England 2025/26

[Vieux Talonneur]

Wonder how much Ford, Dan, Hill, Fisilau, Ojomoh, Steward, Clark and Sela have enjoyed their intercontinental training trip. Think I’m right in saying not a minute’s game time between them. Not to mention the call ups of CCS and Roebuck.

Maybe someone Sela’s age doesn’t mind so much, but got to be pretty dispiriting.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Wonder how much Ford, Dan, Hill, Fisilau, Ojomoh, Steward, Clark and Sela have enjoyed their intercontinental training trip. Think I’m right in saying not a minute’s game time between them. Not to mention the call ups of CCS and Roebuck.

Maybe someone Sela’s age doesn’t mind so much, but got to be pretty dispiriting.

Just the usual **** poor man management from England.

 

[Saintjay]

I think Borthwick knows his neck is on the block. Wins and performances matter.

He could have thrown them to the wolves vs SA. Nobody expected us to win. In theory they should have been good enough to beat Fiji.

Still if he doesn't have an idea of his world cup 23 now then who knows. We desperately need some continuity.

 

[Scotty]

Just the usual **** poor man management from England.

Honestly I'm not sure it is...but it doesn't make it not his fault.

By that i mean hes done terribly over the past few years so we are in a position where we need to get a solid first team that's experienced and playing well together before we can do what SA do and use fringe players with a strong core of first teamers.

Right now hes doing what he has to do imo, maybe could look at 1 or 2 but the reason it's right now is because he do so badly before.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

100% caused his own issues. Fiji was the game to try anyone but he’s obviously under pressure so is looking to win every game he can with his first team.

Can’t wait until we go to a WC with Dan as our only experienced hooker when George and LCD get broken.

We are back in the jones era of blocking depth in certain positions.

 

[Reiser99]

I think Borthwick knows his neck is on the block. Wins and performances matter.

He could have thrown them to the wolves vs SA. Nobody expected us to win. In theory they should have been good enough to beat Fiji.

Still if he doesn't have an idea of his world cup 23 now then who knows. We desperately need some continuity.

Agreed, we've got a coach who's desperate for a win and has no idea what his best team is. He's just hoping for the best.

 

[Quel Carreleur]

I think Borthwick knows what his best team looks like.
His problem is that the players available don't look like that...

This does not say good things about him, or that he'd be successful if he did actually have the players he wants.

If he was head coach of South Africa, they'd probably still be top 4, but it wouldn't be comfortable.

 

[Reiser99]

I think Borthwick knows what his best team looks like.
His problem is that the players available don't look like that...

This does not say good things about him, or that he'd be successful if he did actually have the players he wants.

If he was head coach of South Africa, they'd probably still be top 4, but it wouldn't be comfortable.

You honestly think he knows he best centre combo or possibly even his best wing combo for that?

 

[Quel Carreleur]

You honestly think he knows he best centre combo or possibly even his best wing combo for that?

Yes.
He wants Greenwood and Esterhuizen.

 

[higgik]

You honestly think he knows he best centre combo or possibly even his best wing combo for that?

Reminds me of Tuchel, has a plan, but the players he wants are either injured or not on form, so he is trying to find players to fit, rather than adapting tge game plan

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Reminds me of Tuchel, has a plan, but the players he wants are either injured or not on form, so he is trying to find players to fit, rather than adapting tge game plan

Not quite on topic but according to media reports Tuchel has been getting into Rugby since he started his job. He has been calling his subs finishers and was inspired supposedly by the Bomb squad.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

Not quite on topic but according to media reports Tuchel has been getting into Rugby since he started his job. He has been calling his subs finishers and was inspired supposedly by the Bomb squad.

The bomb squad is supposed to come on and up the pressure on the opposing team though, not absorb it

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

In fairness it did bomb.

 

[BrokenWing]

It wasn’t very absorbent either.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

It wasn’t very absorbent either.

Soft, not strong nor thoroughly absorbent.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

So where does all that leave us?

If SB’s job was under threat, 2 wins have probably saved it.

We didn’t really learn too much about new players. Maybe Atkinson put his hand up but not much else really.

Team is capable of some good rugby but still some huge fault lines in mentality and discipline. That’s not all down to the coaches.

Still all a bit of a muddle.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Feels like such a waste of the summer for us tbh

 

[Saintjay]

The squads changed around some.

I don't think think we are any further forward going into this RWC than the last.

 

[Geordie]

So where does all that leave us?

If SB’s job was under threat, 2 wins have probably saved it.

We didn’t really learn too much about new players. Maybe Atkinson put his hand up but not much else really.

Team is capable of some good rugby but still some huge fault lines in mentality and discipline. That’s not all down to the coaches.

Still all a bit of a muddle.

Yeah, I thought Atkinson was the answer but I've come away from this summer unsure.

George Martin good to have him back. Coles developing well. 35 tackles wow!

Waboso needs to stay fit.

But Hooker? Hhmmm

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I thought Atkinson was the answer but I've come away from this summer unsure

Any specific reason?
I think yesterday should have secured him the spot tbh, he was very very good

 

[Brown Bottle]

Any specific reason?
I think yesterday should have secured him the spot tbh, he was very very good

Blimey. If experts can't agree on our best centres how is Borthwick supposed to. Bloke can't win.

 

[LIONSxv]

Any specific reason?
I think yesterday should have secured him the spot tbh, he was very very good

I have been very impressed with Atkinson already looks test class. Can carry, hit hard and has a lovely range of passing