England 2024/25

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Less negativity and more nerves. I'm worried that he's a closet Eddie in disguise.

Exciting squad but it's all about how we play.

 

[Geordie]

I think a lot of us are waiting to see what sort of game plan the players are told to play to. I'm very optimistic about the players picked but I'm cautious that they are going to be straitjacketed by a conservative, kick heavy style of play.

Listening to Borthwick on 5 Live's podcast I'm not convinced we're going to see any evolution in attack to be honest. Lots of talk about England's "historic DNA" being important to him.

Dont expect Barbarian rugby...
1.
Continue to build the basics...strong scrum, lineout and defence.

2.
Breakdown was very impressive in the WC and they will be keen to continue that.

3..
Bring on the maul

4.
Control the game - game management vital...which might see Fin Smith forcing his way in at 10 as hes been very good there for Saints.

5.
No rugby in our own half (bar the odd exception)

6.
Kicking game (quality of the kicks) must improve, as must the kick chase. Freeman and Roebuck very strong in this area...(in fact i could see Freeman and roebuck on both wings)

7.
They will definately look to bring an attack in now...and in the opposition half it will be employed. But it wont be all singing all dancing...initially it will be quick efficient and i wouldnt be surprised to see some planned moves off first phase aswell...

8.
In the 22 zone...SB will be looking for brutal efficiency. I think he will have red marker all over "try scoring opportunities / end zone efficiency" on his spreadsheet. Thats one area where the best stand out...get a chance take it.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Less negativity and more nerves. I'm worried that he's a closet Eddie in disguise.

Exciting squad but it's all about how we play.

I think he will learn and develop his own style.

But that's why he needed more years as a head coach lower down with less pressure

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Bath centres this weekend are:
12. Lawrence
13. Ojomoh

How odd.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Frustrated Mercer 'done for time being' with England

Gloucester number eight Zach Mercer says he is "done" with England for now after not getting called up to the Six Nations squad.

www.bbc.co.uk

Ooooooooooooof


Fair play to him

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

I mean I feel for him but he has been underwhelming since coming back. Dombrandt and Barbeary both in noticeably better form.

Could be argued that he should be in over CCS but it's pretty clear CCS is just in as an apprentice who is gonna be dropped as soon as Barbeary is available and I can't imagine Mercer would want to go through that either.

 

[TommiG88]

Is Mercer eligible for Scotland?

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Is Mercer eligible for Scotland?

Think he could be, yeah. But frankly I don't think he'd crack their 23 either with Fagerson and Dempsey around.

Not that that would stop them from capturing him.

 

[TommiG88]

Think he could be, yeah. But frankly I don't think he'd crack their 23 either with Fagerson and Dempsey around.

Not that that would stop them from capturing him.

I suspect he'll be in the Summer touring team for Scotland.

I'd have him in the England squad to be fair. Think he's a cracking player

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

I suspect he'll be in the Summer touring team for Scotland.

I'd have him in the England squad to be fair. Think he's a cracking player

I swear he played in the summer no? Can't swap

Edit: I thought he'd played in a warmup, apparently not!

 

[Reiser99]

His biggest mistake was signing for Gloucester. Even ignoring the Gloucester players don't get picked jokes, Gloucester are struggling in general, so it's always hard to look good in that situation. Having said that I agree with him. He's not the type player Borthwick wants and it's depressing that good players are being overlooked because they don't fit the conservative gameplan Bothwick wants. Honestly, if he has another option he should take it.

 

[BPM]

I mean I feel for him but he has been underwhelming since coming back. Dombrandt and Barbeary both in noticeably better form.

Could be argued that he should be in over CCS but it's pretty clear CCS is just in as an apprentice who is gonna be dropped as soon as Barbeary is available and I can't imagine Mercer would want to go through that either.

100% this. If you take The Big Game as a straight showdown between Mercer and Dombrandt, there was only one winner.

I like him as a player and I would have picked him ahead of CCS, but truly his form (granted that's mostly because of injury) doesn't really demand selection.

I appreciate his frustration, but spouting off like this makes him look a bit entitled which isn't going to do him any favours.

 

[BPM]

His biggest mistake was signing for Gloucester. Even ignoring the Gloucester players don't get picked jokes, Gloucester are struggling in general, so it's always hard to look good in that situation. Having said that I agree with him. He's not the type player Borthwick wants and it's depressing that good players are being overlooked because they don't fit the conservative gameplan Bothwick wants. Honestly, if he has another option he should take it.

Good player being overlooked for other good players in better form? Shocker …

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

100% this. If you take The Big Game as a straight showdown between Mercer and Dombrandt, there was only one winner.

I like him as a player and I would have picked him ahead of CCS, but truly his form (granted that's mostly because of injury) doesn't really demand selection.

I appreciate his frustration, but spouting off like this makes him look a bit entitled which isn't going to do him any favours.

The comments about "If he picked me I just know he wouldn't be able to drop me, it means that much to me" (not verbatim) in particular rub me a little the wrong way.

If he really means that then why isn't he putting in those kind of performances for Gloucester? Why's he got to be put in an England shirt to start showing that kind of form?

I mean sure Gloucester are struggling but he's a back rower; there are still plenty of ways for him to stand out in a struggling side. Just look at Guy Pepper turning heads at Newcastle.

Idk, like I said I do feel for him but this article really isn't gonna help his chances.

 

[Reiser99]

Good player being overlooked for other good players in better form? Shocker …

You can look at it like that. Also look at it as players in better teams get more opportunities to shine. I'm not saying he should be starting, but not to have someone who can offer something different in the wider squad seems worrying. Almost everyone wanted him in the WC squad as the way he was playing in France was exactly what England needed. Someone who could make line breaks and punch holes. I don't think Borthwick wants that. I reckon the stats show it can lead to turnovers and is too risky. Look at the world cup. Anytime a player did make a line break the rest of the team were not ready to support. It's like they aren't ready and I can fully believe it's because they've been told to stick together and focus on kicking for pressure.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Don't think he's eligible for Scotland - he was eligible for age grade on residency, not family ties
Wonder if he's tempted to move to Super Rugby and try for the ABs?

I feel like he should've been in the EPS, even if he has been quieter since the ankle injury - he was excellent up until the injury and has enough credit in the bank for his form in France IMO

 

[BPM]

The comments about "If he picked me I just know he wouldn't be able to drop me, it means that much to me" (not verbatim) in particular rub me a little the wrong way.

If he really means that then why isn't he putting in those kind of performances for Gloucester? Why's he got to be put in an England shirt to start showing that kind of form?

I mean sure Gloucester are struggling but he's a back rower; there are still plenty of ways for him to stand out in a struggling side. Just look at Guy Pepper turning heads at Newcastle.

Idk, like I said I do feel for him but this article really isn't gonna help his chances.

It's also disrespectful to the players selected ahead of him. He's basically saying 'I'm better than you' which hardly screams team player.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Don't think he's eligible for Scotland - he was eligible for age grade on residency, not family ties

Wonder if he's tempted to move to Super Rugby and try for the ABs?

Slightly interestingly there was that question the other day about whether Roots would be the first player with Māori ancestry to represent England. Turns out Mercer actually has Māori ancestry too.

Think he'd carve up in Super Rugby to be fair.

 

[BPM]

So Dombrandt got dropped from the final RWC squad after being in the side in the build up. He had plenty of cause to be hacked off. More than Mercer does now.

Instead of *****ing to the media, he got on with it and has started the season in the kind of form to properly warrant a recall. That is how you respond to being snubbed.

I suspect the truth of it is that Mercer swapped the South of France for Gloucester on the apparent assumption he'd be picked. He's ****** off with his own decision making and lashing out at others rather than looking in the mirror.

 

[LIONSxv]

So Dombrandt got dropped from the final RWC squad after being in the side in the build up. He had plenty of cause to be hacked off. More than Mercer does now.

Instead of *****ing to the media, he got on with it and has started the season in the kind of form to properly warrant a recall. That is how you respond to being snubbed.

I suspect the truth of it is that Mercer swapped the South of France for Gloucester on the apparent assumption he'd be picked. He's ****** off with his own decision making and lashing out at others rather than looking in the mirror.

TBF to Mercer, Dombrandt(massive dombrandt fan btw) did get given a sustained run in the team and was pretty average. I think Mercer is peed off as he has never been given any game time

I would also imagine he has been some fairly significant encouragement to return to England. My bet is that he will be back to top 14 in the next season.

For me Mercer could play 6 if you played an abrasive 7 like Underhill. Mercer is a good line out option too..