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England Six Nations Squad 2025

Tom Lockett in there as well who is a lock as per his name
Yeah, Lockett and Tizard are the two I thought
Guess Capstick covers as well?

Thinking about it, there are some odd choices - can definitely feel the influence from the assistant coaching wanting players they're familiar with (which makes sense considering they only have like 10 days before the game)
 
He's the vice captain and closing in on 70 caps so we should be expecting him to be leading the way.
Wow he's really nearing 70 caps? Feels like less. It's amazing really how many players with many caps don't feel like players with many caps.
 
I expect Beard will drop down and fill the 13 role.

Shame Atkinson isn't in the team as I feel he's a lot better than Butt (suspect he's to cover wing and centre)
 

What I find interesting is ... A bunch wanted England props to scrummage before anything else, they got that with Genge and Stuart going up against what was alleged to be the best in the competition in France and Ireland yet coming out even at worst, or on top of their opposite number. Now they come under criticism for not doing enough elsewhere, even though the same people complained at props attempting offloads to people who aren't supporting or making a run and getting isolated.

Scrum first.

But a few years ago Genge was in the conversation for best LH in the world. Some of the talk was a bit hyperbolic but it was definitely fair to include him in that discussion. I haven't heard anyone on here, the media or anywhere else talk about him in those terms for some time.

His scrummaging isn't bad but it's still erratic and there's usually a pen or 2 along the way. He has some v good days, but generally he's not dominant. So with his physical attributes, experience and status in the group I'd hope him to be a bit more influential in the all round game than I perceive him to have been for a while (not just this 6N). Not saying he's not worth his place, just that I think he has the potential to impact games more.

As for Stuart, he's only a year younger than Genge. He doesn't have the same potential ceiling in terms of an all court game, but he has clearly improved over the last year. And all you can really ask is for the graph to go upwards.
 


Lot of fullbacks in there - hopefully Carpenter starts and Hendy on the wing, don't rate Hodge

Decent side all told though - Luke Green a surprise name

No Atkinson or Hartley is annoying but Woodward, Ojomoh and Butt are good inclusions
Have we gone fully the opposite direction and only have 12s, no 13s?

Happy enough with that but bit of a strange squad …

Echoing everyone else here but I just can't understand why Atkinson is repeatedly ignored. I'd have him with the seniors, let alone the A squad. I can only conclude that Woodward being included is more of a graduation from the U20s?

I really don't get Capstick's inclusion? Tuima, Owen and Hammond would all have been better choices IMO and Tizard is very lucky to stay in after a season of mediocre form and poor discipline.

Green is left field but he is highly rated and it would be great to have another promising tighthead emerge.

OHC, Lockett (both Wales) and Kloska (Ireland) are dual qualified so I wonder if that may have influenced 50:50 decisions?

Great to see Kenningham getting recognition and there's the potential for a very handy XV in there, even without players dropping down from the seniors.
 
BTW, that wasn't supposed to be a slight on Woodward who has looked good for Tigers. I just don't think he (or Butt) have been even close to Atkinson's level of performance. He's been consistently good for a good while now and has been a key player in Gloucester's revival.
 
Happy enough with that but bit of a strange squad …

Echoing everyone else here but I just can't understand why Atkinson is repeatedly ignored. I'd have him with the seniors, let alone the A squad. I can only conclude that Woodward being included is more of a graduation from the U20s?

I really don't get Capstick's inclusion? Tuima, Owen and Hammond would all have been better choices IMO and Tizard is very lucky to stay in after a season of mediocre form and poor discipline.

Green is left field but he is highly rated and it would be great to have another promising tighthead emerge.

OHC, Lockett (both Wales) and Kloska (Ireland) are dual qualified so I wonder if that may have influenced 50:50 decisions?

Great to see Kenningham getting recognition and there's the potential for a very handy XV in there, even without players dropping down from the seniors.
Capstick is one I don't get either, don't get me wrong he's a very good player but sort of player who works hard but does not have any real point of difference. And has been covering lock more than back row which was where he played.

I really thought Tuima would be In, he isnt ready for England seniors yet but he is big and makes a real impact. Also the talent to eventually make the step up imo, he deserves a chance.
 
Tizard's more of a Launchbury style lock who's not a particularly good jumper. He wouldn't pair well with Tuima. Perhaps Capstick is there as a more athletic option? Missed a trick by not pairing Tizard and Hammond given they played together for years and have very complimentary playing styles.
 
Believable, but basically an admission they've got the wrong bloke.

Leaders can't delegate leadership.
Late to this, but I think this depends.

I think borthwick is very much a DOR, systems guy, and that is something he seems to actually be very good at. In that case he can be a leader of a smaller group and delegate coaching and player interaction and it can be very succesful. Like a CEO might be good at talking to the board and leading that, but if you put that man on a factory floor... good lord are they going to fail.

I think this is part of the issue however...at club level, thats great I think while international rugby seems to be moving in more of a DOF model, the head coach is still very much that, front facing, hands on coach that is the face to the media, the people and the players. This does not work as well in translation. I think that is probably why he has struggled compared to leicster

I see him not as a tall eddie jones, but a very poundland rassie erasmus. Rassie is rare because he is a DOR, systems, analytics, player pathways etc... (something steve has) but he is also an impecable motivator and steretypical leader of men (something steve does not).

I also think his model at the highest level only works if you have elite coaches under you, steve hired his uni mate and the people skills seem to have had a major issue in dealing with the top level coaches when they were hired.
 


Lot of fullbacks in there - hopefully Carpenter starts and Hendy on the wing, don't rate Hodge

Decent side all told though - Luke Green a surprise name

No Atkinson or Hartley is annoying but Woodward, Ojomoh and Butt are good inclusions
Have we gone fully the opposite direction and only have 12s, no 13s?

They have selected actual 12's.... surely that cant be the squad.
 
Capstick is one I don't get either, don't get me wrong he's a very good player but sort of player who works hard but does not have any real point of difference. And has been covering lock more than back row which was where he played.

I really thought Tuima would be In, he isnt ready for England seniors yet but he is big and makes a real impact. Also the talent to eventually make the step up imo, he deserves a chance.
Tuima has a broken jaw from the Pirates game last week. 6-8 weeks out. Real shame .

Also don't rate Hodge due to his tackling. Tommy Wyatt on the other hand, there is a guy worth checking out if you haven't heard of him. Sheep farmer with mysterious strength and stats to make eyebrows raise. His time will come
 
Is Guy Pepper injured?

Dont know much about Lockett but apparently a Wales u18 and hes played nearly 40 times for Ssints but opted for England. Good Potential apparently.

Therea a decent 23 from this squad though...
 

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