England Six Nations Squad 2025

[TRF_Olyy]

Get him sized up for a Bath shirt, then!

 

[West Country Wail]

Welcome to the party pals!

 

[AlRums]

New Zealand media

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[Saintjay]

New Zealand media

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

As much as they love a dig, don't think you can argue with it that much tbh.

 

[AlRums]

As much as they love a dig, don't think you can argue with it that much tbh.

They just say it in that typical antipodean manner.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Safe to say that Geordan Murphy is not a fan of Borthwick. "Not a people person", "a tall Eddie Jones" etc. Another version I've read of this also suggests there's some discontent in camp.

Steve Borthwick labelled a ‘tall Eddie Jones’ and 'not a people person' by ex-boss

Murphy was briefly director of rugby to Borthwick after the now-England boss was appointed head coach at Leicester Tigers

www.independent.co.uk

 

[IT157]

Safe to say that Geordan Murphy is not a fan of Borthwick. "Not a people person", "a tall Eddie Jones" etc. Another version I've read of this also suggests there's some discontent in camp.

Steve Borthwick labelled a ‘tall Eddie Jones’ and 'not a people person' by ex-boss

Murphy was briefly director of rugby to Borthwick after the now-England boss was appointed head coach at Leicester Tigers

www.independent.co.uk

I did say when Borthwick was hired they were just hiring an English version of Eddie Jones but who isn't as good.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I mean Tigers coach who would've relegated Tigers if not for Sarries punishment dislikes coach that came in and took his job and won the league 18 months later, shocked!


I don't think Borthick is a tall Eddie Jones, Eddie Jones is a massively different personality. I think Borthwick works players had and is very data focused but I don't see him messing players about like Eddie Jones does. I think Sinfield is important because Borthwick prob isn't a natural motivator. But there is a difference between a not a people person and Eddie Jones haha

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I think Sinfield is important because Borthwick prob isn't a natural motivator.

Yeah, I read an interview with Roebuck that implied the same - Borthwick is basically a robot and Sinfield is the human face, and does the personal level stuff

Explains why they offered him such a massive sum for a part time role

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Yeah, I read an interview with Roebuck that implied the same - Borthwick is basically a robot and Sinfield is the human face, and does the personal level stuff

Explains why they offered him such a massive sum for a part time role

Believable, but basically an admission they've got the wrong bloke.

Leaders can't delegate leadership.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

I mean Tigers coach who would've relegated Tigers if not for Sarries punishment dislikes coach that came in and took his job and won the league 18 months later, shocked!


I don't think Borthick is a tall Eddie Jones, Eddie Jones is a massively different personality. I think Borthwick works players had and is very data focused but I don't see him messing players about like Eddie Jones does. I think Sinfield is important because Borthwick prob isn't a natural motivator. But there is a difference between a not a people person and Eddie Jones haha

I think a lot of players like Borthwick and are at least happy there. Not everyone was happy st all being in camp with Eddie Jones

 

[Reiser99]

Some players really stood up today and it was great they didn't give in. Attack showed a huge improvement and I feel that was mainly down to F.Smith. He has a fantastic game and fully deserved man of the match. He needs to keep starting and we need to stick with him, even if he has a bad game. Marcus has had enough time now and is too inconsistent for this level.

Earl improved his game massively at 7. Curry was fantastic again. Itoje had another good game. Martin was more solid than before. Genge had his best game for a while. Willis showed the difference a real 8 can make in attack. Mitchell had a far better game, Lawrence apart from his kicking was good. Freeman was excellent and Sleightholme played well. Subs had a huge impact, especially George with his lineout throwing.

Stuart was good in the scrum, but I don't remember hearing his name once in open play. Feel like he's still holding the shirt until someone younger really steps up.

Issues were LCD, especially his throwing. Slade had a couple of moments, but still doesn't good enough at the moment. M.Smith also had a couple of moments, but overall didn't have a great game. Especially some of the things were what he would be doing at 10 and not 15 anyway.

I feel like England are a 2, 3, 12 and 15 away from team that could really start to challenge again. George for me is great as a sub because I think he starts to struggle over 60 minutes to maintain that standard. LCD and Dan are too inconsistent at this level and we really need consistency. Honestly, Langdon should get a chance. 15 should be Furbank with Marcus on the bench. However, we need to get a replacement for Furbank asap. In the summer, we really need to give Carpenter a shot. 12 is the big conundrum and again the summer needs to be used to identify a long term option, preferably two.

Other issues, line out wasn't great. Defence is still a worry. France should have scored more. We keep biting in far too much. The last try I think came from Dupont's pass to Penaud. Three England players tried to surround him and just let him get the pass to Penaud in space. Lawrence was the outside man and needed to cover Penaud and trust the others to tackle Dupont.

 

[Reiser99]

Penalties were also a huge improvement.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

I'm not sure any of the fringe/alternative options will suddenly turn into the missing pieces of the puzzle - particularly those who have been playing regularly at club level for a while

 

[Geordie]

Does this ignite the Smith v Smith debate again?.... If it ever stopped.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

How did Ben do off the bench?

 

[Lé Ddanno]

How did Ben do off the bench?

Put himself about well, hit his rucks, made his tackles. Solid as last week

 

[Which Tyler]

Does this ignite the Smith v Smith debate again?.... If it ever stopped.

It was always burning, since the world's been turning
We didn't start the fire
No, we didn't light it, but we tried to fight it

 

[Reiser99]

I'm also pleased that Borthwick didn't bring on CCS and Randall just because they were there. Bench had a huge impact and was used very well this week.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

F Smith showed he's can be a test level FH but that doesn't mean Marcus isn't. F Smith might be more suited to England or might I say England might suit F Smith more due to the way we play.

I also hate to say this but Marcus didn't play that well at FB but I do think he could be outstanding there with time (not that I want that).