France XV vs England XV - 19/06/26

[TRF_Olyy]

(RFU site lists it as A vs A, but it's actually XV vs XV as it's not a capture game)

 

[Brown Bottle]

(RFU site lists it as A vs A, but it's actually XV vs XV as it's not a capture game)

Lucky for BJVR. He'll still be eligible for his Springbok cap.

 

[Geordie]

How does Qualification work? Even though this is not a capped game can he actually represent us in a game?

 

[Geordie]

Lucky for BJVR. He'll still be eligible for his Springbok cap.

Dont worry, we wont be bothered about BJVR when Hoskins Sototu puts his hat in the ring ....

 

[TRF_Olyy]

How does Qualification work? Even though this is not a capped game can he actually represent us in a game?

Yeah this isn't a sanctioned test just a friendly between two "representative" sides so anyone can be picked - no different from the Barbarians (which is what international rugby is turning into)

 

[Scotty]

Yeah this isn't a sanctioned test just a friendly between two "representative" sides so anyone can be picked - no different from the Barbarians (which is what international rugby is turning into)

Whilst I'm not a fan of getting a 29 year old South African in who is only playing because it's his only chance of international rugby, id have skipped him and stuck with Atkinson and Ojomoh.

But on the other hand I'm not going to get worked up if he plays...he is eligibe and SB picked him and he prob is the best available player, I cant get to mad at that.

And as far as I'm aware he's the only 1 we have, nor can I think of a clear example for quite a while for England. Other countries however.

I think it should be 7 continuous years or 5 years if completed before the age of 18.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

he is eligibe

No he isn't

 

[Quel Carreleur]

No he isn't

Well, he is, because there's no eligibility requirement for this match.

Which does NOT mean that I like it

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Is this even on tv?

 

[Scotty]

No he isn't

Ok fair point, i was talking for broadly for England.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

.

I think it should be 7 continuous years or 5 years if completed before the age of 18.

This is better thinking but I still think years under pro contract shouldn’t count towards residency. I’m 50/50 if whether moving to a country for university should count. Not just cause it helps the USA but I could see countries claiming they developed the player so they should have rights to them.

Anyway, it’s a bit odd to have a friendly just for guys on mediocre teams.

 

[Brown Bottle]

Is this even on tv?

It's not listed on wheresthematch.com.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Saw someone say it's going to be on RugbyPass TV, but it's not on their schedule either

 

[Geordie]

Well hes going to play in this game we know it, and after the Bok game he'll be fully eligible so he'll be in. I hate the thought of it, but nowt we can do. SB wants him in.

Removing any personal feeling on it, ability wise i agree with Scotty that ATM hes probably the best most rounded centre that would be available to England (Defence, Passing, running and kicking). All other options seemingly have flaws thats causing SB and his coaching team problems.

I just hope him being there has a positive affect on the teams performance, and also doesnt stop young lads getting the gametime they need.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Whilst I'm not a fan of getting a 29 year old South African in who is only playing because it's his only chance of international rugby, id have skipped him and stuck with Atkinson and Ojomoh.

But on the other hand I'm not going to get worked up if he plays...he is eligibe and SB picked him and he prob is the best available player, I cant get to mad at that.

And as far as I'm aware he's the only 1 we have, nor can I think of a clear example for quite a while for England. Other countries however.

I think it should be 7 continuous years or 5 years if completed before the age of 18.

The Mullet is / going to be eligible and he’s going to get his shot at some point over the summer. By the rules that’s fine and I can live with that, but I think it would be v bad PR to parachute him straight in over Atkinson who is the man in possession and has done enough to warrant another chance.

As for involving him before he’s officially eligible to play, that’s entirely sensible from SB and we’ve done variations on that theme where I work.

As for this game, it’s not really necessary and highly unlikely to prove much one way or another.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Seeing as Borthwick has swapped and changed his centres for energy every game he’s coached I don’t think the problem lays with the centres. It’s the coaches and what we are asking of the players. There is no other country that can’t find a stable centre combo and yet us with the biggest player base seem to.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Seeing as Borthwick has swapped and changed his centres for energy every game he’s coached I don’t think the problem lays with the centres. It’s the coaches and what we are asking of the players. There is no other country that can’t find a stable centre combo and yet us with the biggest player base seem to.

Yep. We’ve all just focused on it as BJVR flared up again.

The large player base is a real issue though. Someone has a bad game or 2 or the style changes a bit and we have options, maybe few of them great but still plenty. We’re not in a position where we have no choice but to back a horse. Although also in recent, make that 20, years which centres have absolutely demanded to be picked bar peak Manu which lasted for about 5 minutes. Joseph for a while maybe. 12 hardly anyone.

 

[Reiser99]

This should be a developmental game, yet I feel that will pick the strongest side possible as Borthwick is still afraid of losing.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, definitely will - we went full bore last summer too
They use it as a warm up for the tests rather than an actual A game

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

I quite like it being done that way, tbh. I feel like we’re able to learn quite a bit more from dropping 6-7 genuinely promising new players into an otherwise experienced team than just putting out a brand new 23 and having no way of gauging how well those players actually fit into the current system.

Out of what I think is Borthwick’s 1st choice 23 we’re missing: Baxter, Genge, LCD, Stuart, Itoje, Coles, Pepper, Pollock, Mitchell, Spencer, F. Smith, Freeman, Feyi-Waboso & Furbank, plus other regulars like Underhill & Daly. That’s 14-16 players absent which is plenty of slots to bring in and properly test some development players while still having the leadership and experience of guys like George & Chessum to guide them.

 

[mkersyshull]

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I can just imagine Olyy’s reaction if Curry gets hurt in this.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Surprisingly "A team" tbf

Hope we lose, either way

I can just imagine Olyy’s reaction if Curry gets hurt in this.

A wise man doesn't get angry at the inevitable

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Don’t understand what we possibly have to gain by playing Ewels in this, but other than that I quite like it.

 

[Geordie]

Don’t understand what we possibly have to gain by playing Ewels in this, but other than that I quite like it.

Or Tom Curry....

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

God such an uninspiring team selection.

Prob only really Kloska, Caluori and the centres i'm interested in

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Don’t understand what we possibly have to gain by playing Ewels in this, but other than that I quite like it.

Dombrandt is the biggest weird selection for me - I can understand the logic behind Ford/Curry etc. even if i don't agree with it, but why Dombrandt? He's had so many chances

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

WAIT??????


No Charlie Atkinson??? what hell is this we are living in

 

[Pieter Steph du Teague]

Dombrandt is the biggest weird selection for me - I can understand the logic behind Ford/Curry etc. even if i don't agree with it, but why Dombrandt? He's had so many chances

Agreed, but that’s a selection I’d already come to terms with based on who was in the squad. Earl was the only other 8 option in the squad, and I’m glad we’re not just flogging him. And who from outside the squad can really consider themself hard done by? I’d say Barbeary’s the only one a real argument could be made for but even he has never impressed in previous A games. Just a shame that all of Pollock, Chick, Fisilau and even Pearson (who I’d like to see trialled at 8) are tied up in the final as I’d have picked any of them over Dombrandt.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

WAIT??????


No Charlie Atkinson??? what hell is this we are living in

They had to change it from England A to England XV because Mercenary McMoneybags isn't eligible for the former
Atkinson's legacy as an A game stalwart lives on