Life after Eddie …

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

And which current players would actually risk going on record to say they think he should go.

Although I wonder how many players who have played in this England team since the World Cup actually feel Eddie is rudderless as we've literally got worse at everything since 2019. The players must feel some kind of frustration playing in a team that rarely looks like scoring trys and tactically are all over the shop. Can't be fun.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I don't like those articles - they're in bad faith
Just trying to get a headline which will ultimately harm the players reputation with either the union (PLAYER SAYS RFU MADE BAD DECISION) or with future coaches (PLAYER PUBLICLY TRASHES EX-COACH)

Not sure about that in this instance. Feels like Lawes was just giving a straight answer to a question. It's pretty balanced, not a nasty hatchet job and his status is such that whether he gets picked or not by a new coach will have nothing to do with this.

But similar words from someone a bit younger, less sure of their place or with an axe to grind might land differently.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Rugby paper says Borthwick wants to bring in Mike Forshaw as defence coach

Would be delighted for him but equally...he's ours

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Rugby paper says Borthwick wants to bring in Mike Forshaw as defence coach

Would be delighted for him but equally...he's ours

Not sure whether I should be happy or sad that England don't want to take away Bath's coaches...

 

[Geordie]

Thought Borthwick had told his players after the game last night that he and Sinfield were leaving for England. Sinfield as D coach...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Sinfield as D coach...

I heard he was replacing Borthwick as head coach at Tigers

We'll find out midday tomorrow I guess (/whenever the papers leak it early)

 

[Wasps92]

I'd have preferred Robertson but Borthwick is probably the only realistic option. Best of luck to him.

 

[Geordie]

Hey of if he gets us back to basics...aggressive and physical and has coaches around him who can really get the best out of the backs we have then I'll be happy...

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Yep. He wouldn't have been my first choice but he's in the job now. Has my full support until his results show that he isn't deserving of it.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I heard he was replacing Borthwick as head coach at Tigers

We'll find out midday tomorrow I guess (/whenever the papers leak it early)

Rugbypass now saying Wigglesworth will take over - Sinfield to England? Or just not well versed enough in union to be top dog yet?

 

[will311293]

Will be interesting to see who comes in from the cold too. With Borthwick coming in i'd imagine a fair few Leicester players will get a look in too.
Who else is a borthwick type player? I can see likes of Daly, Isiekwe, Earl, Evans, Northmore, Potter, Martin, Kelly Atkinson and few others will get a chance.

Marchant must be gutted he's heading out.

 

[Geordie]

Marchants loss is Ollie lawrence or Will Josephs gain. Both cracking young 13s.

Dan Kelly will surely come in to 12....and with Smith and Ford both probably missing from the 6n due to injury...Farrell should be at 10...maybe Atkinson on the bench.

10 Farrell
12 Kelly
13 Lawrence / Joseph

I can handle that

But i suspect Slade will be in contention for 13...as his defensive work is top class and 13 is one of the most difficult channels to defend

 

[will311293]

Marchants loss is Ollie lawrence or Will Josephs gain. Both cracking young 13s.

Dan Kelly will surely come in to 12....and with Smith and Ford both probably missing from the 6n due to injury...Farrell should be at 10...maybe Atkinson on the bench.

10 Farrell
12 Kelly
13 Lawrence / Joseph

I can handle that

But i suspect Slade will be in contention for 13...as his defensive work is top class and 13 is one of the most difficult channels to defend

So I could see down the line JVP, Atkinson, Kelly, Lawrence/Joseph - Think Fin Smith and Atkinson will challenge Marcus Smith for 10 a lot more just because Fin Smith and Atkinson might fit the England system more.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

So I could see down the line JVP, Atkinson, Kelly, Lawrence/Joseph - Think Fin Smith and Atkinson will challenge Marcus Smith for 10 a lot more just because Fin Smith and Atkinson might fit the England system more.

Good joke.

Fin and Atkinson are perfectly fine, but not intl quality (yet), and Marcus playing an unnatural game > them playing that same game for England even if it suits them more.

 

[will311293]

Good joke.

Fin and Atkinson are perfectly fine, but not intl quality (yet), and Marcus playing an unnatural game > them playing that same game for England even if it suits them more.

No No, I still think Marcus Smith will start and will do for some time as for me he's unbelievable and I always thought Jones made a mistake not changing Englands style to suit Smith and shoe horning Farrell in at 12 when really he needed a natural 12.

I do think if Atkinson particularly stays at Leicester and plays regularly with JVP and the likes of Porter and Kelly etc at Leicester, I do wonder if Borthwick will show favoritism.

 

[higgik]

Marchants loss is Ollie lawrence or Will Josephs gain. Both cracking young 13s.

Dan Kelly will surely come in to 12....and with Smith and Ford both probably missing from the 6n due to injury...Farrell should be at 10...maybe Atkinson on the bench.

10 Farrell
12 Kelly
13 Lawrence / Joseph

I can handle that

But i suspect Slade will be in contention for 13...as his defensive work is top class and 13 is one of the most difficult channels to defend

Slade also offers excellent vision and a kick option.
With Steward locked in at 15, the 2nd playmaker is needed and 13 is best position, as it is easier for them to be in 2nd wave and helps provide width to get outside the defence.
Slade with a back 3 of OHC, Freeman and Steward would be very dangerous.
Look at Sarries, often Loz plays 13 to help get the width.

 

[higgik]

No No, I still think Marcus Smith will start and will do for some time as for me he's unbelievable and I always thought Jones made a mistake not changing Englands style to suit Smith and shoe horning Farrell in at 12 when really he needed a natural 12.

I do think if Atkinson particularly stays at Leicester and plays regularly with JVP and the likes of Porter and Kelly etc at Leicester, I do wonder if Borthwick will show favoritism.

Backline for 6N
JVP, Farrell, OHC, Kelly, Slade, Freeman, Steward

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

With Steward locked in at 15, the 2nd playmaker is needed and 13 is best position, as it is easier for them to be in 2nd wave and helps provide width to get outside the defence.

If Kelly's at 12 then I'd say he functions as the second playmaker. A midfield of Kelly-Slade is too weighted towards playmaking and not enough strike running for my liking. I think Kelly would be best partnered with a Lawrence/Marchant-type player.

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

If Kelly's at 12 then I'd say he functions as the second playmaker. A midfield of Kelly-Slade is too weighted towards playmaking and not enough strike running for my liking. I think Kelly would be best partnered with a Lawrence/Marchant-type player.

Idk tbh, Kelly has the ability to run hard and straight very effectively for a man that isn't massive, and slade can be pretty scalpal like if you're asking him to do that - it would just need to be balanced with a Murley/Nowell style winger/13 vibe player.

Kelly, Slade with Murley,OHC on the wings works imo, but Kelly Slade doesn't work with Radwan and May on the wings iygm

 

[HamJan]

Backline for 6N
JVP, Farrell, OHC, Kelly, Slade, Freeman, Steward

I'd be happy with that