England 2025/26

[Which Tyler]

Yup.
Any many said (and say) the same thing.
And for Farrell at 12.
And Lawrence at 12.
And Earl at 8.
And...
...

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Changing the subject slightly, I saw an article on Rugby Pass picking out the next 5 players to be capped by the All Blacks and thought it was worth discussing what that might look like for us.

My list would be:

Afo Fasogbon Stuart and AOF’s injuries create an obvious gap at Tighthead. Heyes will need understudies and, having been in the touring party in Argentina, Davison and Fasogbon look to be the most likely candidates. Davison is already capped, but it seems likely one of Fasogbon or Sela will be in the mix to pick up some game time in the 6N. From a form POV, Sela probably edges it. However, I’m going for Fasogbon given the time he’s already had in camp.

Nathan Jibulu After LCD and George, there’s a significant drop off. Dan seems to have retained his place as 3rd choice, but I can see Jibulu and Tuipolotu making an increasingly strong case for inclusion. I’ve gone for Jibulu on the basis that he’s getting more regular game time to push for selection.

Ben Bamber We lack big beasts and Bamber could provide important bulk and work rate. I wasn’t a particular fan until recently, but he’s converted me with his performances this season. It looks like something has really clicked and I’d regard him as a very, very interesting prospect who offers something a bit different to the rest of our lock options.

Emeka Ilione But for a badly timed injury, it might have already happened. The back row battle is unbelievably tough but if he can pick up where he left off pre-injury, I think he’s a serious contender who Borthwick clearly rates.

Noah Caluori I’m still a bit hesitant about the speed of the hype train, but with Freeman looking great at 13 and Roebuck struggling for fitness, there could be an opening for a winger who excels in the air. He’s obviously very much on the radar, so I think a cap is a matter of time.

Honourable mentions: Vilakesi Sela, Kepu Tuipolotu, Charlie Bracken, Greg Fisilau, Emmanuel Iyogun

He’s uncapped against proper teams ……just wonder if Chick might enter the equation in an underrated big Geordie Mark Wilson kind of way.

Huge back row competition, obvs, but he’s a big unit who’s pretty much an out and out 8. We’ve lost Willis and SB doesn’t seem 100% taken with CCS yet, at least to the extent of not giving him a contract. Obviously now playing week in, week out in a top team and building an understanding with Mitchell. Also a fair bit of leadership experience with Falcons and now Saints, which is a big plus for me.

For all those positives I think it’s odds against. At 29, not one for the long term, but these should be his peak years where he can balance physical prime with experience. So just possibly someone who could fill a gap in the run up to 27 if we want to look more at specialist 8s than hybrids.

 

[Scotty]

He’s uncapped against proper teams ……just wonder if Chick might enter the equation in an underrated big Geordie Mark Wilson kind of way.

Huge back row competition, obvs, but he’s a big unit who’s pretty much an out and out 8. We’ve lost Willis and SB doesn’t seem 100% taken with CCS yet, at least to the extent of not giving him a contract. Obviously now playing week in, week out in a top team and building an understanding with Mitchell. Also a fair bit of leadership experience with Falcons and now Saints, which is a big plus for me.

For all those positives I think it’s odds against. At 29, not one for the long term, but these should be his peak years where he can balance physical prime with experience. So just possibly someone who could fill a gap in the run up to 27 if we want to look more at specialist 8s than hybrids.

Honestly I dont see it outside of injury crisis.

I think SB will stick with with Earl at 8 as the more mobile athletic 8 with Pollock on the bench as a fresh like for like replacement to develop (not the same obv) , with CCS as 5/8 for specific gameplans, And with the Currys, Underhill and Pepper we dont need Chick.

We dont have the players To be SA but we do have quite a few athletic players with alot of skill.

When we attack it seems fast through our forwards with some strong attacking backs. I dont think a Chick style player will break in if im honest, not that I dont rate him.

 

[OllyM97]

Absolutely.

February is a big month for us. My hope is that we thrash Wales and then beat Scotland and Ireland convincingly with no bandwidth for those wins to be considered undeserved, lucky or influenced by a controversial decision.

If we can do that and back it up with a good win in Rome, we’d be going to Paris looking for a GS.

In some respects, the opening game of the 6N in Paris sets the tone without us being involved. For the first time, there’s a bit of pressure on Andy Farrell and if Ireland lose, that will only ratchet up ahead of facing us in round 3.

OTOH, if Ireland can win in Paris, it probably gives us the better route to winning the tournament/a possible GS.

Going to be an interesting February anyway.

I don’t think a close loss in France would put extra pressure on Farrell, but if Ireland never look like winning the game and it’s a comfortable win for France, then I’d say that’s a different story because it would be a continuation of what happened in November.

From our point of view an Irish win in that game is probably preferable, but there’s also part of me that thinks that an emphatic French victory in R1 might make them think that a Grand Slam game against us is in the bag which could mean they turn up half-arsed in Edinburgh and get turned over.

 

[Ddanno]

I don't think Scotland have the firepower to take France down. They can't beat them up front and they can't keep their backs contained. As said earlier, the only game they get up for is against us.

 

[Geordie]

Are there any A games in the near future or solely first team in the 6n?

If there's an A squad gathering I want to see Bamber promoted to the seniors, and young Oscar Usher in the A squad. He's been quite superb for us...a complete all round lock.

Is Kpoku eligible for the 6n now he's been confirmed to Sale?

The jury is still out on Fasogabon...

 

[BPM]

I don’t remember any A games being announced, but it seems to be something we’re committed to so it’s probably more of a when than an if.

Are you getting Marchant and Kpoku mixed up? Marchant is confirmed. Kpoku is just a rumour at this stage. Either way, I don’t think either would be available for the 6N.

 

[BPM]

I don’t think a close loss in France would put extra pressure on Farrell, but if Ireland never look like winning the game and it’s a comfortable win for France, then I’d say that’s a different story because it would be a continuation of what happened in November.

From our point of view an Irish win in that game is probably preferable, but there’s also part of me that thinks that an emphatic French victory in R1 might make them think that a Grand Slam game against us is in the bag which could mean they turn up half-arsed in Edinburgh and get turned over.

Yeah. Agree with most of that.

I live in Northern Ireland and the mood has definitely changed a bit. I was at the Ulster game last night and most of the folks there were talking about the Ireland squad being at a bit of a tipping point and relying on the old guard at the expense of building depth. No-one was confident of beating France.

They’re still a very good side, but if they lose against both France and England, I think there will be more calls to freshen up the squad. Even if the games are tight.

Having said that, they were the last team to beat us and they’re perfectly capable of beating us again next month. Before we worry about that we need to smash Wales and win at Murrayfield. Both are banana skin games in different ways. We should thump Wales, but if we don’t, it will add a bit of extra pressure on the Scotland game which is already a tough away fixture.

 

[Geordie]

I don’t remember any A games being announced, but it seems to be something we’re committed to so it’s probably more of a when than an if.

Are you getting Marchant and Kpoku mixed up? Marchant is confirmed. Kpoku is just a rumour at this stage. Either way, I don’t think either would be available for the 6N.

AHH thanks, I've heard Kpoku is confirmed aswell but clearly it's not true as of yet.

 

[NickBD]

Has anyone been watching Racing? How has Kpoku developed? Based on last years u20 6N he didn't look that great to be honest. Sodeke seems have over taken him.

 

[NickBD]

Lot of rugby to be played before 2027 but it might be too late for him. Based on very limited u20 6N and lack of playing time at Racing ( Ive not seen but only played a few challenge cup games according to wiki). I would have made the move in summer of 2025 you had 3rd and 4th lock spots more open then it is now. Also would have given himself a 2 years run up rather then just the 1. Maro, Chessum, Coles have the top 3 spots. Leaves 1 spot maybe 2. He needs to be good quickly at a young age to be given a chance, he also needs a lot of stuff to go right Ewels to get more red cards, Martin's health, Sodeke and Bamber find it tough at top level.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

I'm a big fan of the Freeman at 13 experiment - I'm just glad it's happening at club level, not internationally.
If that continues for the whole of January, I'll have... gripes, but not complaints if he gets 6N time there (though I'd still prefer it in 20-minute intervals once the bench comes on, or against sides where there shouldn't be much jeopardy)

I worry about Freeman playing centre. He is a very good winger. Why do you need to move him.
Rioko Ioane was a world class winger and moving him to centre has ruined his career.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I worry about Freeman playing centre. He is a very good winger. Why do you need to move him.
Rioko Ioane was a world class winger and moving him to centre has ruined his career.

What do you specifically worry about?

 

[Geordie]

I worry about Freeman playing centre. He is a very good winger. Why do you need to move him.
Rioko Ioane was a world class winger and moving him to centre has ruined his career.

To me he has the complete skill set to be a world class 13 aswell as a world class winger.

He wants to play 13 so I have no worries.

 

[Ddanno]

To me he has the complete skill set to be a world class 13 aswell as a world class winger.

He wants to play 13 so I have no worries.

Same here really. As WT said I don't want him learning it at international level a lá shoving Marcus to 15, particularly from a defensive standpoint, but if Saints keep giving him gametime there I think he'll be above Lawrence by the end of the year for the white shirt. We're not short on classy wingers and Tommy simply has to play.