England 2024/25

[Vieux Talonneur]

Sweeney's earnings include a one off post pandemic recovery payment of £358K from a long term incentive plan after the exec team took a pay cut during Covid. Salary's a mere £742K.

But still….

 

[TommiG88]

That's a terrifying amount of money to be earning

 

[BrokenWing]

I wouldn't get out of bed for that… Much like Sweeney appears to do.

 

[Becca]

That's a terrifying amount of money to be earning

Earning ?

 

[AlRums]

I would like to call out one of the most ridiculous comments I have heard this week which is the suggestion that England's autumn fixtures were in the wrong order and they should have played Japan first. I am sure all the northern hemisphere teams would have liked to play Japan first but its not possible. Somebody has to play them on the 4th weekend. You cant have Newzealand and South Africa not playing the first weekend just because nobody wants to play them first.
If England had played Japan the first weekend then somebody else would have had to play the allblacks the first weekend. The fixture list doesn't revolve around what suits England best.

From opposition point of view England were the easier game before SA and France.

Japan played France in their AI internationals.

Also consider the SH and Japan have been playing consistently together for a few months from June/July onwards, approx every two weeks.

Come 6N the teams will be much more in "test mode" as teams having had the AIs two months earlier.

 

[Booboobang]

I didn't realise Butt had played as much centre as he has - in my head he was a winger filling in while Ojomoh/Redpath weren't available, but looks like 12's been his primary position for a couple of seasons

When I raised him in the A's thread someone disagreed and raised the same point of a wing playing 12, personally I dont see that, he is as close to a crash ball 12 we have, and always seems to add something to his game every season.

I am a fan, but may be just a prem player, not sure his size or strength would offer the advantage it does domestically internationally.

 

[Geordie]

Get Sammy Arnold in there man !!

 

[Geordie]

Why are we incapable of producing a 12 with some real physical presence and a decent (not brilliant) handling skillset..

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

We are in 'desperate need of a world class inside centre' but it's not like we have one we're just ignoring … I'd just settle for one who is consistently good TBH, they don't have to be world class. We can wish for one but they're not going to magically appear.

Some problems have solutions we can try such as Willis at 8 or switching our defensive system away from the blitz at all costs one. For others, solutions are less apparent or need a different approach.

It feels like we're looking for a big, gainline busting 12. However, in the absence of someone able to perform that role, I think we need to change how we attack. A more subtle game plan might suit the likes of Seb Atkinson better (he's big but he's not a crash ball centre).

Yeah any good 12 will do, I probably worded that wrong. We have enough talent at 12 across the premiership to mould one of them into a world class centre eventually just need minutes at test level. Seb Atkinson for Gloucester is a good shout, shame Lennox is going to Montpellier.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

Sweeney's earnings include a one off post pandemic recovery payment of £358K from a long term incentive plan after the exec team took a pay cut during Covid. Salary's a mere £742K.

But still….

I really want to see the accounts now. If they've paid off the Covid loans/support in full I'll eat my... I don't own a hat. My scarf.

And I mean the full accounts and working papers

 

[Geordie]

Yeah any good 12 will do, I probably worded that wrong. We have enough talent at 12 across the premiership to mould one of them into a world class centre eventually just need minutes at test level. Seb Atkinson for Gloucester is a good shout, shame Lennox is going to Montpellier.

Atkinson looks potentially very good but he's still small.
Even if we have Steward at 15 we are still missing a few Inches and KGs across the backline.

 

[Booboobang]

Atkinson looks potentially very good but he's still small.
Even if we have Steward at 15 we are still missing a few Inches and KGs across the backline.

Could really **** of the welsh after manny and cap Bryn Bradley, big lad, looks like they are lining him up to fill lennox's shoes.

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

Atkinson looks potentially very good but he's still small.
Even if we have Steward at 15 we are still missing a few Inches and KGs across the backline.

Would be interested in seeing Joe carpenter have a run out to be fair.