England Six Nations Squad 2025

[Vieux Talonneur]

Suggestion in the Daily Mail is one of Ollie Sleighthome, Tom Roebuck and Elliot Daly will replace Caden Murely and that Freddie Steward might move to the wing so Marcus Smith can play FB with Fin Smith also starting. Jamie George to replace Theo Dan on the bench.

As a team, we're losing and our confidence has to be shot.

Not generally the best atmosphere to blood newer players and this one could get messy.

It might be one for Daly who's close to the end of his career. Bit of a negative move, but a tough day at the office could really set back Roebuck or Sleightholme, both of whom hopefully have decent careers ahead of them.

Just no to Steward / Smith.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Another record up for grabs.

If we lose on Saturday it will be the first time ever that we've lost 8 consecutive matches against traditional tier 1 opposition.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

That screams of desperation but also doesn't seem like something Stevie B would do.

I'd start the same team with a tweet to the back row dropping Earl for Willis. Steward doesn't have a ready male replacement and dropping Murley would hurt his confidence although he might only have been there as sleightholme wasn't fully fit.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

That screams of desperation but also doesn't seem like something Stevie B would do.

I'd start the same team with a tweet to the back row dropping Earl for Willis. Steward doesn't have a ready male replacement and dropping Murley would hurt his confidence although he might only have been there as sleightholme wasn't fully fit.

Murley's almost certainly out injured.

I agree it's unlikely, but from a longer term viewpoint it matters less if Daly has a rough day than Roebuck or Sleightholme, the latter of whom already has question marks against his defence from the Autumn.

Agree Willis for Earl, although would also be surprised if Chessum doesn't start, assuming fitness.

 

[Saintjay]

When we got humped by 53 points are backs consisted of - Steward; Malins, Slade, Lawrence, Watson; Smith, JVP.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

It's kind of hard to predict what SB will do, because while the rugby is slop and his tactics are awful he does tend to pick mostly the team the fans would also be pick


I could definitely see SB going with
6. T.Curry
7. B.Earl
8. T.Willis

14. Steward
15. M.Smith

23. E.Daly


But equally could see
6. T.Curry
7. B.Curry
8. T.Willis

14. Roebuck


Or just Sleightholme in for Murley and no other changes (which I think is possibly the most likely)

 

[Geordie]

Genuine question.

Has Freeman played much FB for Saints? I think he's played some, but not sure. As a back 3 player that might appear a more natural home for him than centre which has often been mooted.

Steward has strengths but also flaws that have been done to death. Whatever the answers 15 is, it's not M Smith. Obviously at Saints opportunities would be limited when Furbank's around.

Tall, but not too big. Quick but not out and out gas man. Decent hands, rangy runner that might suit the spaces you can get at FB. No idea what he'd be like under the high ball and a mistake on Saturday notwithstanding I think his defence is usually OK.

Not today or tomorrow, but wondering if he might be our 15 in the long term.

Freeman is a puzzle but at the same time, hes a very good all round winger.

Id say James Lowe is a good comparison. He isnt rapid or "magic" etc but he is very influential because he has developed a full all round skills set and moves around the pitch making the big plays. He was one of the ones who really took the game to England. Freeman has the ability to be a similar type of player for England. He needs to develop and really become more influential at this level rather than becoming more anonymous. Be the one who drives the team.

At Full back id look at Carpenter, Furbank when back, maybe Hendy down the line...and theres others who will come through.

13....well Lawrence i think had his best game for England, just need to find him a proper 12...and we have Will Joseph and Oscar Beard to look at on the summer tour.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

We'll be seeing the squad today, I assume?

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

It might be one for Daly who's close to the end of his career. Bit of a negative move, but a tough day at the office could really set back Roebuck or Sleightholme, both of whom hopefully have decent careers ahead of them.

I was thinking about Daly this weekend tbh, it could be a shout.

 

[BPM]

As a team, we're losing and our confidence has to be shot.

Not generally the best atmosphere to blood newer players and this one could get messy.

It might be one for Daly who's close to the end of his career. Bit of a negative move, but a tough day at the office could really set back Roebuck or Sleightholme, both of whom hopefully have decent careers ahead of them.

Just no to Steward / Smith.

I'm not sure it is. I think the main emotion is probably frustration. My hope is that we can channel that in the right way and finally turn a corner.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Murley out. Lozowksi in.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Odd choice
I get that he covers other positions too, but he's played almost exclusively 13 since he returned to Saracens from Montpellier - and you've already got Daly there as a utility option
I'm a big fan of Lozowski but we don't need another 13 in the squad

Is he there to cover 15 (/is Daly, with Lozowski the new jack of all trades) with Steward replacing Murley as a winger?

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Odd choice
I get that he covers other positions too, but he's played almost exclusively 13 since he returned to Saracens from Montpellier - and you've already got Daly there as a utility option
I'm a big fan of Lozowski but we don't need another 13 in the squad

Is he there to cover 15 (/is Daly, with Lozowski the new jack of all trades) with Steward replacing Murley as a winger?

That might be what is happening.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Surely what's most likely is that Beard is now going to be looked at more as a winger and Lozowski will be filling more of his centre reps.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Definitely possible, but just feels like there's been so much Steward-at-wing smoke that there must be a little fire somewhere
Steward actually has more starts at wing than Beard, as well, and SB definitely seems to like Smith at 15

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

Definitely possible, but just feels like there's been so much Steward-at-wing smoke that there must be a little fire somewhere
Steward actually has more starts at wing than Beard, as well, and SB definitely seems to like Smith at 15

M.Smith is not a 15

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

M.Smith is not a 15

WE know that. Borthwick does not

 

[mikebrownsauce1512]

WE know that. Borthwick does not

Oooo Sorry, I know that faggle I was just saying

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I'm not sure it is. I think the main emotion is probably frustration. My hope is that we can channel that in the right way and finally turn a corner.

However we want to phrase it, at the moment against decent teams we're travelling in hope not expectation. The players know that they have come up short time after time. They can't look around the changing room and say X or Y player is probably going to come up with the game changing moments to sort it, because they just haven't so far. They'll also know that they've blown a couple of gilt-edged chances during this run.

A lot of top level sport is about what happens between the ears. Confidence can turn around quickly but there needs to be a catalyst. Hard to see where that's coming from at the moment against good teams. Just working harder and analysing more isn't the answer. A 2016 version of Eddie Jones might be……

 

[Rugbyfan564]

If Jack Willis gets selected for the Lions that will add to the pressure for the RFU to amend the selection rules.