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I am sure he could play hooker as well at a push.
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England 2024/25
- Thread starter TRF_Olyy
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I'm not too worried about that.
Assuming (yes, I know) that we beat both Fiji and Argentina - which we really ought to, then I don't think we can finish lower than 6th - even if Aus and NZ absolutely hammer us.
Hell, even if we draw both of those matches, it would require someone else to beat the odds to overtake us
Of course, I've no objection to Ford starting the AIs, and playing the gameplan built for Fin - especially considering post-Lions rest periods
Injured in March, 9-12 months prognosis.
Won't even start thinking about him until Christmas without further updates (and not just "returned to training" as that's a huge test, and frequent time for aggravation).
Internationally, he'll be targetting the 6N, but I'd target the summer.
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On this, it looks to me like he's gotten back to being a lot leaner recently. There was a point where he got very bulky, and I think it hampered his game quite a bit. He looks like he's now back to being more the size of a regular 7 rather than someone carrying the bulk of an 8 on the frame of a 7. Seems like he may have been encouraged to bulk up to play 8, even though his best games at 8 were always when he was leaner and more mobile (2023 RWC time).
Think we could see him back to his best now.
Without being boring whos the best defender of all those 13s? Its generally the defensive leader in the backs, so that will undoubtedly come in the decision. Slade has been picked due to that (and his kicking) but im not sure it was warranted as some of his defending has been poor.
Can any of the 13's kick? A huge boot exit plan is a key part of rugby now....
Can any of the 13's kick? A huge boot exit plan is a key part of rugby now....
And hopefully with Tom Willis and possibly CCS we have no need for Earl at 8 anymore.
Thats a long time out in rugby terms.
Same, though I'm not 10000000% against Farrell being in the side but withe caveat of him being there like he was supposed to be for the lions: Leadership and driving standards
That'll never happen, though, and he'll definitely be involved in the matchday 23s, if not starting, so I wouldn't actually want him there
Frustratingly I can see them dropping Ford for Farrell - they won't want two senior 10s in the side (unless they shoehorn Farrell in at centre, and drop Slade out of the equation, which wouldn't be beyond the realms of possibility)
Not heard much on Dingwall other than rehab. I'm guessing he'll be in the mix again.
Earl vs pollock debate for England is fun but in terms of open sides you’ve got two curry’s well ahead, you’ve also got underhill who has loads to offer.
As for FH, It’s F Smith’s shirt as he’s in possession of it. Let Ford earn it off him (if he can), I don’t think Smith being away with the lions means he drops down the England pecking order.
As for FH, It’s F Smith’s shirt as he’s in possession of it. Let Ford earn it off him (if he can), I don’t think Smith being away with the lions means he drops down the England pecking order.
Borthwick could always drop Marcus entirely. When i think of best England utility back I think of Daly. Freeman can also cover 15 at a push. F.Smith, Ford, Farrell (centre cover) could really be a Borthwick thing.
I'd like England to look at 15. Marcus should not be any where near a 15 shirt. Unless Borths is sold on just Steward/Furbank. I keep forgetting Steward is only 24.
Not sure who's the next best fullback.
I'd like England to look at 15. Marcus should not be any where near a 15 shirt. Unless Borths is sold on just Steward/Furbank. I keep forgetting Steward is only 24.
Not sure who's the next best fullback.
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Fundamentally not, but if Ford’s going OK and a Lions stand down means F has little rugby in his legs / form by the time the AIs roll around, there will be a decision to make.
Carpenter seems to be the next cab off the rank, based on the summer - think he fits very well with what SB wants from a 15 as well, imo he's a good midpoint between a Furbank and a Steward
Tom de Glanville won't be too far behind, as well
Does Marlins come back in to the frame if he's solely at FB for Saracens and playing well?
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Yes. That’s what I was getting at in my earlier post. The Lions are supposedly getting 10 weeks rest. There are 5 rounds prior to the AIs and by my reckoning, Lions players miss 3 of those.
If Ford is playing well, the other 10s only have 2 games to stake a claim.
Not picking him is fine, but not picking him in favour of a has been who hasn’t played well at any level for 2yrs is a pretty savage suggestion. At a point when it feels like we’re making genuine progress at 10 and 12, bringing Farrell back into the mix would be a very bad choice.
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Yes. Possibly Arundell as well.
Malins has the advantage of playing a similar playmaking type of role to Furbank.
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Farrell Senior did it, though you could argue it is pure nepotism. However, Farrell would surely have known he'd be accused of it and so it was possibly a more difficult decision for him than Borthwick and he did it anyway. I do agree though, Marcus has been treated very poorly recently and hasn't deserved it.
Yeah I could see SB liking Malins,
Be interesting to see how he plays at Saracens after the long layoff - it would take a lot for me, personally, to have him in the England setup again as I think he's had plenty of chances and never really looked like a consistent/long term option
Don't think Arundell should be considered a 15 option unless he's getting proper game time there, which is very unlikely at Bath with TdG, Carreras and Donoghue there - he's barely played FB since leaving Irish, and his decision making/defence at Racing has looked poor at the best of times
Be interesting to see how he plays at Saracens after the long layoff - it would take a lot for me, personally, to have him in the England setup again as I think he's had plenty of chances and never really looked like a consistent/long term option
Don't think Arundell should be considered a 15 option unless he's getting proper game time there, which is very unlikely at Bath with TdG, Carreras and Donoghue there - he's barely played FB since leaving Irish, and his decision making/defence at Racing has looked poor at the best of times
Not sure how that applies to the other Lions. Tend to think Borthwick will lean heavily into the Lions tourists. Most of them on paper are his best players and he'd be mad not to. Itoje, Curry, Genge etc are going straight on the team sheet regardless of game time or how others are playing.
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It totally depends on who they’re competing with. To be clear, I’m specifically talking about the starting XV here.
When you have 102 cap 10 playing well, you don’t need to replace him. Particularly when the alternatives are not clearly better.
It’s a very different situation in other positions - Itoje, Chessum, Mitchell and either of the hookers walk straight back into the side.
Genge and Stuart are our best two props but Baxter and Heyes were two of the standout performers in Argentina. Genge and Stuart go back in but it’s less of a burning need.
In the back row, do Earl and Pollock definitely deserve to be ahead of Underhill and Ben Curry? Personally, I don’t think so and I’d argue both are best used as the impact option off the bench anyway.
Wing is an interesting one. Freeman is a class act and currently first choice but if Roebuck and IFW have great starts to the season, I don’t think it would be overly controversial to pick them.
I’d always have a place for Tom Curry in my team but given he’ll likely be out after his wrist surgery, it’s a moot point.
When you have 102 cap 10 playing well, you don’t need to replace him. Particularly when the alternatives are not clearly better.
It’s a very different situation in other positions - Itoje, Chessum, Mitchell and either of the hookers walk straight back into the side.
Genge and Stuart are our best two props but Baxter and Heyes were two of the standout performers in Argentina. Genge and Stuart go back in but it’s less of a burning need.
In the back row, do Earl and Pollock definitely deserve to be ahead of Underhill and Ben Curry? Personally, I don’t think so and I’d argue both are best used as the impact option off the bench anyway.
Wing is an interesting one. Freeman is a class act and currently first choice but if Roebuck and IFW have great starts to the season, I don’t think it would be overly controversial to pick them.
I’d always have a place for Tom Curry in my team but given he’ll likely be out after his wrist surgery, it’s a moot point.
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