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England Six Nations Squad 2025

Everyone watches rugby for tries being scored. Borthwick might just have had a little cry at Tigers optional defence and Jack Willis.
12 against your home team?

I think Glasgow Warriors would be licking their lips about now
 
Willis is a better rugby player than CCS and also works harder.

He is. At club level.

He's also 4 years older so he should be a lot more rounded.

But we've seen that what works in the Prem doesn't always translate when the going gets tougher. CCS has the kind of natural power and ruggedness few are blessed with. That still counts in the international game, especially as our front 5 isn't overly powerful. He carries well, including from the base, hits hard and his line out has improved hugely from virtually zero a couple of years ago. He's not the complete footballer, but he can throw some decent offloads. He makes mistakes, but experience will sort many of those.

In terms of of work rate and all round skills, they're important but I guess I look more at the number of meaningful interventions and CCS has already shown he can provide those with and without the ball.

Willis has been standout and thoroughly deserves his chance, but I see CCS as a genuine 6 / 8 option who's more likely to nail down 8 longer term as we have a plethora of flankers.

I guess I liken him a bit to Underhill who also had the physicality money can't buy but had a few rough edges to smooth off with ball in hand.
 
Underhill's injury record is so unfortunate. It seems every time we find a genuine talent, they end up always injured. His carrying had massively improved recently but I fear his time in rugby will be cut short. I can't help but wonder if it's simply back luck or if we are overplaying the top players and rushing their recoveries?
 
He is. At club level.

He's also 4 years older so he should be a lot more rounded.

But we've seen that what works in the Prem doesn't always translate when the going gets tougher. CCS has the kind of natural power and ruggedness few are blessed with. That still counts in the international game, especially as our front 5 isn't overly powerful. He carries well, including from the base, hits hard and his line out has improved hugely from virtually zero a couple of years ago. He's not the complete footballer, but he can throw some decent offloads. He makes mistakes, but experience will sort many of those.

In terms of of work rate and all round skills, they're important but I guess I look more at the number of meaningful interventions and CCS has already shown he can provide those with and without the ball.

Willis has been standout and thoroughly deserves his chance, but I see CCS as a genuine 6 / 8 option who's more likely to nail down 8 longer term as we have a plethora of flankers.

I guess I liken him a bit to Underhill who also had the physicality money can't buy but had a few rough edges to smooth off with ball in hand.
I think your first point is spot on, there is a 4 year age differnce so any ccomparision ends there really. Willis should be better. Not to mention, they dont really play the same role/position Willis can and has played 6/8 but he is very much a 7 by trade.

Willis is playing in a far more physical comp and is still an animal tbh I dont think he would struggle to step into this england team right now and make it better. I dont think it would be in the place of CCS, but as well as, I like you see CCS as the long term 8. But Willis sint eligible so its al moot, and we have plenty of good backrowers.
 
SB is going to have to make some big decisions for this 6n...injuries and form are going to mean he can't go with the players he probably would.

Ben Curry has earned the 7 shirt in all fairness. Willis the 8 spot and id go with CCS at 6.

Lock is awful to be honest. Itojes fit but then Martin injured, Chessum played his first game and Coles now injured again (that's becoming a common thing). Ewells meh...

Front row....is George actually available? LCD starts, Dan bench..

On the plus not ..Ben Loader is moving back to the prem with Gloucester in the summer so we will have plenty of wings :D
 
Underhill's injury record is so unfortunate. It seems every time we find a genuine talent, they end up always injured. His carrying had massively improved recently but I fear his time in rugby will be cut short. I can't help but wonder if it's simply back luck or if we are overplaying the top players and rushing their recoveries?
RIP Anthony Watson (career).
 
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I think your first point is spot on, there is a 4 year age differnce so any ccomparision ends there really. Willis should be better. Not to mention, they dont really play the same role/position Willis can and has played 6/8 but he is very much a 7 by trade.

Willis is playing in a far more physical comp and is still an animal tbh I dont think he would struggle to step into this england team right now and make it better. I dont think it would be in the place of CCS, but as well as, I like you see CCS as the long term 8. But Willis sint eligible so its al moot, and we have plenty of good backrowers.
Think he means Tom Willis
 
Underhill's injury record is so unfortunate. It seems every time we find a genuine talent, they end up always injured. His carrying had massively improved recently but I fear his time in rugby will be cut short. I can't help but wonder if it's simply back luck or if we are overplaying the top players and rushing their recoveries?
I think it's a positional thing tbh. Curry being the other example, playing 6 and 7 wrecks you.

How the likes of Lawes, McCaw and co managed it for so long is beyond me. I'm surprised Earl is not injured more.
 
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