England 2025/26

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Great to see Daly back training in England’s instagram posts. Would have been interesting to see Freeman at 15 but Daly undoubtedly brings much more of what this England team needs from its 15 in terms of playmaking and kicking ability. Backline shaping up very very nicely.

 

[Ddanno]

Ehh. He'll be 35 at the next WC and was never a great full back in white. Happy with him as a stop gap while Furbank recovers and others get up to speed but the future he ain't. Better than Steward at least.

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Ehh. He'll be 35 at the next WC and was never a great full back in white. Happy with him as a stop gap while Furbank recovers and others get up to speed but the future he ain't. Better than Steward at least.

In fairness during his previous stints for England at fullback he was never playing there for his club. He’s now spent the last 3 seasons playing primarily at 15 for Sarries. That will have made a significant difference. Especially considering his issues were always to do with instinctual 15 play like positioning.

 

[Ddanno]

Yeah true. Let's see!

 

[NickBD]

I can handle Daly at 15 if your down both starting fullbacks Furbank and Carpenter. I'd rather Daly then Steward or trying Freeman at 15.

 

[Which Tyler]

Yeah, absent Furbank and Carpenter, I've no problem with Daly at 15 - now he's learned to play there.
I'd still prefer to give someone like TdG or even Hendy a shot to see if they can make the step up* - but that's a personal preference thing, and I absolutely get preferring 50+ caps to a newbie.



* I think either could, with TdG a more natural fit for a game plan designed with Furbank at FB**, but both would take time to settle in.
** Yes, I know that's weird to say, given that Hendy and Furbank play for the same club, but I see Hendy (and Daly) as more a 3rd winger style of FB, whilst Furbank and TdG (and Marcus) are 2nd FH types.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Hendy's injuries come at the worst time, his long layoff last year coincided with Furbanks too - feel like he'd definitely make the A side if his legs would stop falling apart, he's very similar to Hodge but can also pass and tackle

Edit: lol he's back already, I thought he was gonna be out much longer

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

In fairness during his previous stints for England at fullback he was never playing there for his club. He's now spent the last 3 seasons playing primarily at 15 for Sarries. That will have made a significant difference. Especially considering his issues were always to do with instinctual 15 play like positioning.

Agreed. And no-one’s ever doubted his footballing ability or his ‘cannon’ either.

Nonetheless there would never be an international match with him at 15 where I wouldn’t be watching at least some of it from behind the sofa.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

We don't need a rugby only stadium at all.

Wembley has a 90,000 capacity and can hold 54 events of over 60,000 attendees p.a plus more under 51,000. Play home 6N there and take the AIs and others around the country.

RFU can rent Regus offices in Croydon.

Sorted.

Arsenal are looking at Wembley as temporary home so if have to be after that.

Great to see Daly back training in England's instagram posts. Would have been interesting to see Freeman at 15 but Daly undoubtedly brings much more of what this England team needs from its 15 in terms of playmaking and kicking ability. Backline shaping up very very nicely.

Not sure he will be fit for the Australia match through.

 

[Ddanno]

Agreed. And no-one's ever doubted his footballing ability or his 'cannon' either.

Nonetheless there would never be an international match with him at 15 where I wouldn't be watching at least some of it from behind the sofa.

Dunno about the cannon, I can't remember him actually slotting a 50m+ kick, but I do remember comms always banging on about it when he gets the tee

 

[Not Mike Brown's Sock]

Dunno about the cannon, I can't remember him actually slotting a 50m+ kick, but I do remember comms always banging on about it when he gets the tee

His record is 61 metres...

 

[Ddanno]

His record is 61 metres...

Aye fair enough. Anecdotally he always seems to go wide

 

[Which Tyler]

Aye fair enough. Anecdotally he always seems to go wide

The very threat of it changes a team's behaviour though - and if he goes wide, then it's a goal-line drop-out, and you get possession around half way with 20m to the nearest defender, or if short, they'll usually kick it out for you, and you get a line-out somewhere around their 10m line.
And it's not like you're sacrificing a 5m line-out for that, from these distances out, you're aiming for a lineout around their 22.

 

[Ragey Erasmus]

His record is 61 metres...

Nothing will beat this one though

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Back to Willis.

None of us have seen the contracts, but its popular understanding that he can carry on receiving the central money on the grounds that he remains eligible for England, but SB's just choosing not to pick him.

In amongst all the indignation, has anyone in a position to know actually said that he will carry on accepting the central money? Or is everyone just assuming? It would be a fairly spectacular bridge burning thing to do.

Also, surely the RFU lawyers would have protected against this kind of thing with some kind of discretionary provisions? Surely?

 

[TRF_Olyy]

McGuigan officially added to the AIs coaching roster

McGuigan To Join Up With England Coaching Team | Sale Sharks

Sale Sharks can confirm that Defence Coach Byron McGuigan will join Steve Borthwick’s England coaching team for the upcoming 2025 Quilter Nations Series. McGuigan, who took on the role at Sale in November 2024, will support the England setup in a combined role, joining the national team during...

www.salesharks.com

 

[Scotty]

McGuigan officially added to the AIs coaching roster

McGuigan To Join Up With England Coaching Team | Sale Sharks

Sale Sharks can confirm that Defence Coach Byron McGuigan will join Steve Borthwick’s England coaching team for the upcoming 2025 Quilter Nations Series. McGuigan, who took on the role at Sale in November 2024, will support the England setup in a combined role, joining the national team during...

www.salesharks.com

Tbf Borthwick is building a good coaching squad,
Borthwick
Blackett - attack
Mcguigan - defence
El-abd - forwards
Wiggs - ???? Head coach? Seems to fail up that lad.

 

[Ddanno]

Tbf Borthwick is building a good coaching squad,
Borthwick
Blackett - attack
Mcguigan - defence
El-abd - forwards
Wiggs - ???? Head coach? Seems to fail up that lad.

McGuigan is back 3 and "contact area".
Wiggy is on defence for some reason.

 

[AlRums]

McGuigan is back 3 and "contact area".
Wiggy is on defence for some reason.

Maybe he can teach Smith about positioning.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Back to Willis.

None of us have seen the contracts, but its popular understanding that he can carry on receiving the central money on the grounds that he remains eligible for England, but SB's just choosing not to pick him.

In amongst all the indignation, has anyone in a position to know actually said that he will carry on accepting the central money? Or is everyone just assuming? It would be a fairly spectacular bridge burning thing to do.

Also, surely the RFU lawyers would have protected against this kind of thing with some kind of discretionary provisions? Surely?

According to the Times no one at all has seen the contracts as they don't exist as a traditional written contract but some other sort of arrangement without clauses as such,