England 2025/26

[Rugbyfan564]

Iyogun in for Obano and Cunningham-South in for Murely.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

CCS spends a lot of time on the wing but calling him up for Murley is crazy!


Two good calls, tbf

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I like it, all our wings do is chase high kicks and tackle (or not) so let’s stick a back row on the wings.

And why not sack off both our centres and use two back row there as well.

In fact Borthwick dislikes backs and actual rugby so much let’s just have 15 forwards. Who needs backs anyhow.

 

[Welsh Exile]

Think one of you pussies needs to start a Fiji thread.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

In fact Borthwick dislikes backs and actual rugby so much let’s just have 15 forwards. Who needs backs anyhow.

Gotta make sure they're on record mocking England and saying they don't want to play for them, so we ensure they give everything for the shirt as well

 

[Geordie]

CCS spends a lot of time on the wing but calling him up for Murley is crazy!


Two good calls, tbf

Id like to see CCS start at 6 and put in a big performance...just smashing things in attack and defence.

 

[Reiser99]

On selections. One issue is the Borthwick is limited on number of changes between windows. Doesn't mean he's made the right choices, but certainly isn't as simple as just picking who is in form.

Having said that. He still sucks at selecting a balanced team and squad.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I genuinely can’t get my head around what Borthwick’s trying to achieve now. I think the only time I ever could was when he stuck with a basic game plan and seasoned players up to and through the RWC. Ugly, but halcyon days of at least some logic.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

The form 13 in Lichfield is just sat at home where as the saints 4th choice 13 starts for England.

I think that sums up Borthwicks selections quite nicely. Selecting from players that don’t exist rather than picking a style game plan from players that do exist.

Yeah if we are going to give a 13 a new cap, I would rather it be Lichfield (or with Tigers cap on Wand) but would lean to Lichfield given the saints infleunce around
9. Mitchell
10. F.Smith
11. Radwan
12. Atkinson
13. Lichfield
14. IFW
15. Freeman

But I do think Slade should be given this series as one last chance to stake his 13 claim

 

[Saintjay]

Blame Fin Smith, i am pretty sure he came out and said England were soft

Borthwick has decided to pick people he thinks look 'well 'ard'.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Blame Fin Smith, i am pretty sure he came out and said England were soft

Borthwick has decided to pick people he thinks look 'well 'ard'.

I’m only hard when pollocks on the pitch

 

[Crash Hamster]

"After George Martin's success on the left wing against South Africa, I'm calling up CCS to play 11 against Fiji." Bostik, probably.

 

[Saintjay]

Wait till Big Courts bangs his way back into contention.

 

[higgik]

Yeah if we are going to give a 13 a new cap, I would rather it be Lichfield (or with Tigers cap on Wand) but would lean to Lichfield given the saints infleunce around
9. Mitchell
10. F.Smith
11. Radwan
12. Atkinson
13. Lichfield
14. IFW
15. Freeman

But I do think Slade should be given this series as one last chance to stake his 13 claim

Maybe swap out Radwan for Roebuck.
I see Radwan as IDW understudy

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Roebuck point of difference is meant to be the high ball but tbh he’s hardly shined I. That this year

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Don't think he's fully fit still tbh, by all accounts it was a bad foot injury and then he went straight into England camp before playing for Sale and they're notorious for rushing players back
Wouldn't be surprised if he's still in a lot of pain

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Maybe being a bit harsh but what does Roebuck actually offer?

He’s on my list of players that arnt international quality or don’t have a point of difference.

As I said maybe a bit harsh but a winger who isn’t massive, doesn’t have top top pace or amazing agility is a waste of a spot.

 

[Duck a l'Orange]

Maybe being a bit harsh but what does Roebuck actually offer?

He’s on my list of players that arnt international quality or don’t have a point of difference.

As I said maybe a bit harsh but a winger who isn’t massive, doesn’t have top top pace or amazing agility is a waste of a spot.

He looked good in at least a couple of England matches. Good in the air and a strong carrier. Scored a good try bashing through at the line from memory?

Edit: 8 tries in 12 matches, including against NZ, France and a double against Argentina.

 

[mackerzz]

Wait till Big Courts bangs his way back into contention.

Who's he banging? @Welsh Exile?

 

[Welsh Exile]

Who's he banging? @Welsh Exile?

If he’s from Northampton probably his sister.

 

[Demfad]

According to Bernard Jackman (who is well connected) if Borthwich has to be replaced then Johann Van Graan is the RFUs first choice.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Wonder if the RFU is JvG's first choice, though?
He'll know how much of a **** show it is from his time with Bath, plus he seems happy at Bath

I know the England job is likely the best paid coaching job in the game, but it comes with so much baggage

 

[Demfad]

Wonder if the RFU is JvG's first choice, though?
He'll know how much of a **** show it is from his time with Bath, plus he seems happy at Bath

I know the England job is likely the best paid coaching job in the game, but it comes with so much baggage

What Jackman said was that the RFU believes there are good coaches (more or less) in the England set up and that the advantage of JvG is that he allows the sub coaches to coach...so a good front man. That might suit JvG. This also implies SB is not allowing his coaches reach their potential contribution to England.
He also implied SB should be "looking over his shoulder". The Argentina match..
Just a comment from a podcast but Jackman has a lot of tentacles in the grapevine it seems.

 

[big ginger 8]

According to Bernard Jackman (who is well connected) if Borthwich has to be replaced then Johann Van Graan is the RFUs first choice.

Jackman has a lot of connections from having been everywhere, but he is also a massive spoofer so take it with a grain of salt.

 

[Saintjay]

Weren't there stuff from Ireland about being a pen pusher, data driven and conservative.

Looks like he has changed with Bath, and tbh i don't know enough about his time with Munster.

Saying that I'm at the point of taking anyone mad Eddie back included.

 

[Demfad]

Jackman has a lot of connections from having been everywhere, but he is also a massive spoofer so take it with a grain of salt.

He is usually accurate in fairness. I haven't witnessed much or any spoofing. Why would he spoof that the RFU's main focus if Borthwich goes would be JvG? He has no reason to say that.

 

[big ginger 8]

He is usually accurate in fairness. I haven't witnessed much or any spoofing. Why would he spoof that the RFU's main focus if Borthwich goes would be JvG? He has no reason to say that.

Of course he has a reason to say it, he's on nearly every rugby podcast in Ireland. It's his interest to try and show 'insider' knowledge and get them to have him back on. He throws out a lot of things some hit some don't. I listen to the 42 who have him on pretty much every week. He regularly will advance one opinion the week before a game and then when things don't go the way he sets out he will act as if it was inevitable. He's far from alone in that, but as you'd expect from someone who spends that much time talking there is inevitably a certain amount of spoof that comes out.

 

[Scotty]

Guess we would keep blackett if JvG came in, which is a win.

 

[Geordie]

Guess we would keep blackett if JvG came in, which is a win.

I wonder where Rob Baxter is in the thoughts....or if he just isnt.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Vaguely remember him saying in the past he wouldn't want to coach international rugby, like Mark McCall did
He also signed a new long term contract this season so it's gonna cost big to get him out of that - the Americans won't want the disruption of losing the person they've bought into the plans of