England Six Nations Squad 2025

[dirty harry]

NO, JUST NO.

All change for England: Borthwick plots full-back role for talisman Marcus Smith

Under-pressure head coach is pondering big changes for the Six Nations campaign after a disappointing autumn

www.theguardian.com

I'd personally leave him on the bench, in a glass case that reads 'in case of emergency down by 4,10 to go with broken play'

Is he really England's 'Talisman'?

 

[Lé Ddanno]

NO, JUST NO.

All change for England: Borthwick plots full-back role for talisman Marcus Smith

Under-pressure head coach is pondering big changes for the Six Nations campaign after a disappointing autumn

www.theguardian.com

Lmao (darkly)

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Is it really so difficult to play players in their club positions...? He's not a 15 and there are better 15s out there.

Now there is more competition in the air, do we really want to play a short player with limited experience catching high balls there?

 

[Rugbyfan564]

I feel like this Six Nafions might be a disaster.

 

[BPM]

I'd personally leave him on the bench, in a glass case that reads 'in case of emergency down by 4,10 to go with broken play'

Is he really England's 'Talisman'?

IMO, yes. He was easily our best player in the Autumn. I've read a lot of stuff about him 'failing to bring our centres into the game', but I think there's a ton of reasons for that, most of which don't start with Marcus.

For me, the biggest difference between a pretty good attack in the Summer and a fairly poor one in the Autumn, was Mitchell. He keeps defences honest because he offers a genuine sniping threat and a quick delivery and that makes a huge difference for the 10.

I don't want to see Marcus at 15 but I definitely don't want to see Steward on the wing.

 

[Saintjay]

Please don't let the tactical evolution of this six nations for England be Smith at 15 and a new captain. I really think it might be.

I like Steward saying that even as a Saints fan. Yet on the wing defending one vs one with a quick and agile winger against him i don't know. His attack and passing is better, he's not going to lose much in the air.

Smith as are next best fullback. I really don't see it.

So I'll be a no on both tbh.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Mitchell's knee today is a concern, he did play on after the injury so hopefully nothing bad but seen similar injuries turn up bad things in the follow up scan in the past

Sleightholme not playing yet is also a concern, but Murley and Roebuck both in very good form atm (I'd have them both in the 23 for Ireland, probably start Roebuck for the aerial and Murley off the bench vs tired legs)

Chessum starting at 6 tomorrow, very interested to see what kind of condition he's in - wonder if England might release him for club duty next week for some more minutes under his belt?

Biggest concern, obviously, is the threat of a 14. Steward, 15. Smith, 23. Daly and a 6:2 bench for the 6N

It's a shame England don't have any tall wingers who are very good in the air so that we don't have to shift a slow fullback out wide....



Any other injuries to keep an eye on this round?

 

[OllyM97]

Mitchell's knee today is a concern, he did play on after the injury so hopefully nothing bad but seen similar injuries turn up bad things in the follow up scan in the past

Sleightholme not playing yet is also a concern, but Murley and Roebuck both in very good form atm (I'd have them both in the 23 for Ireland, probably start Roebuck for the aerial and Murley off the bench vs tired legs)

Chessum starting at 6 tomorrow, very interested to see what kind of condition he's in - wonder if England might release him for club duty next week for some more minutes under his belt?

Biggest concern, obviously, is the threat of a 14. Steward, 15. Smith, 23. Daly and a 6:2 bench for the 6N

It's a shame England don't have any tall wingers who are very good in the air so that we don't have to shift a slow fullback out wide....



Any other injuries to keep an eye on this round?

That better not be anything major or we're absolutely screwed. I think Mitchell is one of our most important players now. It's so glaringly obvious how much poorer we look when he's not playing.