England 2025/26

[TRF_Olyy]

Wonder if Worsley might get a nod in the A games - playing really well for Bristol this season

Skinner start, Worsley bench?
Or maybe they just bypass Skinner and go straight to Worsley - depends whether they think 27/28 is too old for the A side

Just don't wanna see Atkinson at 10 again, think he's played 10 in every A game so far and isn't even playing there for his club

 

[Rugbyfan564]

'Make him captain!' - Sanderson urges Borthwick to place trust in 'magician' Ford

Alex Sanderson has offered some advice to England head coach Steve Borthwick, telling him to pick George Ford and "make him captain."

www.tntsports.co.uk

 

[TRF_Olyy]

'Make him captain!' - Sanderson urges Borthwick to place trust in 'magician' Ford

Alex Sanderson has offered some advice to England head coach Steve Borthwick, telling him to pick George Ford and "make him captain."

www.tntsports.co.uk

Clearly joking when saying it

 

[Geordie]

So Illione on the bench for next week then ...

 

[Ddanno]

Clearly joking when saying it

Why does every article have to mention Owen ******* Farrell.

 

[Ddanno]

So Illione on the bench for next week then ...

Wouldn't be averse to that

 

[BPM]

Slade is also putting his hand up to be selected. I don’t want to see any more of the Slade/Lawrence partnership that we know doesn’t really cut it, but given his form, he’ll he in with a shout of making the 23, possibly even the starting XV.

 

[Ddanno]

Slade is also putting his hand up to be selected. I don't want to see any more of the Slade/Lawrence partnership that we know doesn't really cut it, but given his form, he'll he in with a shout of making the 23, possibly even the starting XV.

We've been here before, so many times. Slade has never been bad at Chiefs, he's often very, very good, but he's almost always been somewhere between slightly and significantly disappointing when playing for England, no matter who his centre partner is (he's had Fazzlet, Burrell, Tuilagi and Marchant off the top of my head, probably others because Eddie).

We've got Dingwall and Lawrence, let's use them. Dingwall might not be the most eye catching player around but he gets a backline clicking.

 

[BPM]

Yeah - I’d happily move on from Slade even making the squad but … he’s still there and we can’t discount the possibility of him playing.

 

[LIONSxv]

Yeah - I'd happily move on from Slade even making the squad but … he's still there and we can't discount the possibility of him playing.

I'm fairly certain he will play. Successive England head coaches have put far too much emphasis on cap count than form and balance.
If they pick F Smith at FH, they will play Slade in the centres to ensure that SB has a certain amount of caps in the backline.

 

[BPM]

I dunno. With limited time together, there’s an equally strong (possibly stronger) argument for a 9, 10, 12 Saints combination of Mitchell, Smith and Dingwall.

Let’s not forget Dingwall finished the 6N at 12 when he was picked ahead of Slade and the midfield looked far better in attack and defence than it had previously.

 

[LIONSxv]

I dunno. With limited time together, there's an equally strong (possibly stronger) argument for a 9, 10, 12 Saints combination of Mitchell, Smith and Dingwall.

Let's not forget Dingwall finished the 6N at 12 when he was picked ahead of Slade and the midfield looked far better in attack and defence than it had previously.

I agree that would be the way I'd go
However as Daly is injured (who started Vs Wales) unless he starts ford at 10.
I just can't see SB not picking Slade because of this orthodox thinking England coaches have around total caps

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Does feel quite likely - Lawrence/Slade was SB's first choice last season,
Atkinson really put his hand up for 12 but is now not available, be very easy just to go back to what he knows

 

[Which Tyler]

Slade's issue has never been club form.
Lawrence is also putting his hand up at club level.


It should be
09. Mitchel
10. FSmith
11. Feyi-Waboso
12. Dingwall > Ojomoh
13. Lawrence > Slade
14. Freeman
15. De Glanville (see other discussion on what tondo absent Furbank & Daly)

It will probably be Steward at 15, or it might be either Freeman there with Arundell at wing, or Arundell straight in to 15.

Slade and Ojomoh probably also in contention for a bench place.

I do NOT want to see yet another attempt to make the Lawrence, Slade midfield work.
I do NOT want to see MSmith at 15 again if Quins are (rightly) not playing ball.

 

[BPM]

Does feel quite likely - Lawrence/Slade was SB's first choice last season,
Atkinson really put his hand up for 12 but is now not available, be very easy just to go back to what he knows

It was at the start of the 6 Nations but it wasn’t at the end of it.

Obviously Slade started on the Argentina tour but that was always likely given that the alternative was a completely uncapped midifield.

Dingwall and Atkinson offer similar qualities. Unfussy, low error-count, create space for others, solid defence etc. having that type of player definitely improved our overall play in the backs.

I’m also hoping that this is where Blackett’s influence comes to the fore. He’s got a limited amount of games to forge our RWC attack, is he going to want to make an in form but ageing centre a key part of that mix? I’d argue no, particularly when Slade has had years of largely underwhelming performances.

We’ll never know but I think there’s a chance Slade would have been left out if Atkinson had been fit, central contract or otherwise.

 

[BPM]

Speaking of the midfield, Will Joseph scored another lovely try yesterday. Surely he’s a shoo-in for the A squad and if he keeps it up, he’ll be right in the mix for the seniors. Even more so if he and Atkinson do well as we partnership.

 

[Ddanno]

Speaking of the midfield, Will Joseph scored another lovely try yesterday. Surely he's a shoo-in for the A squad and if he keeps it up, he'll be right in the mix for the seniors. Even more so if he and Atkinson do well as we partnership.

Not a chance. He's at Gloucester

 

[Rugbyfan564]

It was at the start of the 6 Nations but it wasn't at the end of it.

Obviously Slade started on the Argentina tour but that was always likely given that the alternative was a completely uncapped midifield.

Dingwall and Atkinson offer similar qualities. Unfussy, low error-count, create space for others, solid defence etc. having that type of player definitely improved our overall play in the backs.

I'm also hoping that this is where Blackett's influence comes to the fore. He's got a limited amount of games to forge our RWC attack, is he going to want to make an in form but ageing centre a key part of that mix? I'd argue no, particularly when Slade has had years of largely underwhelming performances.

We'll never know but I think there's a chance Slade would have been left out if Atkinson had been fit, central contract or otherwise.

Very much doubt that. Particularly not with Slade in good form at Exeter.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Ilione has been the classic case of a player needing a couple years between U20’s and seniors to just get a chance to develop at his own speed

Granted I think Leicester knew he was the real deal since academy but with injuries and his studies it delayed it a couple years.

But he has genuinely matured into a hell of a player seems to always make a big play in attack or defence when off the bench and is bringing that to the starting XV level. His carrying last night was pure physicality.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

According to the Times we will be playing matches in New York or Washington DC as part of the buildup to the 2031 World Cup. Possibly a match or two against Scotland.