England 2024/25

[BPM]

From what I can tell, his situation is no different to Van Der Merwe who's playing for Scotland?

Essentially the same team under a slightly different name.

Yeah. I think that's the crux of his argument. When others played for age grade sides it didn't 'capture' them whereas anyone who played in the side he did has to stay South African. I don't feel sorry for him but I can understand his frustration.

 

[Scotty]

Jacques Vermeulen frustrated as England hopes are ruled out

Exeter forward Jacques Vermeulen says he is frustrated that he is not being declared eligible to play for England.

www.bbc.co.uk

With my Chiefs bias I feel for him given Van Der Merwe can play for Scotland and he can't play for England. And he's going for for British citizenship. Least he's committed.

I rate him quite abit he is very physical and a great player but in the most stacked area for England he wouldn't make it anyway, and nor should he as he's behind others.

Not a huge fan of foreign players playing on residency alone tbh but if a players is eligible then themselves the rules.

 

[stus768]

Ive seen commenters saying Benhard Janse van Rensburg is captured by having played SA u20s as well

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Hope so,
One of my favourite players to watch, in the Prem, but don't want him playing for England

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

RFU revolt erupts as Bill Sweeney and Tom Illube face vote of no confidence

Exclusive: Governing body’s council members moving to revolt against senior leadership in wake of bonus payments controversy

www.telegraph.co.uk

Suspect this will all end with lots of resignations but also issues hiring successors. I mean if Borthwick eventually goes an unstable leadership will out of many possible successors.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

RFU revolt erupts as Bill Sweeney and Tom Illube face vote of no confidence

Exclusive: Governing body’s council members moving to revolt against senior leadership in wake of bonus payments controversy

www.telegraph.co.uk

Suspect this will all end with lots of resignations but also issues hiring successors. I mean if Borthwick eventually goes an unstable leadership will out of many possible successors.

On the subject of salaries, you have to take it with a big pinch of salt, but SB is reputed to be the highest paid coach in the world game, or at least right up there.

Whether his track record warrants that is another matter, but the trade off for big cash is delivery against high expectations. If he really is being paid world leading money, then all stakeholders - RFU, players, us as fans, do have a right to expect something pretty damed special - certainly more than excuses and promises of jam tomorrow.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

On the subject of salaries, you have to take it with a big pinch of salt, but SB is reputed to be the highest paid coach in the world game, or at least right up there.

Whether his track record warrants that is another matter, but the trade off for big cash is delivery against high expectations. If he really is being paid world leading money, then all stakeholders - RFU, players, us as fans, do have a right to expect something pretty damed special - certainly more than excuses and promises of jam tomorrow.

It's hard to imagine his successor being much cheaper

 

[Lé Ddanno]

It's hard to imagine his successor being much cheaper

True, but they should be cheaper when we're ranked 7th. Performance clause - get us back to top 4

 

[BrokenWing]

promises of jam tomorrow.

Big Borthers' special nose jam - Guaranteed to get better week on week

 

[McTallshort]

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

It's hard to imagine his successor being much cheaper

Rightly.

It's a big job, it should be one of the best paid out there.

But if you pay top dollar you're expecting (a) someone with talent who's at the top of their game and (b) results, not potential or might haves or nearly dids. Just the way the world works. SB, in my book, wasn't ready for this gig, but he was offered it and in choosing to take it also accepted all that comes with it. And that will be intense scrutiny if the 6N underwhelms yet again.

 

[Saintjay]

I don't get the plucky underdog story the RFU is spinning in it's report. Close loses in New Zealand. Good performances against Ireland and France. When really we won one game. Then blending performance results with the red roses.

To quote Connery In the movie The Rock (family friendly version)

"Your "best"! Losers always whine about their best. Winners go home with the prom queen.

If i wanted to support plucky underdogs I'd follow Scotland.

 

[Booboobang]

Hope so,
One of my favourite players to watch, in the Prem, but don't want him playing for England

Wont be popular, but I am willing to bet steve pulls every string imaginable to get him in.

 

[Crash Hamster]

Wont be popular, but I am willing to bet steve pulls every string imaginable to get him in.

He was amazing again last night for Bristol; he's just got better and better since leaving LI.

Of course, England would probably turn him into some sort of kick-chasing automaton or injure him in training...

I can see England moving heaven and earth to get him in, but I don't approve.

 

[BPM]

I don't think it's absolute guarantee. It's clear we need to switch things up in midfield but if someone comes in and makes the 12 shirt their own, BJvR might not walk in to the side like he would today. 18mths is quite a long time in rugby.

Picking him is conditional on cutting off his mullet and changing his name to Ben Johnson-Renton (or something similar).

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Prompted by the 6N thread…..

After 2 full years, SB's record is P27 W13 L14 - just 48%.

The 13 wins include Jap x 3, Samoa, Chile, Fiji (yes I know, but still), and 2 each against a feeble Wal (ignoring warm ups) Ita and Arg. None from 10 against Fra, Sco, SA, NZ and Aus…..

4th and 3rd places in the 6N and a v easy draw in the RWC that got us to a semi that we should probably have seen through, but became another coulda, shoulda.

Revolving coaching doors.

Good performances in that time: Arg (RWC), 55 minutes of the SF and Ire 24. Bits of other games have been encouraging but more than offset by the lowlights.

It's not very encouraging. Notwithstanding the "who else" argument, it is very hard to think that the pressure won't be right on SB if he doesn't hit his 6N 4 wins target.

Maybe his only saving grace would be if there's been bloodletting at the top of the RFU. The pay row rumbles on and in dramatic new developments the RFU staff Christmas party has been cancelled.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

RFU Council backs vote of no confidence in senior leadership

Exclusive: More than 20 council members calling for emergency meeting in attempt to topple Tom Ilube and put pressure on Bill Sweeney

www.telegraph.co.uk

 

[IT157]

I wasn't a fan of the Borthwick appointment, but lets see how the 6 nations goes. I feel like we're not too far away from clicking. Truth be told, losing a couple of experienced coaches a few months ago didn't help at all. Most games recently have been coinflips. The test is to get on the other side of those coinflips.

I predict we finish 2nd in the 6 nations. France will win it.

 

[BPM]

2nd would be incredible. That would likely need wins in Dublin and Cardiff and beating Scotland and Italy at home.

Not completely out of the realms of possibility but a huge step forward from where we are today.

 

[Saintjay]

2nd would be incredible. That would likely need wins in Dublin and Cardiff and beating Scotland and Italy at home.

Not completely out of the realms of possibility but a huge step forward from where we are today.

If we finish second that's no six nations ***le for five years. Second will be remarkable and slightly sad that being 1st loser is a positive.