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England Six Nations Squad 2025

My predicted 23

Genge George Stuart
Itoje Martin
Chessum Curry
Earl
Mitchell M Smith
Slade Lawrence
Sleighthome Freeman
Steward

Dan Baxter Hayes Coles CCS JVP F Smith Daly/ Roebuck

That's if they are all fit and I think we'll be battered by Ireland.

What I think we need:

new starting loose head
New hooker
New 8 (earl to 7, bench or dropped)
New 12
More impact and better use of the bench.
 
Love the optimism.

I think you're probably close with the 23 there, although I do think there's a fairly decent chance Borthwick puts Marcus at 15 and brings Fin in at 10. Not what I'd do, but certainly a possibility.

Personally, I think it's hard to know what to expect. Ireland were well below their best in the AIs and who knows what impact of Farrell being absent will have?

They'll still be clear favourites, but I don't expect to get 'battered'.
 
Love the optimism.

I think you're probably close with the 23 there, although I do think there's a fairly decent chance Borthwick puts Marcus at 15 and brings Fin in at 10. Not what I'd do, but certainly a possibility.

Personally, I think it's hard to know what to expect. Ireland were well below their best in the AIs and who knows what impact of Farrell being absent will have?

They'll still be clear favourites, but I don't expect to get 'battered'.
What gives you optimism? I watched the autumn nations and was really disappointed that we hadn't improved from last year really at all. We seem like a teams that's ok, but not got that cutting edge to beat top teams.
 
What gives you optimism? I watched the autumn nations and was really disappointed that we hadn't improved from last year really at all. We seem like a teams that's ok, but not got that cutting edge to beat top teams.
I equally was disappointed, but I also don't think we're as terrible as people like to make out.

Ireland first up is a tough fixture, but coming off the back off an underwhelming AIs and no Farrell might be a bit of a leveller. Who knows?

Plenty of times I've not given us a sniff of winning and we do. Also plenty of times I've been confident only to be disappointed. That's sport.
 
We also did beat Ireland in the 6 nations last year...

I'm not expecting a battering. It will be a tough game in Dublin. But I think England will surprise this 6 nations. Positively that is!
 
Over the last year and a bit we've largely been competitive with some very narrow defeats, so any losses by 10+ would be unlikely and a step backwards.

But that pattern of defeats doesn't signify 'just' a need for 'luck' to turn. You mostly make your own luck and over time get what you deserve. Going from consistently plucky and competitive (minimum requirement) to consistently winning is a big step and one which I'm not sure we're ready to take yet.

Anything can happen on any given day, but for me it's probably another 2 or 3 win championship with a hard luck story somewhere.
 
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