England 2025/26

[Scotty]

Team out at lunch today, supposedly, so won't have to wait long to find out

I heard it was
Quirke
Ojomoh
Caluori
Lawrence
Slade
Arundell
MSmith

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Times seems pretty certain Freeman will play at 13.

Also a nice article on LCD who will win *only* his 50th cap….he actually made his debut a week before George in 2015. The guy’s still operating with just 70% strength in one arm.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Borthwick has been planning Freeman to 13 for the last two years.

 

[Geordie]

Let s be honest, Freeman is a very rounded player, a top class player. 13 would "Seem" to be made for him...lets see how it goes.

Many of the great centres started as wingers...Tana Umaga and Ma'a Nonu are two that spring to my mind.

 

[Which Tyler]

Speaking for myself - the issue isn't "trying Freeman out at 13" it's "picking Freeman to start a test match at 13 when he doesn't play there for club, and there's a very good alternative who actually plays 13"

Try Freeman at 13 for Saints.
Try him there for the last 20 of a few matches.
Try him there when there's no decent alternative.

As ever (for me) don't pick any player to start a test in a position they've played fewer than 20-30 matches domestically. Whether that's to give a new kid a chance to suffer / not suffer from second season syndrome, or an older player the actual positional awareness and instincts for a position you can only get by playing there for a season('s worth)

 

[Scotty]

Speaking for myself - the issue isn't trying "Freeman out at 13" it's "picking Freeman to start a test match at 13 when he doesn't play there for club, and there's a very good alternative who actually plays 13"

Try Freeman at 13 for Saints.
Try him there for the last 20 of a few matches.
Try him there when there's no decent alternative.

As ever (for me) don't pick any player to start a test in a position they've played fewer than 20-30 matches domestically. Whether that's to give a new kid a chance to suffer / not suffer from second season syndrome, or an older player the actual positional awareness and instincts for a position you can only get by playing there for a season('s worth)

This, as i said before Lawrence is not a 12 and Freeman is not a 13 but if you start Lawrence at 13 and Freeman at 14 and then end with them at 12 and 13 it makes perfect sense getting both experience whilst playing to their strengths. But starting Freeman at 13 where he hasn't played and the form 13 Lawrence on the bench seems odd. And harsh on Lawrence

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Autumn Nations Series: Henry Pollock and Noah Caluori among five young England X-factor stars

Henry Pollock and Noah Caluori are among BBC Sport's five players in the England squad aged 22 or under looking to break into Steve Borthwick's starting team.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

This, as i said before Lawrence is not a 12 and Freeman is not a 13 but if you start Lawrence at 13 and Freeman at 14 and then end with them at 12 and 13 it makes perfect sense getting both experience whilst playing to their strengths. But starting Freeman at 13 where he hasn't played and the form 13 Lawrence on the bench seems odd. And harsh on Lawrence

To be fair I watched the Bath v Bristol game at the weekend and Lawrence was lining up at inside centre a lot of the time.

 

[AngloScotsHybrid]

Im interested that Pepper is listed as the blindside and Underhill is listed as the openside. Surely Pepper is quicker therefore better able to cover the open spaces.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Calling it now. Marcus Smith won’t be going to the World Cup as by then he will be in France or R360.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

What's you're obsession with people moving abroad?

Maybe he...likes playing for his childhood club? Living where his friends and family are?

Not everyone is chomping at the bit to move abroad asap

 

[Geordie]

Im interested that Pepper is listed as the blindside and Underhill is listed as the openside. Surely Pepper is quicker therefore better able to cover the open spaces.

Pepper is definitely an openside. Hes a class act. He didnt sell himself on the Argentina tour i dont think, but hes played well and clearly SB is wanting a look at him. Ive said over the last few years Pepper could be very special. He has the lot.

 

[Rugbyfan564]

What the match fees now for non central contacted players? Less than before I presume?

 

[Which Tyler]

Im interested that Pepper is listed as the blindside and Underhill is listed as the openside. Surely Pepper is quicker therefore better able to cover the open spaces.

When they're paired together at Bath, it's always 6 Pepper, 7 Underhill - though generally 1 starts and the other benches.
He's definitely primarily an openside though

To be fair I watched the Bath v Bristol game at the weekend and Lawrence was lining up at inside centre a lot of the time.

Bath like changing the picture they show the defense

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Pepper is taller, heavier, and a lineout jumper. Makes sense to put him in the 6 shirt.

 

[AlRums]

Speaking for myself - the issue isn't "trying Freeman out at 13" it's "picking Freeman to start a test match at 13 when he doesn't play there for club, and there's a very good alternative who actually plays 13"

Try Freeman at 13 for Saints.
Try him there for the last 20 of a few matches.
Try him there when there's no decent alternative.

As ever (for me) don't pick any player to start a test in a position they've played fewer than 20-30 matches domestically. Whether that's to give a new kid a chance to suffer / not suffer from second season syndrome, or an older player the actual positional awareness and instincts for a position you can only get by playing there for a season('s worth)

Why is it up to the club to experiment on England's behalf?

These players are paid to do a specific job for their clubs not to be an experimental proving ground for England.

 

[Ddanno]

Speaking for myself - the issue isn't "trying Freeman out at 13" it's "picking Freeman to start a test match at 13 when he doesn't play there for club, and there's a very good alternative who actually plays 13"

Try Freeman at 13 for Saints.
Try him there for the last 20 of a few matches.
Try him there when there's no decent alternative.

As ever (for me) don't pick any player to start a test in a position they've played fewer than 20-30 matches domestically. Whether that's to give a new kid a chance to suffer / not suffer from second season syndrome, or an older player the actual positional awareness and instincts for a position you can only get by playing there for a season('s worth)

It makes no sense to me, 13 is such a pivotal defensive position because you need to organise inside and out. That's not a skill you learn in your first test, you learn it at your club in several (many) starts there and then make the step up.

 

[Scotty]

Why is it up to the club to experiment on England's behalf?

These players are paid to do a specific job for their clubs not to be an experimental proving ground for England.

It isn't but if he isn't tried an tested at club level then it should be international as a training ground. Freeman is a great winger a proven winger who in his last game scored 4 tries... so we start him at 13 over the form 13 in the prem.

Maybe Freeman will smash it(he is class so not unlikely) and be great but England is for players who are ready and not a training ground. The clubs have no obligation to do what England want but then England shouldn't be fitting square pegs in round holes

 

[TRF_Olyy]

He's not mega experienced at 13 but it's not like he has zero experience - he has more than three times as many starts there as Caluori has starts in his career (plus has shifted there mid game a number of times), and started a champions cup semi final there

 

[Rugbyfan564]

Borthwick has said his next experiments are trying Pollock on the wing, Earl at centre and Pepper in Midfield.