England Six Nations Squad 2025

[TRF_Olyy]

Played against Graham while he was at Bath uni. Had no idea he was getting game time at Prem level now, nevermind that he was even vaguely on the England radar.

Edit: looks like he's only ever played Prem Cup. What strange additions.

Yeah, looks like Bennett played a friendly for the u20s but that's as close as any of them have gotten to u20s rugby - I thought the point of the A side was the bridge the gap between u20s and seniors?

Not saying none of them are good picks, as I don't know anything about them other than what all rugby can provide, but definitely feels like the coaches picking their boys

 

[Geordie]

CCS before long.

No, the battering ram game isn't Dombrandt's forte but it's not an either / or equation. The 8 needs to be able to make yardage in heavy traffic and be comfortable in wider spaces too.

BTW. Making yards can be pure power like peak Binny or using leg drive and agility like Earl. It doesn't mean outright power although if there are doubts on someone's physicality, it's simply not going to happen for them at this level.

CCS, WIllis, Bearbary is he can be fit.
I agree what you say about making yards...but if you have players with power around him in a settled plan, from Earl, Curry, CCS, Willis, Chessum, Martin etc Dombrandt can offer something different.

It would be quite handy to bludgeon a side for 55/60 minutes, then bring on a more playmaking 8 like Dombrandt to put people through gaps or hit the gaps himself when the game opens up.

Im not saying it would happen but its an interesting concept. As i said...just a thought.

 

[Geordie]

Some of Dombrandts lack of form in and England shirt can probably be attributed to playing style etc, he has however played in games where he just fumbles balls with minimum to no pressure that's not, not making yards in traffic and not having the skill set, it's an inability to execute basic skills for country for what ever reason, there has also been times I recall he just simply hasn't made the effort to scramble defensively and appeared very lazy, these things don't happen for club so it's hard to gauge where it's wrong maybe the environment etc, either way he has had opportunity and there has been little to nothing to call an improvement as harsh as that sounds.

I agree hes fluffed his lines a little too often, hes a very good handler of the ball so that aspect has been disappointing. Id also agree, that his defensive duties have been less than required at times.

Im not saying hes the answer, just trying to think outside the box why he would be kept on.

He may well not make any more squads.

 

[Lé Ddanno]

Yeah, looks like Bennett played a friendly for the u20s but that's as close as any of them have gotten to u20s rugby - I thought the point of the A side was the bridge the gap between u20s and seniors?

Not saying none of them are good picks, as I don't know anything about them other than what all rugby can provide, but definitely feels like the coaches picking their boys

Can't imagine they're going to do anything without a tackle bag. Still feels like wasted picks though when e.g. Atkinson is still at Glos

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Don't think I've heard of a single one of those additions

Anyone know anything about Bennet, Graham, Pascoe and Witheat?

Nope. And that seems to include the RFU press team who have misspelled Pasco's surname .

Pointless.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Don't think I've heard of a single one of those additions

Anyone know anything about Bennet, Graham, Pascoe and Witheat?

Witheat seems decent

 

[Geordie]

Just Noticed Guy Pepper added to the squad aswell...

 

[Geordie]

I think its more about experience for those young lads. I like that idea.

 

[Which Tyler]

Don't think I've heard of a single one of those additions

Anyone know anything about Bennet, Graham, Pascoe and Witheat?

Bennet and Graham are both Bath academy (lock and flanker respectively). I don't think either had played beyond PRC.
Neither stand out to me as future internationals. I wouldn't be too surprised neither of them got promoted out of the academy.

Presumably, they're just there to hold tackle bags and be familiar with Blackett (though it's possible they're there to "to an impression of X, who we expect to play for Ireland)

Beyond that, pleased to see Pepper included (should have been there all along) disappointed that seb Atkinson still doesn't get a look in

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Didn't realise Shilcock had been called up again - that feels like a wasted addition considering he's unlikely to play, that's a spot that could've/should've gone to a tackle bag holder 10/15

 

[Which Tyler]

Didn't realise Shilcock had been called up again - that feels like a wasted addition considering he's unlikely to play, that's a spot that could've/should've gone to a tackle bag holder 10/15

More likely to be sitting on the bench.

Bailey drops out, so Atkinson to start, and... someone has to cover FH from somewhere.
Or am I missing something obvious in my sleep-deprived state?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

More likely to be sitting on the bench.

Bailey drops out, so Atkinson to start, and... someone has to cover FH from somewhere.
Or am I missing something obvious in my sleep-deprived state?

Yeah, I suppose - feels like an even bigger waste in that case,
27yr old who's already played in all our A games to this point

 

[Flankers' paradise]

Yeah, I suppose - feels like an even bigger waste in that case,
27yr old who's already played in all our A games to this point

And who is supposedly moving abroad at the end of the season thus being unavailable for England should he be considered

 

[Which Tyler]

I think that, once you've got Smith, Smith and Ford in the seniors.
Farrell and Simmonds overseas
Bailey injured and Atkinson starting
I'm not going to get too fussed about who our 8th choice FH is



On top of that - who's the better choice?
Who are all these English FHs?
Smith, Smith, Ford - busy with the seniors
Russell, Pollock, McGinty, Anscomb - not EQP
Burke - decided to be Scottish a few weeks ago
...
I mean, I guess we COULD have called up Skinner from Exeter, but would he really be a better choice than Shillcock?
We're already down to 2nd choice club players anyway

 

[Flankers' paradise]

this does make a mockery of the 'bridging the gap between u20 and senior' spiel though. Where's the lads like Oli Spencer who have just graduated from the u20sbut not yet established seniors...oh no we'll just bring in young lads who aren't even 4th choice for their club but they know the coaches.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Controversial opinion, but I don't rate Coles - not for international level anyway

Hopefully I'm wrong, and will concede he's probably the best of a bad bunch for third choice atm (though I'd probably pick Batley or Clark)

I love Cole's, probably my favourite saints player, brilliant engine, great hands and great in open play. He's bulked up as well and is great in the air.

But agree with you that he's always failed to look even ok at international level and (from my memory) has nearly always given a silly penalty away in each cap. Maybe trying too hard but he really needs to settle in to an international performances or be dropped down the pecking order (not that we've got many others coming through).

 

[TRF_Olyy]

But agree with you that he's always failed to look even ok at international level and (from my memory) has nearly always given a silly penalty away in each cap.

Yeah, this is what I can't shake

He's bulked up

Though this is what I'm interested in seeing at international level now - extra year (two years?) of maturity both in play style and physically could be a big difference maker

 

[BPM]

Bennet and Graham are both Bath academy (lock and flanker respectively). I don't think either had played beyond PRC.
Neither stand out to me as future internationals. I wouldn't be too surprised neither of them got promoted out of the academy.

Presumably, they're just there to hold tackle bags and be familiar with Blackett (though it's possible they're there to "to an impression of X, who we expect to play for Ireland)

Beyond that, pleased to see Pepper included (should have been there all along) disappointed that seb Atkinson still doesn't get a look in

Yeah. With the exception of Pepper, it very much looks like these guys are there for training and no more than that.

 

[Geordie]

this does make a mockery of the 'bridging the gap between u20 and senior' spiel though. Where's the lads like Oli Spencer who have just graduated from the u20sbut not yet established seniors...oh no we'll just bring in young lads who aren't even 4th choice for their club but they know the coaches.

I do agree with this.

Why not have lads from the U20s who've moved up. As you say Oli Spencer is getting regular time with us...and whilst he plays wing at times for us he's going to be a centre...he would benefit more from this experience..even if he is just holding the bags as would Ben Redshaw etc.

 

[Which Tyler]

Of the new additions...
Who's in there just to hold tackle bags, but is an older guy who's blocking the experience that could have gone to younger?

I may well be missing some, but Shillcock and Pepper have presumably been called up with a view to them actually playing, not just holding tackle bags.
Then there's Jack Bennett (aged 20, Eng U20 2024); Mackenzie Graham (aged 21, Eng U20 2023); Billy Pasco (aged 19, EngU18 2023); Rafe Witheat (aged 19, Eng U18 2024).

If you're saying "they've picked the wrong kids" - then I'm right with you (with the proviso above about mimicking a specific member of the opposition)
If you're saying "picking these kids makes a mockery of the intention to pick kids" then.... yeah, no.