The Official English Rugby Thread

[Ovals]

Telegraph reporting that Phill Morrow will be in at end of the season, taking over from Aled Walters

Some noise that his role will be a bit wider, maybe too narrow a scope was one of things that led to Walters opting to leave. I'm still not sure quite what went on there.

An excellent addition - make's a change to see Borthers recruit someone who is actually highly regarded and experienced - hopefully he'll have a big impact over and above just conditioning and fitness.

[Oxbow]

What's happened to Curtis Langdon? I'd rather have him there than LCD, with one eye on the future. Pleased that Maro's been made Captain, as he deserves it, and retaining George for at least one more campaign is sensible given what an evidently good leader he is.

Weird to have such representation for Sale, given we're so gash at the moment, but they're all individually class players.

There's a very decent side that can be selected from that lot, be fun to see how they fuck it up massively.

He's still playing really well, probably the form hooker over the past couple of seasons, he's just getting ignored by Borthwick.

[sockwithaticket]

Changes from the initial squad that was selected in the autumn:

In
Coles
Heyes
Hill
Opoku-Fordjour
Rodd
Willis

Beard
Dingwall
Ford
Mitchell
Murley

Out
Cole
Davison
Ewels
Isiekwe
Marler (retirement)
Underhill (injury)

Feyi-Waboso (injury)
Furbank (injury)
Lozowski
Spencer
Northmore (injury)

Could be other injuries that I'm unaware of.

[Paddington Bear]

There is a very good side waiting to be born here.

Delighted for Maro, he thoroughly deserves his chance at the top job and has done an excellent job with Sarries. George did everything that could have been asked of him as a caretaker and it’s the right time to switch.

[Stranger]

(Tigers bias again!)

7 From Sale in 6th
6 From Quins in 7th
6 From Saints in 8th
5 from Tigers in 4th = Tigers bias again ?

[SaintK]

(Tigers bias again!)

7 From Sale in 6th
6 From Quins in 7th
6 From Saints in 8th
5 from Tigers in 4th = Tigers bias again ?

Quite 2 too many

[inactionman]

(Tigers bias again!)

7 From Sale in 6th
6 From Quins in 7th
6 From Saints in 8th
5 from Tigers in 4th = Tigers bias again ?

You'd not have Mitchell, Smith (F), Dingwall, Sleightholme, Freeman or Coles then, if Northampton are over-represented?

I think Joe Heyes is quite fortunate to get the nod, although no issues with Chessum and Martin in particular - both fine players.

[Stranger]

Just amused by the alleged tigers bias, I have no issues with any of the selections. If there was a Tigers bias why not pick OHC the joint top try scorer this season (not saying that he should be picked)

[JM2K6]

Because he was hopeless when he got his chance

[Kawazaki]

Because he was hopeless when he got his chance

Being hopeless hasn't stopped Dombrandt getting yet another chance.

[JM2K6]

Something something Elliot Daly

[Kawazaki]

Something something Elliot Daly

Daly is an absolute worldie compared to Dombrandt.

And Steward.

[JM2K6]

I'd back Dommers to outrun a lock, mind.

He hasn't done much for England. Unlike Daly, who was good several years ago and absolute dogshit in the 6N. I guess I prefer "meh" to "oh Christ, Daly is having to run again".

[Kawazaki]

I'd back Dommers to outrun a lock, mind.

He hasn't done much for England. Unlike Daly, who was good several years ago and absolute dogshit in the 6N. I guess I prefer "meh" to "oh Christ, Daly is having to run again".

At least we know Daly had the ability to play at Lions test level. Dombrandt is not a test player's arsehole.

[JM2K6]

Let's recall Tim Rodber then.

Brings us the benefit of being quicker than Daly, too

[Kawazaki]

Let's recall Tim Rodber then.

Brings us the benefit of being quicker than Daly, too

Steward.

[JM2K6]

Yep, also a defensive liability. But at least he can catch, and he's still just about quicker than Daly with the ball. Turning circle of a tanker, mind.

[Kawazaki]

he's still just about quicker than Daly with the ball.

Haha,

You dumb wanker!

[JM2K6]

Daly was literally caught by a lock in the 6N. He is slower than molasses. I know you don't watch a lot of rugby but he's been shocking for England since his recall

[Kawazaki]

Daly was literally caught by a lock in the 6N. He is slower than molasses. I know you don't watch a lot of rugby but he's been shocking for England since his recall

Johnny May got ran down by Scott Barrett FFS. It can happen.

[JM2K6]

Lmao what a defence

[Kawazaki]

Lmao what a defence

10.6s for the 100m Johnny May.

Still laughing at you thinking Steward is quick 'ball in hand'!

At least when I do watch rugby I actually do watch it.

[JM2K6]

Oh I see the problem, you don't understand the passage of time. You know May also lost his pace? Or did you not notice that when you were watching one of the three matches a year you pay attention to?

I also didn't say steward was quick, because he isn't. But thanks to being a million feet tall, he covers the ground quicker than Daly. But to be fair, so would my granddad's lawnmower.

[Kawazaki]

Oh I see the problem, you don't understand the passage of time. You know May also lost his pace? Or did you not notice that when you were watching one of the three matches a year you pay attention to?

I also didn't say steward was quick, because he isn't. But thanks to being a million feet tall, he covers the ground quicker than Daly. But to be fair, so would my granddad's lawnmower.

It's just the three matches I watch a year now is it? That's lovely.

That news will certainly surprise my missus.

[JM2K6]

So would the forty three times you've registered new accounts on boards you've been banned from, but we all have our secrets I suppose

[Kawazaki]

So would the forty three times you've registered new accounts on boards you've been banned from, but we all have our secrets I suppose

There's some very thin-skinned people about isn't there.

[JM2K6]

Yeah, like the people who get so wound up about being told to leave that keep coming back, time and time again.

Pretty deranged stuff.

[Kawazaki]

Yeah, like the people who get so wound up about being told to leave that keep coming back, time and time again.

Pretty deranged stuff.

There's only one person getting wound up here.

Always there same one too.

[Tichtheid]

Would this be a good time to state that Henry Pollock has a Scottish father?

[JM2K6]

Steaming, mate. Not at all laughing my arse off at how funny the Daly shit is.

Say, isn't it about time you had another hissy fit and screamed at someone that they're ruining rugby?

[JM2K6]

Would this be a good time to state that Henry Pollock has a Scottish father?

I was genuinely worried that Willis might miss his chance because Pollock is a generational talent and Borthwick does not like to trial too many new things. Once Underhill was injured I figured both would make it. I overestimated Steve's imagination.

[Kawazaki]

Steaming, mate. Not at all laughing my arse off at how funny the Daly shit is.

Say, isn't it about time you had another hissy fit and screamed at someone that they're ruining rugby?

It is true that softcock soy boy types who have never played a game of rugby in their lives have managed to ruin much of rugby unfortunately.

Still, at least you can rely on Ugo. Oh hang on.

[Kawazaki]

Would this be a good time to state that Henry Pollock has a Scottish father?

You mean his father once spent an evening in Coldstream?

[JM2K6]

Steaming, mate. Not at all laughing my arse off at how funny the Daly shit is.

Say, isn't it about time you had another hissy fit and screamed at someone that they're ruining rugby?

It is true that softcock soy boy types who have never played a game of rugby in their lives have managed to ruin much of rugby unfortunately.

Still, at least you can rely on Ugo. Oh hang on.

Is there someone we should call?

[Kawazaki]

Steaming, mate. Not at all laughing my arse off at how funny the Daly shit is.

Say, isn't it about time you had another hissy fit and screamed at someone that they're ruining rugby?

It is true that softcock soy boy types who have never played a game of rugby in their lives have managed to ruin much of rugby unfortunately.

Still, at least you can rely on Ugo. Oh hang on.

Is there someone we should call?

You normally go to the moderators. Why not try them.

[JM2K6]

It is true that softcock soy boy types who have never played a game of rugby in their lives have managed to ruin much of rugby unfortunately.

Still, at least you can rely on Ugo. Oh hang on.

Is there someone we should call?

You normally go to the moderators. Why not try them.

Absolutely seething

[JM2K6]

Blimey, Tom Hooper has signed for Exeter. That's a coup.

Is he aware of what they're like at the moment??

[Raggs]

Forwards: Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Ollie Chessum (Leicester), Alex Coles (Northampton), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Ben Curry (Sale), Tom Curry (Sale), Theo Dan (Saracens), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Ben Earl (Saracens), Ellis Genge (Bristol), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester), Ted Hill (Bath), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Martin (Leicester), Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale), Bevan Rodd (Sale), Will Stuart (Bath), Tom Willis (Saracens).

Backs: Oscar Beard (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton), George Ford (Sale), Tommy Freeman (Northampton), Ollie Lawrence (Bath), Alex Mitchell (Northampton), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Harry Randall (Bristol), Tom Roebuck (Sale), Henry Slade (Exeter), Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton), Fin Smith (Northampton), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Freddie Steward (Leicester), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester).

Mitchell for Spencer is reasonable enough, although JvP still there. There were rumblings of Ojomoh getting in, but think that needs a bit more time served. Dingwall put in a good shift as A team skipper so fair enough.

Good to see Willis and Hill, just need Borthwick to actually fecking pick them in a matchday squad.

Is Joe Heyes seen as one of our better tighthead options, or is that a Leicester thing going on? Shame about Fasogbon injury but keen to see how Opoku-Fordjour gets on

Davidson should be in ahead of fatso Heyes (Tigers bias again!) and Opoku-Fordjour is a loose head at Sale but Borthwick selects him as tight head . Steward is the only full-back in the squad, not sure what Carpenter has done wrong.

Thought AOK, was mostly tighthead for sale and loosehead for England u20.

[JM2K6]

Forwards: Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Ollie Chessum (Leicester), Alex Coles (Northampton), Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale), Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), Ben Curry (Sale), Tom Curry (Sale), Theo Dan (Saracens), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Ben Earl (Saracens), Ellis Genge (Bristol), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester), Ted Hill (Bath), Maro Itoje (Saracens), George Martin (Leicester), Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale), Bevan Rodd (Sale), Will Stuart (Bath), Tom Willis (Saracens).

Backs: Oscar Beard (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Saracens), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton), George Ford (Sale), Tommy Freeman (Northampton), Ollie Lawrence (Bath), Alex Mitchell (Northampton), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Harry Randall (Bristol), Tom Roebuck (Sale), Henry Slade (Exeter), Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton), Fin Smith (Northampton), Marcus Smith (Harlequins), Freddie Steward (Leicester), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester).

Mitchell for Spencer is reasonable enough, although JvP still there. There were rumblings of Ojomoh getting in, but think that needs a bit more time served. Dingwall put in a good shift as A team skipper so fair enough.

Good to see Willis and Hill, just need Borthwick to actually fecking pick them in a matchday squad.

Is Joe Heyes seen as one of our better tighthead options, or is that a Leicester thing going on? Shame about Fasogbon injury but keen to see how Opoku-Fordjour gets on

Davidson should be in ahead of fatso Heyes (Tigers bias again!) and Opoku-Fordjour is a loose head at Sale but Borthwick selects him as tight head . Steward is the only full-back in the squad, not sure what Carpenter has done wrong.

Thought AOK, was mostly tighthead for sale and loosehead for England u20.

Correct. England have been trying to persuade him to be a loosehead.

[Sandstorm]

WTF happened here last night?