England v Fiji - 8/11/2025

[Scotty]

England v Fiji: Tom Roebuck and Freddie Steward injury doubts with Marcus Smith contender to come in

Wing Tom Roebuck is a doubt for England's match with Fiji on Saturday after limping out of training on Tuesday with an ankle injury.

www.bbc.co.uk

Roebuck and stewart a doubt. Lawrence to 13, Freeman to 14 Smith to 15. Is my guess

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Roebuck dropping out, to be replaced my Arundell, might have me looking up Fiji shirts on eBay

 

[Rugbyfan564]

When is the team announced? Early again?

Thursday,

 

[Matthews]

If the injuries stick it sounds like it might be:

15. M.Smith
11. Arundell
14. Feyi-Waboso
12. Lawrence
13. Freeman

I think having the extra playmaker in Smith allows them to try Lawrence and Freeman in tandem. I don't think Lawrence at 12 is ideal but I'm kind of up for trying it, will be a seriously beefy combo at least. For me Dingwall lacks the pace or threat in the carry so defenders can just sit off him and wait for the pass. I prefer Ojomoh for 12 but that ain't happening...

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Telegraph says Arundell set to start.

 

[Geordie]

Roebuck dropping out, to be replaced my Arundell, might have me looking up Fiji shirts on eBay

Dont worry Pollock is on hand to cover the wing spot.

 

[spartan32]

Roebuck dropping out, to be replaced my Arundell, might have me looking up Fiji shirts on eBay

Why? Arundell a strong chap and dangerous with ball in hand. Fiji don’t like to kick so there’s not likely to be an aerial issue, so the suggestion is what, he can’t tackle?

 

[spartan32]

If the injuries stick it sounds like it might be:

15. M.Smith
11. Arundell
14. Feyi-Waboso
12. Lawrence
13. Freeman

I think having the extra playmaker in Smith allows them to try Lawrence and Freeman in tandem. I don't think Lawrence at 12 is ideal but I'm kind of up for trying it, will be a seriously beefy combo at least. For me Dingwall lacks the pace or threat in the carry so defenders can just sit off him and wait for the pass. I prefer Ojomoh for 12 but that ain't happening...

We seriously lacked a proper playmaker in the centre last weekend. There were chances on the outside totally butchered by Freeman who lacked either the confidence, or the skill, to shift the ball outside him. Poor IFW got a raw deal all game. OL would be better suited at 13 but I’d have him on at 12 over not having him on at all.

 

[spartan32]

Dont worry Pollock is on hand to cover the wing spot.

You’re enjoying pulling on this thread aren’t you Geordie

 

[Geordie]

You're enjoying pulling on this thread aren't you Geordie

Well its a bit of fun after all

 

[TRF_Olyy]

so the suggestion is what, he can't tackle?

I mean it's not really a suggestion, his defence is objectively poor - maybe not 1 on 1 but positionally/systemically

 

[spartan32]

I mean it's not really a suggestion, his defence is objectively poor - maybe not 1 on 1 but positionally/systemically

I’ve heard this said a couple of times but I’ve not seen the evidence personally. He’s been going pretty well for Bath so far and if he was such a liability I’m not sure he’d be in the England set up.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

We seriously lacked a proper playmaker in the centre last weekend. There were chances on the outside totally butchered by Freeman who lacked either the confidence, or the skill, to shift the ball outside him. Poor IFW got a raw deal all game. OL would be better suited at 13 but I'd have him on at 12 over not having him on at all.

Nothing to do with being a playmaker and everything to do with a basic skill failure. Regardless of number on shirt or game situation not using a quick guy in space is a fail.

You’re not going to shift Olyy on Arundell. Once his mind’s made up it’s game over - he still doesn’t believe that Nathan Hughes was the best thing to ever happen to English rugby.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Any excuse:

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

We seriously lacked a proper playmaker in the centre last weekend. There were chances on the outside totally butchered by Freeman who lacked either the confidence, or the skill, to shift the ball outside him. Poor IFW got a raw deal all game. OL would be better suited at 13 but I'd have him on at 12 over not having him on at all.

It’s almost as if we played a winger at 13 and he played like a winger.

Who’d have thought that.

 

[Scotty]

It's almost as if we played a winger at 13 and he played like a winger.

Who'd have thought that.

It's the case that Wingers are taught to back themselves, and backing himself to make a break and then offloading is likely what he was going for rather greed(not that you said it was)

Where as a 13 will have that awareness to look for the man outside and make the decision. Freeman can/will be a great 13 but at club level before country please. Bring back OL

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Any excuse:

Careful or I’ll raise you a George Ford.

Back to the Freeman non-pass. I’d have been narked if Heyes had fluffed that, it was simply a poor piece of play that can easily be used against him, but doesn’t really (dis)prove Freeman’s centre potential either way.

Sinfield saying in today’s paper that it’s very much that Freeman wants to play 13 rather than management driven.

 

[Geordie]

Careful or I'll raise you a George Ford.

Back to the Freeman non-pass. I'd have been narked if Heyes had fluffed that, it was simply a poor piece of play that can easily be used against him, but doesn't really (dis)prove Freeman's centre potential either way.

Sinfield saying in today's paper that it's very much that Freeman wants to play 13 rather than management driven.

And this is a valid point. Lots of criticsim because of one missed opportunity. Doesnt mean much in the grand scheme. You would hope this weekend he makes the pass. Im sure he will.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sinfield saying in today's paper that it's very much that Freeman wants to play 13 rather than management driven.

Think that actually makes the decision to play him there worse, tbh

 

[NotTooAmused]

better get those kicks right eh, give Wainiqolo an inch and he'll take a mile!