England Six Nations Squad 2025

[Lé Ddanno]

Let's get started then

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

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.

 

[BPM]

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'.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

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.

 

[Crash Hamster]

As long as there are a couple of players just back from injury who are thrust into the XV, I'll be happy...

 

[BPM]

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.

 

[IT157]

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!

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

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.

 

[Booboobang]

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.

Also only squeeked out wins against the mentioned ireland win as well as wales and italy, the closeness of those wins against especially wales is never mentioned, but it pretty damning.

So for all people like to mention 'luck' and being close against good teams we were also a few dice rolls away from only beating japan in a calander year.

I would love to be as optomistic as some, but I am with you tbh, the only win I am comfortable saying is gaurenteed is wales, other than that could see most games either being a loss or a coin toss, and see the most likely outcome as a 2/3 win tournament.

The most borthwick outcome would be a win against an aging ireland without their HC to boost hope, to then only beat wales and italy by last minute penalties for the rest of the tournament.

 

[dirty harry]

For what it's worth I think England should go 4/5.

An off Ireland in round 1 puts them on a course for a GS, with 3 home games and a gimme in Vardiff last up

 

[Reiser99]

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.

I'd also say in the majority of performances outside of the summer tour, the teams we played were not at their best or below us in rankings.

If we have just lost to a strong NZ or S.A in the autumn then maybe, but they were clearly not at their best. We're either just beating teams below us or losing to them, such as Aus, and we're losing to better teams who are playing badly with Ireland the exception. For me we're still well in the 5-8 bracket and moved further away from the 1-4 bracket of the rankings.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I'd also say in the majority of performances outside of the summer tour, the teams we played were not at their best or below us in rankings.

If we have just lost to a strong NZ or S.A in the autumn then maybe, but they were clearly not at their best. We're either just beating teams below us or losing to them, such as Aus, and we're losing to better teams who are playing badly with Ireland the exception. For me we're still well in the 5-8 bracket and moved further away from the 1-4 bracket of the rankings.

Agree on the rankings, and poor winning performances v Ita and Wal but you can also cut it whichever way you want. The narrow defeats included the RWC semi, 6N v Fra and 3 games v NZ in 2 of which we had clear chances to win and a combined deficit of 10 points. Aus was a particular disappointment where we found a way to lose, but again we'd given ourselves the chance to win. But yes, to progress we need to start winning these 50:50 games.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Daily Mail is suggesting Tom Willis will be called up by Steve Borthwick next Tuesday.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Daily Mail is suggesting Tom Willis will be called up by Steve Borthwick next Tuesday.

Let's hope so. And for more than holding tackle bags.

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

For what it's worth I think England should go 4/5.

An off Ireland in round 1 puts them on a course for a GS, with 3 home games and a gimme in Vardiff last up

England playing Wales in Cardiff is never a gimme no matter how poor Wales have been for the last year.

 

[BPM]

Exactly. We are their cup final. Same for the Scots.