England 2024/25

[Geordie]

Yeah I've said before I bet SB is trying to persuade Cole to stay on for the 6n at least

Cole starting with big Painter to come on at 50mins would be a good scrummaging tight head pairing.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I see no other reason why Cole hasn't announced his retirement tbh.
I guess Cole prob feels he owes Borthwick due to getting called up again

Plus pro sports players are insanely competitive just by nature - he knows he can still hang so why wouldn't he go another season? Especially at 25k a cap - a six nations and a summer tour could net him £200k

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Plus pro sports players are insanely competitive just by nature - he knows he can still hang so why wouldn't he go another season? Especially at 25k a cap - a six nations and a summer tour could net him £200k

Especially since at his age his "prime earning age" is long gone.

 

[Geordie]

Well the 8s are dropping like flies...mercer out for the months...now Barbeary looks injured again...

 

[BPM]

Sadly, Barbeary and injured usually belong in the same sentence.

I think he was a way down the pecking order anyway. Leaving Earl at 8 is probably the best option right now, but Willis should be in with a good shout and Dombrandt has been in brilliant form (deserves a recall IMO).

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Interesting article in the Times talking about as the Vunipolae and Manu come towards the end so another generation of Pacific Island origins is emerging. Those name checked include Tonga’uiga and Tuipuloto juniors, the latter highly rated at hooker, Filisau, Tuima, P Coka, Satala and Ma’asi-White.

 

[Geordie]

Sadly, Barbeary and injured usually belong in the same sentence.

I think he was a way down the pecking order anyway. Leaving Earl at 8 is probably the best option right now, but Willis should be in with a good shout and Dombrandt has been in brilliant form (deserves a recall IMO).

Well we'll see the pedigree of Tom Willis on Sunday when he faces a ferocious challenge...the mighty Falcons...

 

[Geordie]

Interesting article in the Times talking about as the Vunipolae and Manu come towards the end so another generation of Pacific Island origins is emerging. Those name checked include Tonga'uiga and Tuipuloto juniors, the latter highly rated at hooker, Filisau, Tuima, P Coka, Satala and Ma'asi-White.

Is it Russ Tuima at Exeter at lock, playing very well..providing alot of power to pack.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

It's nuts how pacific islanders put on about 5kg of muscle in the morning just lifting themselves out of the bath.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

It's nuts how pacific islanders put on about 5kg of muscle in the morning just lifting themselves out of the bath.

Just like the South Africans do when they go to the hormone optimisation shop.

 

[Crash Hamster]

Is it Russ Tuima at Exeter at lock, playing very well..providing alot of power to pack.

Really rate Tuima, think he'll be very, very good indeed. Be interesting to see where in the back 5 he ends up.

 

[Quel Carreleur]

Really rate Tuima, think he'll be very, very good indeed. Be interesting to see where in the back 5 he ends up.

Unfortunately, when it comes to "where in the back 5", he's at Exeter...

 

[Crash Hamster]

Unfortunately, when it comes to "where in the back 5", he's at Exeter...

It's funny because it's true...

 

[Scotty]

Unfortunately, when it comes to "where in the back 5", he's at Exeter...

Honestly i like him at lock, a lump behind the props isn't a bad thing. But how much he would hinder the lineout? Im not sure.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I wonder if he will be looked at by England or if he might look to play for Fiji. Assuming he’s got the choice.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

If he keeps playing like this at lock I reckon he'll get a look in for England, especially with the return of the A Team
Mad that he's not played there before this season, he looks to the manor born

 

[Crash Hamster]

Honestly i like him at lock, a lump behind the props isn't a bad thing. But how much he would hinder the lineout? Im not sure.

Unless my mind is playing tricks, when I saw him at Pirates, he was winning some very good lineout ball (albeit at one level down from Prem...)

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Unless my mind is playing tricks, when I saw him at Pirates, he was winning some very good lineout ball (albeit at one level down from Prem...)

He’s damn near 130kg nowadays. Like others have said, if teams can get Skelton up then you can get anyone up. But I sure as **** wouldn’t want to be the one lifting him.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

He's damn near 130kg nowadays. Like others have said, if teams can get Skelton up then you can get anyone up. But I sure as **** wouldn't want to be the one lifting him.

What teams do to Skelton in the bedroom is their own business.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Arundell on the wing for Racing tomorrow, imagine that's where he's going to be playing most of his rugby for them as their 15 is on fire

Good to see him going straight in with a start, though - hopefully gets a little more involved than his last outing!

 

[Geordie]

So if it was in current form who are you replacing the leavers with for the 6n?

May -
Youngs -
Lawes -
Jack Willis -
Marchant -
Ribbans -

 

[TRF_Olyy]

May --> Freeman (this is the toughest pick, lots and lots of good wingers about - really really rate Freeman though)
Youngs --> Warr
Lawes --> Pearson
Willis --> Underhill
Marchant --> Instinctively went with Kelly, but not so sure, there's a number of good options in the Prem atm. Will Joseph? Maybe Ojomoh?
Ribbans --> Isiekwe

 

[TRF_Olyy]

No-one tell Borthwick!

 

[Geordie]

May --> Freeman (this is the toughest pick, lots and lots of good wingers about - really really rate Freeman though)
Youngs --> Warr
Lawes --> Pearson
Willis --> Underhill
Marchant --> Instinctively went with Kelly, but not so sure, there's a number of good options in the Prem atm. Will Joseph? Maybe Ojomoh?
Ribbans --> Isiekwe

Replacing May is a tricky one. Do you rate Roebuck as having a chance? Good kick chase?

I think I still fancy Seb Atkinson for the Marchant replacement. Played well on Friday despite the pack being beaten. Ojomoh hasn't really set me on fire in the last few seasons...but he seems to be showing some of the potential now...and he also played well on Friday...its another tricky one....

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I'm still not fully onboard with Atkinson, looks way greener than the other options - I thought Ojomoh looked the better of the two on Friday (but then how much was because of the comparative strength of the sides)?
Very very young though so who knows what he'll be like in 1/2/3 seasons time

Speaking of Bath I wonder if Muir might fight his way into contention, playing v.v.well

Do you rate Roebuck as having a chance?

Hopefully, but I think being realistic there's a few ahead
Reed/Roebuck/Carpenter will probably be in contention for the A squad rather than main

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

I'm still not fully onboard with Atkinson, looks way greener than the other options - I thought Ojomoh looked the better of the two on Friday (but then how much was because of the comparative strength of the sides)?
Very very young though so who knows what he'll be like in 1/2/3 seasons time

Speaking of Bath I wonder if Muir might fight his way into contention, playing v.v.well


Hopefully, but I think being realistic there's a few ahead
Reed/Roebuck/Carpenter will probably be in contention for the A squad rather than main

Will Muir has been good for a while now and is deceptively strong, he quite often bumps players. He's on the older side but he's performing well so I say at least get him in contention. Just ensure others also get a look in as starters / from the bench if he does do well enough to nail a starter spot as he will at best have 1 WC in him.

 

[Geordie]

Muir has been in the squad a few years ago under Jones hasn't he?

He looks a good prem player to me. Maybe not quite next step up.

 

[LIONSxv]

News just in...if you pass to Arundell he is pretty quick and strong. Might be a revolutionary new tactic for the six nations ?

 

[Geordie]

News just in...if you pass to Arundell he is pretty quick and strong. Might be a revolutionary new tactic for the six nations ?

Hattrick on his debut wasnt it...but heard there were some big defensive issues lead t 1 or two tires against him. But playing with Fickou etc his defence will defo improve.

 

[Quel Carreleur]

News just in...if you pass to Arundell he is pretty quick and strong. Might be a revolutionary new tactic for the six nations ?

If they're not going to cover up your FH's errors by chasing hard on lost cause kicks that aren't worth chasing - then what are wingers even for?