England 2025/26

[Vieux Talonneur]

Others will have seen much more of him, but I've quite liked some of what I've seen from Arundell so far.

Not the tries or the straight line speed - we know he can do all that, but dancing feet in heavy traffic, fighting hard in contact to get that extra metre and present the ball well and taking the right option in passing to better placed colleagues.

I've seen one bad kick that went dead but no obvious out and out defensive howlers.

I'm not saying bring him straight back in, but I'm one of those who wants him to succeed and have seen some positive signs. Although France didn't work out for him, you learn more from your mistakes and it will have been a brilliant long term learning experience.

 

[Ddanno]

Assuming America hasn't burned to the ground by then.

 

[Ddanno]

Others will have seen much more of him, but I've quite liked some of what I've seen from Arundell so far.

Not the tries or the straight line speed - we know he can do all that, but dancing feet in heavy traffic, fighting hard in contact to get that extra metre and present the ball well and taking the right option in passing to better placed colleagues.

I've seen one bad kick that went dead but no obvious out and out defensive howlers.

I'm not saying bring him straight back in, but I'm one of those who wants him to succeed and have seen some positive signs. Although France didn't work out for him, you learn more your mistakes and it will have been a brilliant long term learning experience.

Agreed, he's looking really sharp and seems to be involved in every Bath try outside of mauls/pick and goes. Unselfish too.

 

[Geordie]

I'm fairly certain he will play. Successive England head coaches have put far too much emphasis on cap count than form and balance.
If they pick F Smith at FH, they will play Slade in the centres to ensure that SB has a certain amount of caps in the backline.

I don't think it's Slades caps, it's his skill set. He has an almost complete set, from speed, to defensive leadership, to match control, playmaking, excellent kicking etc etc.

For Exeter he has been a match winner and dominated games with match control etc ..but the issue is, we've never seen it for England. If we saw those performances for England he wouldn't even be in question.

The issue is most of our centers don't have a kicking game or match control which is critical at this level IMO.

 

[Which Tyler]

Others will have seen much more of him, but I've quite liked some of what I've seen from Arundell so far.

He has already exceeded my expectations - disciplined in defense, generally good positioning and decision making, happy to take contact and offload, and as you say, the dancing feet that makes space and draws defenders onto him.

 

[Geordie]

Ilione has been the classic case of a player needing a couple years between U20's and seniors to just get a chance to develop at his own speed

Granted I think Leicester knew he was the real deal since academy but with injuries and his studies it delayed it a couple years.

But he has genuinely matured into a hell of a player seems to always make a big play in attack or defence when off the bench and is bringing that to the starting XV level. His carrying last night was pure physicality.

I just can't see him not being involved now, probably off the bench initially. He's just got the lot and critically that real physicality aswell.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

 

[LIONSxv]

I don't think it's Slades caps, it's his skill set. He has an almost complete set, from speed, to defensive leadership, to match control, playmaking, excellent kicking etc etc.

For Exeter he has been a match winner and dominated games with match control etc ..but the issue is, we've never seen it for England. If we saw those performances for England he wouldn't even be in question.

The issue is most of our centers don't have a kicking game or match control which is critical at this level IMO.

Both Jones and SB have gone on record to say teams need X caps to win a WC

I think you were definitely right with Eddie and his obsession with the need for multiple distributers. SB not so much so.

 

[Ddanno]

If Slade was right footed he'd probably have half the caps

 

[Geordie]

Both Jones and SB have gone on record to say teams need X caps to win a WC

I think you were definitely right with Eddie and his obsession with the need for multiple distributers. SB not so much so.

Oh I agree SB has said he wants so many caps in the squad but I don't think that's different from many other head coaches. Experience is so crucial.

The point with Slade was probably the hope he would finally come good at this level, whilst also concerned at the lack of other options we had at centre.

I think they're still concerned with the centre options ( and I include Lawrence in that) or we wouldn't be seeing the Freeman to 13 stories.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

T Curry added
Ilione removed.
Kenningham added
Rodd removed

Caluori added
Radwan removed

 

[Crash Hamster]

Hmm, he's kept Caluori...

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Tom Curry???? Borthwick really can’t go away from his game plans can he

 

[Crash Hamster]

...but not Ilione or Radwan.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

...but not Ilione or Radwan.

Ilione had a knock so Kenningham called up

 

[Wasps92]

Dan.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Sir Clive wants Freeman at 13 is the only Intresting part of this interview

BORTHWICK meets SIR CLIVE: Inside England's plan to win World Cup

Almost a quarter of a century ago, following a 2001 Six Nations defeat by Ireland, I wrote to all my players as the then head coach of England, writes SIR CLIVE WOODWARD.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[TRF_Olyy]

No Radwan is diabolical

Shame for Ilione if he's injured, hopefully fit for the A games

Caluori as a full EPS member is weird

 

[Geordie]

Dan.

I know.

But god we really need some young hookers coming through. I'm hoping Jubliu at Saale can come through.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Illione is having a scan tommrow on his shoulder.

Rodd is also injured.

Daly, Martin and van Poortvliet are also there to rehabilitate.