England 2025/26

[Vieux Talonneur]

Marcus Smith has X factor and I wouldn't want him as England 10.

Ouch. Talk about kicking a man when he’s down!

I’m sure Ford will start the 6N, but will be v interesting to see if SB sticks with him or goes back to F.

 

[LIONSxv]

Really impressed with Greg Fisalau's carrying this season. Gone up a level or two after some weight gain. Has always had soft hands and work rate but looked a proper handful this season
Telegraph reporting he is in 6N plans.

 

[Geordie]

Really impressed with Greg Fisalau's carrying this season. Gone up a level or two after some weight gain. Has always had soft hands and work rate but looked a proper handful this season
Telegraph reporting he is in 6N plans.

Big time! He looks are much improved player and I agree it looks like he's put some weight on.

But he's fighting for a spot with Earl and Pollock so he has a big challenge ahead...

I'm wondering where CCS is in their thoughts at the moment...

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Tough to judge CCS as Quins aren't in good form but he's looked poor the last two games

Not really sure where he stands in the pecking order for England, I would've liked to have seen him have a proper crack at the 8 shirt in the autumn, but then he got one start (50mins) and then 2mins off the bench in another game and that's it.
Does England viewing him as a lock option hurt his chances?

Be real tough to crack the 23 this 6N if Chessum stays fit, after Coles had a solid AIs, and with Curry, Earl, Underhill, Pollock and Pepper vying for backrow spots, they're all in much better form (plus a potential callup for Fisilau)

 

[LIONSxv]

Big time! He looks are much improved player and I agree it looks like he's put some weight on.

But he's fighting for a spot with Earl and Pollock so he has a big challenge ahead...

I'm wondering where CCS is in their thoughts at the moment...

Earl is nailed on if fit. CCS has all the tools to be a top 8. However he like most of Quins have been terrible this seat. He also looks a little unfit. Which has always been an Achilles. Would Saints backroom to get hold of him
Pollock is a 7 unless he plays with a lock type 6.

 

[Ddanno]

Tough to judge CCS as Quins aren't in good form but he's looked poor the last two games

Not really sure where he stands in the pecking order for England, I would've liked to have seen him have a proper crack at the 8 shirt in the autumn, but then he got one start (50mins) and then 2mins off the bench in another game and that's it.
Does England viewing him as a lock option hurt his chances?

Be real tough to crack the 23 this 6N if Chessum stays fit, after Coles had a solid AIs, and with Curry, Earl, Underhill, Pollock and Pepper vying for backrow spots, they're all in much better form (plus a potential callup for Fisilau)

Hard to argue with any of that. Quins are fast becoming a marginally better Gloucester i.e. International hopes will die there unless something drastic happens like in 2021

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Hard to argue with any of that. Quins are fast becoming a marginally better Gloucester i.e. International hopes will die there unless something drastic happens like in 2021

That's very extreme given we've been **** before and had decent representation regardless

 

[Which Tyler]

Why England must back Tommy Freeman at centre this Six Nations

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Why England must back Tommy Freeman at centre this Six Nations

SB just needs to form a clear view and stick with it.

I actually think that in time Freeman could become an even better centre than wing. He’s not there yet, but he wants to play 13, England are clearly interested and Saints seem to be giving him time there too.

It’s a bit of a risk, but not a big one so I’d be inclined to take it. Who plays at 12 would be another matter.

I know that aerial ability is a big thing for a wing now but just watching Radwan and Arundell this season, provided everything else is passable there’s still nothing like raw pace and agility to frighten defences. Moving Freeman out to the wing for certain situations would also be an option.

 

[Noonz]

Not looking great for Martin

No end in sight for George Martin's injury nightmare

The England lock is approaching a year out of the game with no return date planned as yet.

www.rugbypass.com

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Bloody hell, hadn't realised he'd been out quite that long

Makes sense why Tigers weren't interested in a bidding war for him when there's go guarantees he'll even come back from this at full strength - LCD said he's still not 100% after his nerve issue and how longs that's been?

 

[BPM]

Yeah. Sounds pretty ominous. I can totally understand why Tigers took the stance they did.

 

[Crash Hamster]

That's such a shame. I suppose for every 'better than expected' Ollie Lawrence-style comeback, there's always a 'worse than feared' one. Fingers crossed he makes it back eventually, he was awesome to watch at his best.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Apparently Raffi's injury was only a strain not a tear so he'll actually be back the week before the 6N - be interesting to see if he makes the EPS. It's unlikely with Mitchell, JvP and Spencer, but then equally I wouldn't be overly surprised to see him in there as a hybrid player with Borthwick eying a 7:1 at some point (though that feels more like a Summer or Autumn experiment, not a 6N)


AOF due back in the next week or two,
Roebuck and Burry due back the week before the 6N but Sanderson has said England have the final say on whether they'll play that round, and they might just go straight into the 6N camp

 

[Which Tyler]

Apparently Raffi's injury was only a strain not a tear so he'll actually be back the week before the 6N

FWIW a strain IS a tear - by definition

 

[Geordie]

SB just needs to form a clear view and stick with it.

I actually think that in time Freeman could become an even better centre than wing. He’s not there yet, but he wants to play 13, England are clearly interested and Saints seem to be giving him time there too.

It’s a bit of a risk, but not a big one so I’d be inclined to take it. Who plays at 12 would be another matter.

I know that aerial ability is a big thing for a wing now but just watching Radwan and Arundell this season, provided everything else is passable there’s still nothing like raw pace and agility to frighten defences. Moving Freeman out to the wing for certain situations would also be an option.

The thing is if Freeman moves to 13, he can still be an aerial threat, but also its likely to be Roebuck coming in..so they lose nothing aerially anyway.

11 Waboso
12 TBC
13 Freeman
14 Roebuck
15

Suddenly theres 3 parts of a very potent back line that has pace, power, skills, aerial skills etc...just need to nail the 12 and 15.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

7:1

If we do, I hope 3 backs go down with minor, but match ending, injuries in the first ten minutes. Just hate the concept.

 

[Scotty]

If we do, I hope 3 backs go down with minor, but match ending, injuries in the first ten minutes. Just hate the concept.

So your saying play with Quirke Earl and Pollock at 12 13 14, I'm really interested to see that.

 

[Geordie]

So your saying play with Quirke Earl and Pollock at 12 13 14, I'm really interested to see that.

Well it would still beat Wales