England 2024/25

[Geordie]

Chisholm was very good last night

 

[Geordie]

Thats Dingwall, but people keep saying he's not got an X factor about his game which is very true. He's a true player which you need between Marcus and Lawrence.

The only question I hear from people on Dingwall is about his physicality at the top level. I guess unless he's played a run of games against all the tops teams we won't know...

 

[Rugbyfan564]

England: Six potential debutants in 2025 including 'generational talent' and Bath 'big bopper'

With 2025 upon us, Planet Rugby has selected six players who could make their Test debuts for England this year as Steve Borthwick searches for improved results.

www.planetrugby.com

 

[Geordie]

England: Six potential debutants in 2025 including 'generational talent' and Bath 'big bopper'

With 2025 upon us, Planet Rugby has selected six players who could make their Test debuts for England this year as Steve Borthwick searches for improved results.

www.planetrugby.com

Oscar Beard...absolutely
Ibitoye ....not sure
Tommy Wyatt?..I'd prefer Nick David of Quins to be honest.

 

[higgik]

Chisholm is a funny one. He's usually very good but his various injuries mean that he's never really been able to establish himself as a genuine starter.

Picking a back row combination from Dombrandt, CCS, Evans, Kenningham and Chisholm is more of a horses for courses affair. A nice problem to have.

Kenningham has probably played his way into mine though, whether that's at 6 or 7. Just a great player.

Nice to have options.
Noticed, they went 'big' v Leicester.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

What Steve Borthwick must do to revive England’s fortunes in 2025

New centre pairing of Alex Lozowski and Fraser Dingwall, Fin Smith at fly half, and Tom Willis at No8 should be among Steve Borthwick’s changes for Six Nations

www.thetimes.com

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

What Steve Borthwick must do to revive England’s fortunes in 2025

New centre pairing of Alex Lozowski and Fraser Dingwall, Fin Smith at fly half, and Tom Willis at No8 should be among Steve Borthwick’s changes for Six Nations

www.thetimes.com

He's Welsh. It's sabotage.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

England: Six potential debutants in 2025 including 'generational talent' and Bath 'big bopper'

With 2025 upon us, Planet Rugby has selected six players who could make their Test debuts for England this year as Steve Borthwick searches for improved results.

www.planetrugby.com

Ibitoye was one I was excited at when he was in the U20's but he seems to have stalled at senior level. He's improved, particularly in attack, but his defence and general rugby IQ are still suspect IMO. One for the future I think if he keeps improving in that he's like IFW by being very strong and agile and generally difficult to put down. Not sure he will be so favoured if all we want to do is hoof the ball up in the air and hope our wingers do will on the chase.

 

[BPM]

He's Welsh. It's sabotage.

Classic Stephen Jones. Slag off Marcus Smith and drop anyone who plays for Quins from the the squad altogether.

 

[Geordie]

Theres some really talented young centres coming through...

Woodward the Tigers 12 looks very good. Atkinson showing well every week..Beard playing well for Quins at 13, Lawrence outstanding at 13 ....

Anyone else impressing you?

Surely the England midfield issues are going to be resolved soon...

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Theres some really talented young centres coming through...

Woodward the Tigers 12 looks very good. Atkinson showing well every week..Beard playing well for Quins at 13, Lawrence outstanding at 13 ....

Anyone else impressing you?

Surely the England midfield issues are going to be resolved soon...

I don't think Borthwick has fixed any of England issues to date, so I doubt he will use any of the younger exciting players at centre. Expect to see Slade and Lawrence with Marcus all looking like they've never met before when we play Ireland.

 

[Geordie]

I don't think Borthwick has fixed any of England issues to date, so I doubt he will use any of the younger exciting players at centre. Expect to see Slade and Lawrence with Marcus all looking like they've never met before when we play Ireland.

I agree...I'm not sure were gonig to see many changes at all this 6n....

More hope for the summer...

 

[Reiser99]

My worry is it feels like the attitude is stick with the current players and system and hope it works.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

T Willis tearing it up again yesterday. If not the complete performance, it was a pretty good stab at it, busy and hugely influential in both attack and defence.

It will be ridiculous if he's not involved in the 6N.

His brother's signed an extension for Toulouse. With the form they're both in it's a huge shame we won't get to see them in tandem.

 

[BPM]

Yeah - if Willis is still ignored it will be insane.

Other than that though, I'd argue that Seb Atkinson, Pollock, Murley and Kenningham are the only players from outside of the existing squad who have made a really compelling case for inclusion.

A lot of the form related changes would be players who are already in the squad but a change to the 23. For example, LCD over George.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

The big problem which isn't Borthwicks fault is we have a lack of form across the a large part of the squad who are quite young. The only other option would be form players who don't exist or don't have caps.

Let's take Willis, if they bring him in what happens to Earl and CCS who's look good (but with errors) when he's played.

A couple of years ago I thought we had the players to get to the top and now I don't think we do.

We've got young players with potential and older ones either out of form (Genge, George) or constantly injured players like Chessum, Martin, curry, underhill who I would want to build a squad around if they were in the squad all the time.

We also really need to settle on what style we are playing and pick players that match that (hopefully the two go hand in hand).

Even Italy seem to have better players than us at the moment.

 

[BPM]

I mostly agreed with your post until the complete fantasy of the last line.

Which Italian players would you take over ours exactly?

I'd happily take Menoncello and Brex as a partnership, but that's literally it. I'd also question whether they're actually better players than our centres or simply a better combination (significantly helped by playing together for Benneton).

 

[Scotty]

Oscar Beard...absolutely
Ibitoye ....not sure
Tommy Wyatt?..I'd prefer Nick David of Quins to be honest.

Wyatt had a long injury lay off but I'm interest to see how he develops now, had a good game in a losing team vs tigers, definitely not suggesting he's picked any time soon or even that he will but he is a good player

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Steve Borthwick and England facing historic USA test

England’s summer tour will include a historic Test against the USA, as well as the already announced two-match series against Argentina.

www.therugbypaper.co.uk

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Itoje's playing some good rugby. But yesterday was his 8th yellow in 21 games which is mad. OK, much of that's at club level, but if you struggle to keep your discipline at that level logic says it will be even harder internationally. Either way, not what you expect from a senior player, and is allied to a historically pretty high personal penalty count.

Might be that he's one of those you only get the best from when he's right on the edge. But you hope he'd be a bit smarter by now and human nature means that refs will be aware of his reputation.