as a sub and cause mayhem against tired legs. Weren't a lot of people clamouring for him to be a bench player and then come on later? Although watch him come on for Daly to replace him at fullback instead.

George starting his 100th game makes sense.

We have fan favourite Ted Hill on the bench. He's definitely flavour of the month.

Honestly it seems like a lot of changes (Willis coming into the team, Hill making the squad, etc.) are what the fans wanted, and is what we are getting.

No matter what squad is chosen, there will be complaints I suppose.

People keep saying this but he isn't he's a 13 in the Conrad Smith mould (Not to that level but still)
Saints have generally looked their best with Hutchinson or Burger at 12

The biggest plus is that Lawrence is similar to Burger and should hopefully complement him more, compared with Salde at 13 last time at this level.


What annoys me most about this selection is that it was perfect to try and give a second lock Development, if England want him at lock then push Bath to move him. I just see it as a waste instead of rewarding someone like Lockett for the A game.

 

[mkersyshull]

England website has Slade at 96kg and Dingwell 95.7kg
Those 300g could make all the difference

 

[Crash Hamster]

well, that's 'interesting'...

Happy to see Dingwall get a go. Can he do it? Will he get 2 games to try out as a 12 then get dropped in an MSmith-esque relegation. I'm in no doubt Slade is orders of magnitude better than me, but I'm still happy to see him Far Far Away, though we may need more of a Bangin' Man than Dingwall to replace him. At least Bostik has described DIngers as a glue player, which seems to be the role he performs for Saints.

JvP back for Randall is no great shock. JvP was quite an attacking, sniping young scrum half before it was coached out of him; it would be nice to see him back to that sort of a game.

Daly? Humph.

A complete back row on the bench is interesting; hope Ted Hill enjoys his 15 seconds of fame this week.

I really rated Fin Smith at Worcester and he's obviously kicked on since then at Saints; he's a terrific player, but why he's suddenly better than MSmith is a mystery. If his career follows a similar trajectory, England will be in front when F is subbed off, then blamed in the media for the subsequent defeat.

 

[AlRums]

I really rated Fin Smith at Worcester and he's obviously kicked on since then at Saints; he's a terrific player, but why he's suddenly better than MSmith is a mystery. If his career follows a similar trajectory, England will be in front when F is subbed off, then blamed in the media for the subsequent defeat.

Finn Smith has been in the very fortunate position of taking the last kicks at goal for two one point wins, so he's the new messiah, much the same way as MS was when he kicked the drop goal to win against Ireland last year.