England 24/25 Depth Chart

[BPM]

Posted this on another forum and thought I'd share here.

The upcoming tour and being shorn of Lions absentees has got me thinking about a realistic depth chart.

Here's my take (in order of SB's assumed preference).

I've been strict on only including players who he has used or have selected been in recent A squads (so presumably on the radar). Uncapped players are in italics.

1. E. Genge / F. Baxter / B. Rodd / B. Obano / E. Iyogun / T. Haffar / P. Brantingham
2. L. Cowan-Dickie / J. George / T. Dan / C. Langdon / G. Oghre / N. Jibulu / J. Blamire
3. W. Stuart / J. Heyes / A. Opoku-Fordjour / A. Fasogbon / T. Davison / L. Green / G. Kloska / V. Sela / J. Iosefa-Scott
4. M. Itoje / A. Coles / N. Isiekwe / J. Batley / T. Lockett / R. Capstick
5. O. Chessum / G. Martin / A. Clark / C.Ewels / H. Tizard / R. Tuima / B. Bamber
6. T. Curry / C. Cunningham-South / T. Hill / E. Roots / J. Kenningham
7. B. Earl / B. Curry / S. Underhill / H. Pollock / G. Pepper / T. Pearson
8. T. Willis / A. Dombrandt / A. Barbeary / G. Fisilau
9. A. Mitchell / J. van Poortvliet / H. Randall / B. Spencer / R. Quirke / W. Porter / A. McParland / C. Englefield / C. Bracken
10. F. Smith / M. Smith / G. Ford / C. Atkinson / O. Bailey
11. T. Freeman / O. Sleightholme / O. Hassell-Collins / W. Muir / G. Ibitoye
12. F. Dingwall / H. Slade / M. Ojomoh / A. Lozowski / S. Atkinson / R. Ma'asi-White / J. Woodward / W. Butt / O. Hartley
13. O. Lawrence / O. Beard / L. Northmore
14. I. Feyi-Waboso / T. Roebuck / C. Murley / A. Radwan
15. G. Furbank / F. Steward / J. Carpenter / G. Hendy / M. Malins / H. Arundell / J. Hodge

The other uncapped players on the radar but yet to feature are:

1. ?
2. K. Tuipolotu / S. Blake
3. ?
4. ?
5. ?
6. J. Clement / F. Carnduff
7. E. Ilione
8. F. Harding
9. ?
10. J. Benson / C. Donoghue
11. C. Cleaves / B. Stevenson
12. B. Waghorn
13. W. Joseph**
14. P. Brown-Bampoe / B. Loader
15. T. de Glanville / B. Redshaw

*has played 12 and 13
**capped but hasn't featured in any squads under Borthwick

Unavailable:

O. Farrell, J. Marchant, K. Sinckler, D. Ribbans, L. Ludlam, S. Simmonds, J. Simmonds, J. Hill, Kpoku (I think the Vunipolas retired from international rugby?)

There may be a few I've missed, but I've tried to capture anyone that's had a serious mention (either from England or from us).

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Think Bamber, RMW and Hodge have played for the A side haven't they? Or are you just counting the most recent game?

Bamber has really impressed me recently - he fell down the pecking order at Sale a bit this season but since coming back into the 23 he's been absolutely on fire
If we miss out on the playoffs I'd like to see him and Lockett in the row for the "XV" game

 

[Flankers' paradise]

apparently Ben Stevenson and Jack Clement in consideration for the xv game

 

[BPM]

Think Bamber, RMW and Hodge have played for the A side haven't they? Or are you just counting the most recent game?

Bamber has really impressed me recently - he fell down the pecking order at Sale a bit this season but since coming back into the 23 he's been absolutely on fire
If we miss out on the playoffs I'd like to see him and Lockett in the row for the "XV" game

No. The main piece is all of the players Borthwick has capped or called-up + all of the A squad players.

As far as I'm aware, none of the ones in the second list have been called-up by Borthwick or selected for an A squad as yet.

apparently Ben Stevenson and Jack Clement in consideration for the xv game

I've added them. Clement has had a good season and as a 6/8, he's probably an A squad/'England XV' squad contender.

Stevenson feels like a stretch, but then without the wingers from the current top 4, it's probably from Murley, Elliott, Brown-Bampoe and maybe Ramm, Hodge or Nick David (that's also my order of preference). If Bristol drop out of the top 4, there's Ibitoye as well.

Not sure some of those would ever be considered in normal circumstances though.

There's also IFW, but I kind of hope we leave him at home to heal up.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

No. The main piece is all of the players Borthwick has capped or called-up + all of the A squad players.

As far as I'm aware, none of the ones in the second list have been called-up by Borthwick or selected for an A squad as yet.

Bamber and Hodge played against Portugal - I thought RMW had but think he just trained with the squad
Hartley played in it too

There were a few others in that game missing but who I wouldn't really put on the depth chart though - Iosefa-Scott and Englefield

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Looking at that chart it feels like 13 lacks the same depth as other positions but I guess Slade has also covered there.

 

[BPM]

Bamber and Hodge played against Portugal - I thought RMW had but think he just trained with the squad
Hartley played in it too

There were a few others in that game missing but who I wouldn't really put on the depth chart though - Iosefa-Scott and Englefield

Ah yes, I'd clean forgotten about that game and only looked at the squads for Australia and Ireland A.

I just have had some kind of unconscious bias against Exeter as I also missed Tuima and Capstick. Updated the chart.

 

[BPM]

Looking at that chart it feels like 13 lacks the same depth as other positions but I guess Slade has also covered there.

Yeah. I put Dingwall (as the man in possession of the shirt) at 12 along with Ojomoh and Lozowski but all three arguably play at 13 on a more regular basis.

 

[Geordie]

apparently Ben Stevenson and Jack Clement in consideration for the xv game

Ben Stevenson is a quality winger. But as i said on the falcons forum, theres probably younger with a higher ceiling to bring through now.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Looking at the depth chart Earl or CCS or both need to drop down to number 8

Honestly England back row is blessed with sooo many 7's but in terms of traditional 8 and 6 we are really not that strong a position

 

[Reiser99]

Honestly, I know he got picked for the A squad I believe, but still...who the **** is Englefield?

 

[Geordie]

Looking at the depth chart Earl or CCS or both need to drop down to number 8

Honestly England back row is blessed with sooo many 7's but in terms of traditional 8 and 6 we are really not that strong a position

We have young Freddie Lockwood coming through well...hes a powerful 6, but in all honesty im not sure if he will push for international honours. Theres just too many quality options at the moment if SB sticks with the dual 7 mode thats he been forced in to at the moment.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I think Ilione would be a class 6, but with Carnduff coming up I don't see him really playing 6 long term at Tigers

 

[Geordie]

I think Ilione would be a class 6, but with Carnduff coming up I don't see him really playing 6 long term at Tigers

Ive seen a bit of Ilione this season and he does look like hes starting to deliver the potential that was hoped of him. He looks a strong guy and has crazy long arms.

Is Carnduff getting much gametime?

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Ive seen a bit of Ilione this season and he does look like hes starting to deliver the potential that was hoped of him. He looks a strong guy and has crazy long arms.

Is Carnduff getting much gametime?

Carnduff just came back from his surgery and started for Nottingham last two weeks. (Started 6 and then lock this weekend)
Suspect we won't rush him back to the league till next season now

 

[BPM]

I'm looking to see what Parling can do with Carnduff and even more Lewis Chessum.

Hopefully the time in Japan has helped him to get back on track. He's still only 22 and has so much potential.

Right now we have a reasonable amount of depth at lock, but not necessarily 'strength in depth'. That could change pretty quickly though if Bamber, Chessum, Kpoku, Burrow, Sodeke etc. start making a proper mark at senior level. Bamber and Kpoku are getting the most game time at the moment but I expect those I've mentioned to be getting their breakthroughs next season.

 

[Geordie]

I'm looking to see what Parling can do with Carnduff and even more Lewis Chessum.

Hopefully the time in Japan has helped him to get back on track. He's still only 22 and has so much potential.

Right now we have a reasonable amount of depth at lock, but not necessarily 'strength in depth'. That could change pretty quickly though if Bamber, Chessum, Kpoku, Burrow, Sodeke etc. start making a proper mark at senior level. Bamber and Kpoku are getting the most game time at the moment but I expect those I've mentioned to be getting their breakthroughs next season.

The locks at U20 really infuriate me. Every year someone stands out yet seemingly never make the jump up for a variety of reasons. Aflie Bell a few years back, Lewis Chessum etc etc. Once again Burrows and Sodeke (ignoring the better known Kopoku Jr) impressed me...but it remains to be seen if they step up. They're both at really good clubs though so we can only hope.

Bamber is just quietly getting his games for Sale...so i hope they have another look at him.

For the Argentina tour...it'll definately be Coles in one of the spots...who partners him...Arthur was the one being looked at but who knows. A good performance in the A / XV games might change it.

 

[BPM]

Personally, I'm not too worried about the pace of development in tight five forwards as they always tend to get better and reach a physical peak later.

Arthur Clark will likely be involved given he was already called-up to the 6N squad and is back to fitness.

Depending on the size of the touring party, I would imagine we'll see Coles, Isiekwe and Clark as the specialist locks with CCS and Ted Hill providing cover.

Bamber is giving himself a decent shout though.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

I think it's slightly unfair, Bell is only 22 so is Lhessum.

Locks especially tall ones tend to need a couple years to fill out

 

[Geordie]

I think it's slightly unfair, Bell is only 22 so is Lhessum.

Locks especially tall ones tend to need a couple years to fill out

Maybe a little unfair yes, and i appreciate that young lads develop at different speeds. But at 22 i would have hoped to see players getting a certain amount of gametime (managed properly) even just a few minutes here and there off the bench. I may be wrong but has Bell had any recently, even this season with Exeter?

Maybe your right that the taller lads need a bit more time to really develope physically.