England XV vs France XV - 21/06/25

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Pollock and Earl are prob the only forwards we have that could genuinely do a good job in the backs I feel.

I get Borthwick want's to make a bomb squad but he's got to play to the squad he has

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I wonder what they're thoughts are on the back up locks. It doesnt look good if they're bringing Isiekwe back in when they could be playing Arthur ?

I mean Isiekwe is a very very good rugby player, I'd say he's better for Saracens than Clark is for Gloucester tbh - just never carried that over to international rugby

It's shoehorning a tall 6 into lock and having no dedicated lock cover even on a 6:2 bench that should be setting the alarm bells off

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

It is odd even the SA have a lock in their bomb squad type bench.
Obviously he doesn't rate the locks we have, but then if that is the case why not take some chances like Lockett.

TBF I'm not against trying Hill there as emergency cover, but for me Hill could do a solid Petti type job whereas CCS doesn't have the work grunt of a 6 let alone lock.
I wouldn't be surprised if Kapok is being earmarked for that role.

Borthwick just strikes me as a coach who is very inflexible, and struggles to move away from a vision regardless the players.

 

[Geordie]

I mean Isiekwe is a very very good rugby player, I'd say he's better for Saracens than Clark is for Gloucester tbh - just never carried that over to international rugby

It's shoehorning a tall 6 into lock and having no dedicated lock cover even on a 6:2 bench that should be setting the alarm bells off

Isiekwe is a quality prem player but has never brought that to this level. Maybe we do him a disservice as he hasnt really had a regular consistent run. But consecutive managers have tried then put him aside. So clearly theres something not quite right when he gets to this level.

Lets see what happens with Clarke and Lockett (both still young themselves 23 and 22) but I bet hes looking at the next gen impatiently....Kpoku, Burrows, Sodeke etc...all 6'8 / 6'9 athletic monsters. Maybe Lewis Chessum can get himself back in the race if he comes through well next season at the tigers especially If George Martin continues as a permanent sick note.....

 

[BPM]

Let's also not forget that Isiekwe was playing with a heart condition until pretty recently. He's been good this season and deserves the benefit of the doubt IMO.

 

[Ddanno]

Also got players who've played lock their entire life too

But nah, backrowers for every position!
Dread to think what the side would look like if Burry were fit - drop Beard and have Pepper on the bench covering wing too?

This is like 2019 when I believe you said "We. Need. More. LOCKS.

 

[Ddanno]

We do?

Atkinson, Dingwall, Beard, Ojomoh, Lawrence, maybe even Northmore and yet Skid Rowward has Dombrandt training in the centres

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

This is like 2019 when I believe you said "We. Need. More. LOCKS.

Bring back Eddie - he liked a lock.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Let's also not forget that Isiekwe was playing with a heart condition until pretty recently. He's been good this season and deserves the benefit of the doubt IMO.

I think his problem might be that he doesn't really do the flashy carrying and turnover stuff. But we've no-one better in the line outs - especially attacking opposition ball - or restarts. Properly big unit who makes his tackles, hits his rucks and does the dirty stuff. We've had the conversation before about how little actual game time he's had, but I think he's been very unlucky. Even as a kid Sarries trusted him which given the resources they had then was a big statement.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Supposedly a serious scrummager as well

Was reading an interview with Rassie during the week when he was talking about the importance of second row scrummaging technique to a big boy scrum (when talking about how much his props love Cobus Wiese )

 

[Reiser99]

Not a bad pick this from who's available

ENGLAND XV TO FAVE FRANCE XV
15 Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
14 Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, 4 caps)
13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 72 caps)
12 Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
11 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, 8 caps)
10 George Ford (Sale Sharks, 99 caps) – co-captain
9 Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby, 8 caps)

1 Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 11 caps)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 101 caps) – co-captain
3 Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 12 caps)
4 Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 7 caps)
5 Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 15 caps)
6 Ted Hill (Bath Rugby, 4 caps)
7 Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
8 Tom Willis (Saracens, 6 caps)

Replacements:
16 Theo Dan (Saracens, 17 caps)
17 Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 7 caps)
18 Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
19 Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 15 caps)
20 Jack Kenningham (Harlequins, uncapped)
21 Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 20 caps)
22 Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
23 Oscar Beard (Harlequins, uncapped)

I kinda get George being there as he, Slade and Ford are the only ones starting with more than 15 caps. Slade is very lucky tbh and I think he's only there to cover 10 and for experience, certainly not on form. Disappointed Langdon continues to miss out.
No idea what Dan has done to deserve his place other than being given a central contract by Borthwick in a moment of madness.
I personally would have had Ojomoh over beard if we're not resting final players or Steward on the bench as I feel he can cover more of the back positions than Beard in a 6:2 split (though I may be wrong).
3 Back rowers on the bench is very unbalanced and with Dan coming off the bench I'd be really worried about the our lineout towards then end of the game.
However, the starting team seems to have a good balance for once. I feel though that if the game is close towards the end we aren't going to win with that bench.

 

[Geordie]

I see Seb Atkinson has been singled out in training apparently smashing all sorts of running records. Good to see.

I didn't realise statistically he was the top centre in the league last season.

And Borthwick really praising Pepper. Well it's not rocket science to see how good he is / will be.

 

[NickBD]

French team

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

I see Seb Atkinson has been singled out in training apparently smashing all sorts of running records. Good to see.

I didn't realise statistically he was the top centre in the league last season.

And Borthwick really praising Pepper. Well it's not rocket science to see how good he is / will be.

Believe it was a 4:09 bronco that he ran in pre-season. Which is madness.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah but is he a lineout option?

 

[Rugbyfan564]

The Bomb squad is a risky move to go down. It's not exactly popular in terms of making rugby safer.

 

[Crash Hamster]

I was hoping to watch this but Rugby Pass TV keeps crapping out...

 

[Which Tyler]

I was hoping to watch this but Rugby Pass TV keeps crapping out...

Working fine for me.
Is your internet something that might be affected by the heat?

 

[Crash Hamster]

Working fine for me.
Is your internet something that might be affected by the heat?

No.

Can't get past the log in page...

 

[Everyday EggChaser]

My video is fine but the audio is crackly