England Six Nations Squad 2025

[AlRums]

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

 

[TRF_Olyy]

What's that got to do with England's 6N squad announcement?

 

[BPM]

Haters gonna hate …

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

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.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

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?

 

[Booboobang]

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.

 

[Geordie]

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

 

[stus768]

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).

 

[BrokenWing]

injuries and form are going to mean he can't go with the players he probably would.

These things haven't been a consideration in the past.

 

[Geordie]

RIP Anthony Watson.

RIP?

 

[Lé Ddanno]

RIP?

Retired last week

 

[Lé Ddanno]

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

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

On the plus not ..Ben Loader is moving back to the prem with Gloucester in the summer so we will have plenty of wings

I fail to see how this is a plus note.

 

[Saintjay]

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.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

 

[BPM]

Dammit. Have to hope Mitchell's injury isn't serious. Bad enough if he misses the Ireland game but very probably terminal to any chances of more than 2 wins if he's out for the duration.

OTOH pleased for Langdon and Quirke. Willis' chance of at least making the bench have gone up too.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

5 changes in a week is pretty mad

Pleased for Raffi but really he'd be better set playing for us this weekend - not just saying that because we need him, but he's only played a few games this season and definitely the kind of player than needs game time for form

Mitchell being retained in camp hopefully means he's not too bad and just needs R.I.C.E on his knee for a week or whatever

Over the moon for Langdon, hopefully he gets some game time, though I imagine it'll be LCD and Dan for the tournament - a Rodd/Langdon/AOF front row coming off the bench, would be cool to see as a Sale fan

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Dammit. Have to hope Mitchell's injury isn't serious. Bad enough if he misses the Ireland game but very probably terminal to any chances of more than 2 wins if he's out for the duration.

OTOH pleased for Langdon and Quirke. Willis' chance of at least making the bench have gone up too.

Dows said he should be back for the 6 nations start so hopefully he will be. If not I'd start randel who at least is more similar than JVP.

5 injuries in the squad in crazy for one weekend. Has any other country had it this bad.

 

[Scotty]

If Mitchell and JVP are out then who starts vs Ireland? Randall, Quirke, Spencer. I'd go Quirke on the bench I think Ireland away would be a real trial by fire to start him but thinks worth it for the impact he could bring.

Starting Randall or Spencer will determine what SB is thinking about the gameplan.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Not a good week to be called Alex.

Mitchell and George likely starters. JVP might have been bench, didn't really see Coles or Dombrandt playing any meaningful part.

Langdon, Quirke, Clark and Pollock all interesting additions while Spencer will once again probably end up wondering why he bothered.

And all this before we've even had the chance to break them in training.