When looking at a squad I feel most people think you should have a good core of players who are in the 40-80 cap range going into a world cup. You'll then have a couple or a few above that. Then maybe a group between 20-40 and a few below 20.
Currently we have
80+: George (101), Ford (99), Itoje (93)
41-80: Slade (73), Daly (72), Genge (71), T.Curry (62), Stuart (50), M.Smith (44), Earl (41)
21-40: Underhill (40), Steward (36), Lawrence (33), Ewels (30)
, Chessum (27), Mitchell (23), Martin (22), Freeman (21),
11-20: Dombrandt (20), Van Poortvliet (18), Dan (17), Cunningham-South (15), Furbank (14), Heyes (12), Baxter (11), Isiekwe (11), F.Smith (11)
1-10: Feyi-Waboso (10), Spencer (8), Sleightholme (8) Rodd (7), Willis (6), Coles (5), Hill (4), Roebuck (4), Dingwall (3), Langdon (2), Davison (2), Quirke (2), Opoku-Fordjour (1), Murley (1)
0: Iyogun, Clark, Kenningham, Pepper, C.Atkinson, S.Atkinson, Beard, Northmore, Ojomoh, Carpenter, Muir
We have 3 games this summer, 4? games in the autumn, 5 games in the 6Ns, another 3? next summer, then 4? more in the autumn, 5 in the final 6Ns and then possibly 3 warm up games, so potentially 27 capped games.
Props look very bare in terms of experience outside of Stuart and Genge. I'd be happy with Heyes and Baxter to accumulate more caps from the bench with some of the younger players possibly knocking on the door if there is an opportunity.
Hooker is a worry, especially if LCD gets crocked again and with George getting older. Dan would have around 40 caps experience if he continues to play regularly, but I don't think he's good enough. I guess Borthwick has chosen Dan over Langdon, but I hope it doesn't come back to bite him.
Locks are also a bit injury dependent. If Chessum and Martin both stay fit for a while then they'll have plenty of experience. If not then it will be falling back on a mixed bag, most of which will be caps off the bench.
Back row seems to be in a good position. Dombrandt's 20 caps feel like a bit of a waste as I don't seem him being a permanent starter. Willis could have over 30 caps by 2027, so hopefully Borthwick sticks with him.
SH: Is a big worry and tbh it goes all the way back to Jones and his refusal to cap anyone outside of Youngs and Care. Mitchell is building nicely and if Van Poortvliet can maintain form and fitness then he could help build some competition. Ideally Spencer would be between at least 20-40 caps under Jones, but it never happened. After those 3 there is then a bit of an issue, especially with Quirke's loss of form and 2 good SH's being picked by Scotland.
FH: Ford is the experienced man, just whether he'll still be in form in 2027. M.Smith in the middle, but he's now being seen as more of a 15. Otherwise F.Smith on 11. He'll have over 30 caps if he plays regularly, but FH is a worry with any injuries.
Centre: We really need Lawrence back, because only Slade and he are capped to any real extent and the next player is Dingwall on 3. Freeman might make the transition, but if so it has to be sooner rather than later. Honestly, Centre is the biggest issue in the squad and we have 4 centres uncapped.
Back 3: We have Daly as a very experienced utility back. Freeman will have plenty of experience unless he switches to centre. Hopefully Furbank keeps his fitness. Steward needs to up his defensive game if he wants to challenge. I feel like if Feyi-Waboso stays fit then he'll probably be a fixture. I'd then be happy with Roebuck as a strong aerial back to fit in where needed. I feel like Sleightholme will miss out when everyone's fit unless Freeman goes centres permanently.
Overall I feel like SH, Hooker and centres have issues with experience. I really hope come the autumn we have minimal injuries because it would be good to start building some consistency after the Lions. I feel if the majority of players can play most of the internationals then actually in terms of caps England will overall be in a good place.
Currently we have
80+: George (101), Ford (99), Itoje (93)
41-80: Slade (73), Daly (72), Genge (71), T.Curry (62), Stuart (50), M.Smith (44), Earl (41)
21-40: Underhill (40), Steward (36), Lawrence (33), Ewels (30)
, Chessum (27), Mitchell (23), Martin (22), Freeman (21),11-20: Dombrandt (20), Van Poortvliet (18), Dan (17), Cunningham-South (15), Furbank (14), Heyes (12), Baxter (11), Isiekwe (11), F.Smith (11)
1-10: Feyi-Waboso (10), Spencer (8), Sleightholme (8) Rodd (7), Willis (6), Coles (5), Hill (4), Roebuck (4), Dingwall (3), Langdon (2), Davison (2), Quirke (2), Opoku-Fordjour (1), Murley (1)
0: Iyogun, Clark, Kenningham, Pepper, C.Atkinson, S.Atkinson, Beard, Northmore, Ojomoh, Carpenter, Muir
We have 3 games this summer, 4? games in the autumn, 5 games in the 6Ns, another 3? next summer, then 4? more in the autumn, 5 in the final 6Ns and then possibly 3 warm up games, so potentially 27 capped games.
Props look very bare in terms of experience outside of Stuart and Genge. I'd be happy with Heyes and Baxter to accumulate more caps from the bench with some of the younger players possibly knocking on the door if there is an opportunity.
Hooker is a worry, especially if LCD gets crocked again and with George getting older. Dan would have around 40 caps experience if he continues to play regularly, but I don't think he's good enough. I guess Borthwick has chosen Dan over Langdon, but I hope it doesn't come back to bite him.
Locks are also a bit injury dependent. If Chessum and Martin both stay fit for a while then they'll have plenty of experience. If not then it will be falling back on a mixed bag, most of which will be caps off the bench.
Back row seems to be in a good position. Dombrandt's 20 caps feel like a bit of a waste as I don't seem him being a permanent starter. Willis could have over 30 caps by 2027, so hopefully Borthwick sticks with him.
SH: Is a big worry and tbh it goes all the way back to Jones and his refusal to cap anyone outside of Youngs and Care. Mitchell is building nicely and if Van Poortvliet can maintain form and fitness then he could help build some competition. Ideally Spencer would be between at least 20-40 caps under Jones, but it never happened. After those 3 there is then a bit of an issue, especially with Quirke's loss of form and 2 good SH's being picked by Scotland.
FH: Ford is the experienced man, just whether he'll still be in form in 2027. M.Smith in the middle, but he's now being seen as more of a 15. Otherwise F.Smith on 11. He'll have over 30 caps if he plays regularly, but FH is a worry with any injuries.
Centre: We really need Lawrence back, because only Slade and he are capped to any real extent and the next player is Dingwall on 3. Freeman might make the transition, but if so it has to be sooner rather than later. Honestly, Centre is the biggest issue in the squad and we have 4 centres uncapped.
Back 3: We have Daly as a very experienced utility back. Freeman will have plenty of experience unless he switches to centre. Hopefully Furbank keeps his fitness. Steward needs to up his defensive game if he wants to challenge. I feel like if Feyi-Waboso stays fit then he'll probably be a fixture. I'd then be happy with Roebuck as a strong aerial back to fit in where needed. I feel like Sleightholme will miss out when everyone's fit unless Freeman goes centres permanently.
Overall I feel like SH, Hooker and centres have issues with experience. I really hope come the autumn we have minimal injuries because it would be good to start building some consistency after the Lions. I feel if the majority of players can play most of the internationals then actually in terms of caps England will overall be in a good place.
