England 2025/26

[Rugbyfan564]

Fin Smith: Losing England 10 shirt hurts

Fin Smith admits he has found slipping down England's fly-half pecking order tough to take, with George Ford the first-choice 10 during the autumn Tests.

www.bbc.co.uk

Henry Pollock: Jamie George on England's 'brilliant idiot'

Jamie George says England team-mate Henry Pollock is a personality without precedent in rugby and a "genuinely fascinating" character.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Geordie]

Im curious to see where SB is going with the ten spot.

Fin needs to be nailing down that spot really and we then need the back ups with enough caps to be comfortable if they are called upon.

But Ford isnt going away just yet and what to do with a Marcus.

 

[Scotty]

Im curious to see where SB is going with the ten spot.

Fin needs to be nailing down that spot really and we then need the back ups with enough caps to be comfortable if they are called upon.

But Ford isnt going away just yet and what to do with a Marcus.

I think it's as simple as George is first choice(rightfully IMO but not massively if you get what I'm saying), Fin is second but not a utility and is the least experienced. Marcus is 3rd choice FH but first choice utility back who is primarily a FH,

Fin needs to be patient and learn from Ford as he will be first choice no doubt as likely will start to overtake Ford/Ford will retire. I hope he picks up gametime in the 6N though as if Ford gets injured it hurts us.

 

[Which Tyler]

I think it's as simple as George is first choice(rightfully IMO but not massively if you get what I'm saying), Fin is second but not a utility and is the least experienced. Marcus is 3rd choice FH but first choice utility back who is primarily a FH,

Fin needs to be patient and learn from Ford as he will be first choice no doubt as likely will start to overtake Ford/Ford will retire. I hope he picks up gametime in the 6N though as if Ford gets injured it hurts us.

Yup.
Ford is currently our best FH, so he starts.
Fin is currently our 2nd best FH, but he doesn't provide any utility options from the bench - he could come back into the frame with either a 5:3 bench split, an injury to Ford, or a run of form that moves him ahead.
Marcus is currently our 3rd best FH, but provides cover at FB, making him an option for a 6:2 bench, an also provides a difference is SB needs to change things up. Still requires a lot of mid-match shuflling if he has to come on for an injury though.