England 2024/25

[Vieux Talonneur]

FFS, that means Asher covering loosehead

Or Davison who while mainly a TH these days has played something like 22% of his career at LH.

 

[Flankers' paradise]

Or Davison who while mainly a TH these days has played something like 22% of his career at LH.

He even played hooker at Blaydon so we could really let Dan catch an early flight home

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Borthwick is going to have to call Farrell into the autumn matches or try and get him to retire now he is in the lions.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Calling it now Faz will win the league with Sarries this season and get an England call up and be in the squad for the next RWC

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Calling it now Faz will win the league with Sarries this season and get an England call up and be in the squad for the next RWC

Maybe starting even?

Will M Smith go to France soon? Surely the RFU won't want that but how much can they offer someone who might not even make the bench.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Kinda wish we were playing Chile after the Arg games

 

[Which Tyler]

Looks like Slade out might be happening, but for reasons I wouldn't wish for

Tour-ending injury to force England into another centre combination

Any hopes Steve Borthwick may have had of generating any sort of consistency in the centres have gone out the window...

www.rugbypass.com

Will add that, if the fracture was suffered in that early collision when Atkinson threw the hospital pass - I need to cut Slade some slack for the rest of his game.

ETA: so this means one of Ojomoh, Beard or Northmore to start, and t'other Atkinson has to come into the 23, presumably as part of a 5:3 bench.
I never thought I'd say this, but thank gods Andy Farrell took his family to Aus with him!

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Sounds like Slade needs surgery on his hand going by his Instagram post.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Watching Chessum at 6

A lot want him at lock but he isn't half a natural at 6 also

Imo our best 6 by a mile currently, just the lack of locks being the serious worry

 

[Crash Hamster]

He's been very good again so far today.

I suppose we need one of the huge lumps from U20 to come through at the same rate as he did and get capped at 22. It would certainly be a step towards a monster pack.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I still think his best position is lock, but open to a move if Martin can get/stay fit

Would emphasise the question of who's next, if we lost a first choice lock - Feels like the England setup aren't bothered about looking, really
We've got Coles (not trusted until there were absolutely no other options), Ewels (who would likely be next in line) and then they're trying to shoehorn in CCS

Does make me feel like Chessum is gonna be at lock cause otherwise we'd have ramped up the search

 

[NickBD]

How has Junior Kpoku been getting along? Moved to Racing, is he coming back because he was always the big lock prospect. He didn't look that great in u20s 6N but since then I've not heard much or seen much.

With lock depth it's an issue but I wouldn't say serious worry. Itoje, Chessum, Martin and Coles is a very good 4 to have. Isiekwe, Ewels, Clark and Batley are decent 5th to 8th choice. With Sodeke and Kpuku the big prospects.

 

[Ddanno]

Shut up Maro

Maro Itoje would welcome Owen Farrell England return

Captain Maro Itoje would welcome Owen Farrell's return to the England fold if his Saracens team-mate wants to come back into the squad.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Saintjay]

Shut up Maro

Maro Itoje would welcome Owen Farrell England return

Captain Maro Itoje would welcome Owen Farrell's return to the England fold if his Saracens team-mate wants to come back into the squad.

www.bbc.co.uk

At this rate Marcus Smith will be at best 4th choice 10 and 2nd choice utility back

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I still think his best position is lock, but open to a move if Martin can get/stay fit

Would emphasise the question of who's next, if we lost a first choice lock - Feels like the England setup aren't bothered about looking, really
We've got Coles (not trusted until there were absolutely no other options), Ewels (who would likely be next in line) and then they're trying to shoehorn in CCS

Does make me feel like Chessum is gonna be at lock cause otherwise we'd have ramped up the search

Doesn't really feel that they trust anyone outside of Itoje, Chessum and Martin.

Nothing to base it on, but my instinct is that SB's plan A is to play all 3 with Chessum at 6. But only Itoje can seemingly be guaranteed to be fit.

Definitely a chance for one of the youngsters to mount a charge for the 4th slot at least, but they're all a way off at the moment.

 

[Geordie]

The problem with Martin is his increasing injury problems. Im pretty sure his games per season is pretty low over the last few seasons....

Your then watching the Argentina tour this weekend to see if Clarke is selected and if hes not...thats really not a good sign at all especially if CCS is preferred.

Theres a few after that, who are unsure - Bamber, Lockett, can Lewis Chessum recover his early potential etc etc...

Your then down to the next batch to come through...Kpoku, Sodeke, Burrows etc.

Not the best place to be in for locks at the moment...BUT it could come good quite quickly.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Martin thing is he gets rushed by England too quickly
But saying that his stats are
2020/21 - 16 games (2 England)
21/22 - 22 games
22/23 - 19 games
23/24 - 22 games (14 for England)
24/25 - 13 games (6 for England)

I feel like people are going a little OTT with his injury problems, he puts his body on the line a lot with his style of play so injuries will happen
I feel that mainly England has rushed him back this season a bit too soon

A good full off season will do him good IMO

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Doesn't really feel that they trust anyone outside of Itoje, Chessum and Martin.

Nothing to base it on, but my instinct is that SB's plan A is to play all 3 with Chessum at 6. But only Itoje can seemingly be guaranteed to be fit.

Definitely a chance for one of the youngsters to mount a charge for the 4th slot at least, but they're all a way off at the moment.

Chessum's fitness is pretty good
21/22 - 28 games
22/23 - 16 games
23/24 - 27 games
24/25 - 19 games (and counting)

Itoje is a bit of a freak in terms of his consistency to stay fit

 

[Geordie]

Martin thing is he gets rushed by England too quickly
But saying that his stats are
2020/21 - 16 games (2 England)
21/22 - 22 games
22/23 - 19 games
23/24 - 22 games (14 for England)
24/25 - 13 games (6 for England)

I feel like people are going a little OTT with his injury problems, he puts his body on the line a lot with his style of play so injuries will happen
I feel that mainly England has rushed him back this season a bit too soon

A good full off season will do him good IMO

Thats actually not as bad as i thought it was.

Are the England games additional or included in that figure.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Thats actually not as bad as i thought it was.

Are the England games additional or included in that figure.

Nah they are included

I feel that we got to remember that the RWC would've taken a lot out of some of these youngsters especially forwards. Easy to underestimate how a good preseason can be for player longevity