England Six Nations Squad 2025

[Geordie]

So onto France.

like Martin but he's not currently having the impact he initially did.

Surely Earl at 8 has run its course. He's not in the greatest form and I think he's been found out a little. We need more heft there - Willis is the Prem form horse,

No competition in the front row and Itoje's nailed on.

Behind I really have no idea. ?

Agree.
George Martin just isn't bringing that power and grit we hoped. Smashing things in attack and defence. So if he's not producing then change tact and Chessum in the row and bring power in to the back row with Willis.

Earl off the bench.

Front row is a worry for me....some of Fasogabon, Fordjour, Sela, Iyogun, Haffar need to go on the summer tour. And Langdon what's the issue with him? He's heads and shoulders above Theo Dan!

Backs...problems that we were aware of.

12 ....
10 Smith v Smith will become more of a talking point I think...
15 Steward just isn't doing anything to make that shirt his.
14 What do to with Freeman. Opinions seem to divide on him yesterday...I thought he was excellent others didn't. But maybe he needs moved at this level. Maybe 15 or 13 needs to be discussed.

And the tactics...
Is going out all guns blazing and then crawling to the line the best option?

 

[higgik]

So onto France.

The 3 open sides was a qualified success and it could never be more than that. Competitive at the breakdown but compromises elsewhere.

Not got many minutes in his legs, but surely Chessum comes in. Probably at 6 but wouldn't discount him in the row - like Martin but he's not currently having the impact he initially did.

Surely Earl at 8 has run its course. He's not in the greatest form and I think he's been found out a little. We need more heft there - Willis is the Prem form horse, although I didn't really notice him yesterday. CCS isn't the complete footballer but he brings natural power and we already know that he can give go forward at this level and land some big hits.

No competition in the front row and Itoje's nailed on.

Behind I really have no idea. But just one observation - the best teams in this tournament really, in very different ways, dance to the tunes of their 9s. Don't really have to say much more on Dupont, while I'd say JGP is Ireland's most important player. Mitchell is clearly our best option. But when was the last time an English 9 was a really dominant force?

BR needs to be Hill, Curry B and Willis

 

[higgik]

Agree.
George Martin just isn't bringing that power and grit we hoped. Smashing things in attack and defence. So if he's not producing then change tact and Chessum in the row and bring power in to the back row with Willis.

Earl off the bench.

Front row is a worry for me....some of Fasogabon, Fordjour, Sela, Iyogun, Haffar need to go on the summer tour. And Langdon what's the issue with him? He's heads and shoulders above Theo Dan!

Backs...problems that we were aware of.

12 ....
10 Smith v Smith will become more of a talking point I think...
15 Steward just isn't doing anything to make that shirt his.
14 What do to with Freeman. Opinions seem to divide on him yesterday...I thought he was excellent others didn't. But maybe he needs moved at this level. Maybe 15 or 13 needs to be discussed.

And the tactics...
Is going out all guns blazing and then crawling to the line the best option?

For either then we need running options at 12 and 13, as well as active wingers. Basically needs to be lots of running lines and they pick the option.
That is what Ireland did last night, they created confusion in the defence and exploited the space.

 

[Geordie]

For either then we need running options at 12 and 13, as well as active wingers. Basically needs to be lots of running lines and they pick the option.
That is what Ireland did last night, they created confusion in the defence and exploited the space.

Slade isn't either of them... though Lawrence played well in parts.

We have wingers who can play the game we need them to....experience will be an issue but that has to be built up.
I also think Carpenter needs to be looked at for 15 and as I said above maybe consider Freemans position in the backline.

 

[Geordie]

We're lacking some real bruising physicality... someone who can change the momentum of a game with a huge hit or carry. Underhill does this...
That's what I expect from Martin but he's just not doing this at all.

So do we need to look at Ted Hill?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Momentum changing hits only change momentum if the rest of the team are buoyed by it
There were plenty of hits yesterday that drove back Irish attackers

Wouldn't be against Hill coming in but it should be him vs CCS for a spot, really - unless they drop Earl from the 23, start Chessum in the backrow and have Hill covering lock from the bench

Calls to drop Freeman are ridiculous

I find it strange how the reaction to the game yesterday is so much stronger than the reaction to many of our previous games that were far far worse

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Momentum changing hits only change momentum if the rest of the team are buoyed by it
There were plenty of hits yesterday that drove back Irish attackers

Wouldn't be against Hill coming in but it should be him vs CCS for a spot, really - unless they drop Earl from the 23, start Chessum in the backrow and have Hill covering lock from the bench

Calls to drop Freeman are ridiculous

I find it strange how the reaction to the game yesterday is so much stronger than the reaction to many of our previous games that were far far worse

Because it's the hope that kills.

A decent first half and then getting completely walloped in the 2nd. Yeah we got a couple of late scores when the game was dead which got us a LBP and put some undeserved gloss on the scoreboard, but in reality we were just swept away once Ireland got their sh*t together. Before those late scores it was something like 22 unanswered points.

It's just been the classic one step forward and two back hallmark of this regime.

Let's see what Fra brings but it's odd on we're scrapping with Sco for 3rd / 4th again.

7 defeats in our last 9 matches.

 

[Crash Hamster]

Or we need a little experience still. Ireland have the highest average age. I think Dingwall is only 25 so not exactly an OAP.

Oh I agree entirely; I had previously said

Looking at an inconsistent kid is pretty much what the A team is for. I'd be more than happy if Dingwall got the gig should Slade be injured, but there's not a lot of point in giving him the A team spot.

so for clarity:

If Dingwall replaced Slade the side may be better for it.

In my opinion, playing Dingwall (25) in the A game is a waste of a space because he has demonstrated that he could do a fine job at full international level. The A team spot should be given to someone younger with a possibly higher ceiling, to give them experience pending a promotion. The stated aim of teh A team was to act as a bridge between the U20s and the full international side.

You're pushing against an open door, my friend.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

When SB fires up his spreadsheets for France he'll notice that…..

The discipline needs to be sorted. We can moan all we like about the ref, but at the end of the day, it looks like another we managed to get on the wrong side of. Conceding 11 pens, 2 free kicks and a yellow isn't going to help win many matches. The only players to concede more than one pen were the captain Itoje and vice captain Genge.

Slade conceded one turnover and missed 4 out of 10 attempted tackles. Mitchell also conceded a turnover and only completed 3 of 9 attempted tackles.

Freeman conceded 3 turnovers with LCD and Itoje conceding 2 each. The only other multiple offender was Earl who conceded 2 and missed 3 of the 10 tackles he attempted.

Standout in defence was B Curry with a perfect completion of 18. Itoje completed all 15 of his and Martin all 14 of his.

Stuart was recorded with just 2 metres run, Martin just 1 and zero from Itoje. Your big guys have to make more impact than that.

Source:

Ireland vs England - Player Statistics - Six Nations 2025 - 1 Feb, 2025 - ESPN

Get a summary of the Ireland vs England, Six Nations 2025 1 Feb, 2025 rugby match.

www.espn.co.uk

 

[higgik]

We're lacking some real bruising physicality... someone who can change the momentum of a game with a huge hit or carry. Underhill does this...
That's what I expect from Martin but he's just not doing this at all.

So do we need to look at Ted Hill?

Hill offers everything of CCS but with a brain, so why not!!!!
He is a lineout option, fast enough to keep up in attack, and has good D.
A BR of Hill, Curry B, Willis would have the balance in D, but also great options in attack.
This complimented by a power and pace midfield, such as Ojomoh and Lawrence would get a better balance.

 

[Crash Hamster]

When SB fires up his spreadsheets for France he'll notice that…..

The discipline needs to be sorted. We can moan all we like about the ref, but at the end of the day, it looks like another we managed to get on the wrong side of. Conceding 11 pens, 2 free kicks and a yellow isn't going to help win many matches. The only players to concede more than one pen were the captain Itoje and vice captain Genge.

Slade conceded one turnover and missed 4 out of 10 attempted tackles. Mitchell also conceded a turnover and only completed 3 of 9 attempted tackles.

Freeman conceded 3 turnovers with LCD and Itoje conceding 2 each. The only other multiple offender was Earl who conceded 2 and missed 3 of the 10 tackles he attempted.

Standout in defence was B Curry with a perfect completion of 18. Itoje completed all 15 of his and Martin all 14 of his.

Stuart was recorded with just 2 metres run, Martin just 1 and zero from Itoje. Your big guys have to make more impact than that.

Source:

Ireland vs England - Player Statistics - Six Nations 2025 - 1 Feb, 2025 - ESPN

Get a summary of the Ireland vs England, Six Nations 2025 1 Feb, 2025 rugby match.

www.espn.co.uk

Ollie Lawrence's stats seem to confirm that he had a good game. I hope he's now settled into the role. 12 tackles, none missed, metres, 6 defenders beaten.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Ollie Lawrence's stats seem to confirm that he had a good game. I hope he's now settled into the role. 12 tackles, none missed, metres, 6 defenders beaten.

Just play him in the shirt he's best suited to.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

We're lacking some real bruising physicality... someone who can change the momentum of a game with a huge hit or carry. Underhill does this...
That's what I expect from Martin but he's just not doing this at all.

So do we need to look at Ted Hill?

Forgot he was even in the squad TBH.

He's got a lot of the right attributes, but he's a 6 or nothing and it would be chucking yet another name into the mix.

Roots started the last 6N, then Chessum took over, then CCS had a run and yesterday Curry. Would feel nuts to try someone else unless they'd made an overridingly compelling case.

Suspect Chessum is SB's preferred option and definitely the closest Lawes proxy.

Hill possibly as a bench option, but not a starter.