England 2025/26

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

What do people think Searle’s chances are? Personally I’d love to see him involved as 3rd choice 10, but I reckon Borthwick may just have Furbank and Ojomoh share that role during training.

 

[Which Tyler]

What do people think Searle’s chances are? Personally I’d love to see him involved as 3rd choice 10, but I reckon Borthwick may just have Furbank and Ojomoh share that role during training.

Eng A (bench) only - just matured too late

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah I reckon that’s the 4th lock spot sealed unfortunately.

Clark, Batley, Bamber to be the 3 locks selected for the A squad.

I could see him not be in the EPS but also be ahead of the 4th choice lock in a big game situation - like if there's an injury to Itoje/Chessum/Coles he comes straight into the 23 (like in the AIs vs Argentina) but Batley/Bamber/whoever is there because they gain more from being in the environment

What do people think Searle’s chances are? Personally I’d love to see him involved as 3rd choice 10, but I reckon Borthwick may just have Furbank and Ojomoh share that role during training.

Can't see it happening unless there's a load of injuries - he could've been the kind of player to get a shot in a Lions year but like WT says, above, he wasn't anywhere near this level before

I wouldn't have him in the A squad, cause of his age, but would 100% have him there if the only alternative is Atkinson, who has had far too many chances

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

I could see him not be in the EPS but also be ahead of the 4th choice lock in a big game situation - like if there's an injury to Itoje/Chessum/Coles he comes straight into the 23 (like in the AIs vs Argentina) but Batley/Bamber/whoever is there because they gain more from being in the environment

Hope you’re right, but who knows.

Think we’ll ultimately see…

Looseheads: Genge, Rodd, Obano / Iyogun (could see this one going either way).

Hookers: George, Cowan-Dickie, Dan (would love to see Oghre but can’t see Borthwick ditching Dan after sticking with him for so long).

Tightheads: Heyes, Davison, Fasogbon / Sela (Sela more deserving on recent form but Fasogbon has been involved in the past)

Locks: Itoje, Chessum, Coles, Ewels (would prefer a few others but Ewels has been parachuted in every time he’s been available. Hope I’m wrong).

Flankers: T. Curry, Underhill, Pepper, B. Curry (picks itself really considering B. Curry is apparently confirmed to be in).

No. 8s: Earl, Pollock, Cunningham-South (would prefer Fisilau but think Cunningham-South’s versatility and past experience with the squad will get him in).

Scrum Halves: Mitchell, Spencer, van Poortvliet (picks itself really).

Fly Halves: Ford, M. Smith (would love to see Searle involved but can’t see it).

Centres: Dingwall, Ojomoh (covering 10), Freeman (covering wing & 15), Lawrence, Slade (picks itself again).

Wings: Feyi-Waboso, Roebuck, Arundell, Calouri (would like to see Hendy here but don’t think Borthwick will backtrack on involving Calouri so early).

Fullbacks: Furbank (covering 10), Daly (picks itself).

Edit: forgot Murley. Him over Calouri, Calouri in the A squad.

 

[Which Tyler]

Aside from his red cards (big "aside") - what has everyone got against the Ewels of the last 2.5 years?
So this side of his big injury, trip to South Africa, and realising his potential?

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Aside from his red cards (big "aside") - what has everyone got against the Ewels of the last 2.5 years?
So this side of his big injury, trip to South Africa, and realising his potential?

As you say, it’s a very big aside. Those reds can’t just be ignored.

I certainly don’t hate to see Ewels’ name on a team sheet as much as I once did. I’ve mellowed a lot on him to the point I don’t necessarily dislike his involvement per se, I just find it really uninspiring. He’s fine and serviceable, but mostly anonymous and I just can’t see him ever being anything more than that. Whereas guys like Bamber have the potential to be genuine international-class options.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Whilst I accept club and international intensity is quite different, I've found denying people a chance to prove themselves internationally because they haven't had a chance to prove themselves internationally such ridiculous circular reasoning. Nobody would ever get capped otherwise.

If he plays some internationals and fails then fair enough. Until players get that chance, the best they can do is perform for their club.

Don’t disagree at all.

But SB and his team watch much more rugby than most of us do and have all the analytics we don’t. You never know until you try, but with that degree of analysis you’d expect there to be some solid rationale why players are / aren’t selected - even if that can be debunked either way within minutes of them taking the field.

And it’s not like he doesn’t look at newer players - something like 26 have already received their debuts under him, most recently Oghre himself.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

M Smith has only worn 10 once in his last 9 internationals (11 if you count Lions). And let’s be honest he’s a fill in at 15, not genuinely versatile.

IF Furbank’s back he almost certainly plays 15 and provides emergency 10 cover. M has a central contract so I’m not expecting a Penaud type out of squad shock, but there must be a risk of him not making some match day squads.

 

[Saintjay]

M Smith has only worn 10 once in his last 9 internationals (11 if you count Lions). And let’s be honest he’s a fill in at 15, not genuinely versatile.

IF Furbank’s back he almost certainly plays 15 and provides emergency 10 cover. M has a central contract so I’m not expecting a Penaud type out of squad shock, but there must be a risk of him not making some match day squads.

Maybe if he gives Ford his Lions shirt like it's a Nobel prize he'll get ago. Fin Smith could try similar.

 

[Reiser99]

Aside from his red cards (big "aside") - what has everyone got against the Ewels of the last 2.5 years?
So this side of his big injury, trip to South Africa, and realising his potential?

Ewels

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Ewels

Always wondered how Ben Kay would have been treated for his 03 final drop if St Jonny hadn’t come to the rescue. Maybe a fine line between gentle lampooning and national vitriol.

Ewels is fine as an experienced injury crisis back up option. But it’s hard to see him getting a look in otherwise.