England 2024/25

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I really don't think SB understands tactics or international rugby enough yet. His use of the bench and selections for the bench and in general show that.

Really hope he learns his lessons but we still make the same mistakes as ever tactically and SB still hasn't sorted out our attack yesterday which looked terrible. There was no shape for most phase play and we look toothless to run through or round teams.


Feel like we'll beat Australia and Japan and then lose to all the proper teams (SA, France, Scotland, Ireland). SB probably needs to be gone after this six nations as there is no improvement from day 1 on the job.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I could agree on moving CCS to 8, though

Yep. I think that's where his long term future could well be and wouldn't mind seeing him there next week. As well as Earl had been going I don't think he's a player to build a pack around. Let him compete for the 7 shirt with Currys etc.

Commentator annoyed me yesterday by calling Savea a generational player. He's very good, exceptional on his day, but no way is he in that rarified level.

 

[Geordie]

. As well as Earl had been going I don't think he's a player to build a pack around. Let him compete for the 7 shirt with Currys etc.

I agree he should not be the England 8 going forward...but personally i think he's a class act and would be my choice at 7 until Pepper is ready to take his shirt which won't be long....

I could definitely see CCS moving to 8...

For Australia...

6 Ted Hill - Trialled for 40 mins
7 Ben Curry
8 Ben Earl

Sub - CCS

6n...SB has some selection headaches
6 Chessum, Hill. CCS
7 Curry x 2, Earl
8 Willis, CCS, Earl...

 

[higgik]

On form he's one of the first names on the sheet for me, but he's not on form so....

I worry we've almost gone the opposite direction from wanting everyone to be Billy V and now we're not replacing Earl because we've no other 8 like him and it'd drastically change the balance of the back 5 (which, imo, wouldn't be an issue as Willis and CCS are dynamic enough to pick up any slack - it's not like our other options are lumbering lumps)

True, think we tru3d to copy NZ with Savea, but Earl has bulked up too much and lost his main asset, pace.
Seems like, he gas been told to bulk up in order to play 8, rather than have CCS at 6 and a Cunderhill option at 7, allowing Earl to be more expansive.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Hill dropped, Ewels recalled
Asher Opoku-Fordjour called up for Marler!

HE'S A TIGHTHEAD

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Hill dropped, Ewels recalled
Asher Opoku-Fordjour called up for Marler!

HE'S A TIGHTHEAD

sums up everything wrong with Borthwick as head coach


Really reckon Felix Jones got tired of holding SB hand and trying to pull him towards actual rugby!

 

[Geordie]

Could be a club v country argument developing here....

He's a tighthead......but a player who can be as good on either side is a huge bonus. Ala Baths Du toit.

 

[Reiser99]

Could be a club v country argument developing here....

He's a tighthead......but a player who can be as good on either side is a huge bonus. Ala Baths Du toit.

He's also too young to be playing so much and on both sides. Should wait for him to develop more. Smacks of desperation for a magic solution.

 

[Scotty]

Hill dropped, Ewels recalled
Asher Opoku-Fordjour called up for Marler!

HE'S A TIGHTHEAD

No way, Ewels has had way too many chances and and Hill is in good form. I'd genuinely rather Hill at 19 than Ewels.

Hopfully as 3rd choice to learn for AOF

 

[Becca]

Oh goody. Ewels can be our first player to get the idiotic twenty minute red card!

 

[Geordie]

He's also too young to be playing so much and on both sides. Should wait for him to develop more. Smacks of desperation for a magic solution.

Possibly, but we are at dire situation with props...serious talent but all a year or two away from ready...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Could be a club v country argument developing here....

Watch him get a central contract and us be told to never play him at 3 again, now

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Oh goody. Ewels can be our first player to get the idiotic twenty minute red card!

I was going to say "You think it'll take him 20mins to get a red?" before I remembered the new law

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Possibly, but we are at dire situation with props...serious talent but all a year or two away from ready...

Obano or Iyogun (or even Haffar) would've been better options to call up as loose heads

If they think AOF is ready for international rugby he should be there for Davidson, who probably won't get a game

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Yeah we got young props coming up now with potential. Even Heyes has started the season really well at TH

Just got to trust the process and let clubs play them where they train best in

 

[Geordie]

Watch him get a central contract and us be told to never play him at 3 again, now

Yeah that would be bad.

 

[Geordie]

Obano or Iyogun (or even Haffar) would've been better options to call up as loose heads

If they think AOF is ready for international rugby he should be there for Davidson, who probably won't get a game

It's one of those....how many games has Iyogun played at senior level as opposed to Fordjour.

This is the problem we have. We're looking to fast track hugely potential young lads who aren't ready...or shouldn't be just yet. They need a season or two at prem and euro level.

It's very frustrating....

 

[Geordie]

Ps...hes likely only to be there for experience with Baxter and genge Starter and bench...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It's one of those....how many games has Iyogun played at senior level as opposed to Fordjour.

60, with 26 starts vs 18 with 5 starts (none at looshead)