England 2024/25

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Bit of a interesting watch didn't expect Youngs to be so grilling tbh

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Interesting that Kpoku's Racing contract has a break clause if he wants to join a prem side before the 27 RWC

 

[Booboobang]

I wonder how much of that is the need for decent 6s and then bulking as they grew.

If we'd had CCS smashing it up at 6 as he has been, I wonder if we'd have looked at Chessum at 6.

On the flip side you'd never need Eben at 6 when you have mini Eben in a storming PSDT there.

PSTD also just that generalist, starting at lock, struggling early, transitioning to 6 and now can cover both while being the best 6 on the planet. I think it is more meta, we saw a massive shift to wanting your 6 to just be another lock, another lineout option and tackling machine, and that still holds, not many true 6's at the top level and coles, chessum and martin are all very young and came through during that change in tactics.

7 is also moving, for years we yearned for a elite jackler, now with breakdown changes and reffing, true jacklers have far less value due to not converting on TO nearly as much, so you have a shift to a traditional 6 role/underhill mould.