6 Nations Squad Announcement - 11:30am

[FKAS]

I was unconvinced until the very end.

The tache is a key strength.

For me he's weak aerially and that might hamper his transition to international rugby. Harsh for a good player but his kick chase isn't going to allow us to contest and he might be targeted with crossfield kicks.

Iirc Tigers targeted him in the big game and successfully contested a lot of box kicks winning the ball back. Other international sides will have seen that and against say Ireland who's back three are all good enough to play fullback could be a tough afternoon for him or cause is to rely heavily on Steward switching to the wing to come and take the box kicks.

I'd draw a distinction between being a good chaser and being good in the air, he's good at timing his chase and applying pressure. I do agree getting up in the air is probably the weakest part of his game that may be a deal-breaker for Borthwick.

Yeah he's quick enough to get there and tackle the catcher. He's not got the aerial ability to get up and successfully contested, though I suppose he doesn't need to much these days he can just jump one handed and clatter the would be catcher.

[Scrumhead]

I was unconvinced until the very end.

The tache is a key strength.

For me he's weak aerially and that might hamper his transition to international rugby. Harsh for a good player but his kick chase isn't going to allow us to contest and he might be targeted with crossfield kicks.

Iirc Tigers targeted him in the big game and successfully contested a lot of box kicks winning the ball back. Other international sides will have seen that and against say Ireland who's back three are all good enough to play fullback could be a tough afternoon for him or cause is to rely heavily on Steward switching to the wing to come and take the box kicks.

I'd draw a distinction between being a good chaser and being good in the air, he's good at timing his chase and applying pressure. I do agree getting up in the air is probably the weakest part of his game that may be a deal-breaker for Borthwick.

Funny, I’d say Murley is better in the air than Sleightholme. He seems to have been working with Isgro on how he chases and it’s paying off. He’s obviously not a particularly guy so timing and accuracy are key offensively. Defensively, he can be outjumped I guess.

If I’m comparing Sleightholme and Murley I’d say the former is marginally better in attack, but the latter is better in the air, quite a bit better defender. Personally, I think Murley is the better player but given Selightholme is in possession of the shirt, he needs to take it off him.

[FKAS]

The tache is a key strength.

For me he's weak aerially and that might hamper his transition to international rugby. Harsh for a good player but his kick chase isn't going to allow us to contest and he might be targeted with crossfield kicks.

Iirc Tigers targeted him in the big game and successfully contested a lot of box kicks winning the ball back. Other international sides will have seen that and against say Ireland who's back three are all good enough to play fullback could be a tough afternoon for him or cause is to rely heavily on Steward switching to the wing to come and take the box kicks.

I'd draw a distinction between being a good chaser and being good in the air, he's good at timing his chase and applying pressure. I do agree getting up in the air is probably the weakest part of his game that may be a deal-breaker for Borthwick.

Funny, I’d say Murley is better in the air than Sleightholme. He seems to have been working with Isgro on how he chases and it’s paying off. He’s obviously not a particularly guy so timing and accuracy are key offensively. Defensively, he can be outjumped I guess.

If I’m comparing Sleightholme and Murley I’d say the former is marginally better in attack, but the latter is better in the air, quite a bit better defender. Personally, I think Murley is the better player but given Selightholme is in possession of the shirt, he needs to take it off him.

In terms of defence Murley is positionally better than Sleightholme but Sleightholme is a menace at the breakdown which is unusual for a winger but pretty handy when you consider how many times you have rucks out on the touchline.

Sleightholme has a lot more physicality to him as well but either are good options to have that I'm not sure will kick on to 50 caps. Think both might get overtaken by the next world cup but I could be wrong.

[Mikey Brown]

I think they both stand out in a lot of similar areas. Murley is very physical in contact and oddly good at the breakdown too. I guess they’re both in the Villiere mould.

I suppose I’m comparing them to Freeman and Roebuck in terms of aerial skills, where they both fall quite a way behind.

You might have something on the Isgro effect though. It’s clear it’s more of a focus during recent games and I’m sure Borthwick/Wiggler have been on him about it.

[Mikey Brown]

…or I guess just stick Steward there.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/ ... ix-nations

Steve Borthwick has revealed he is giving strong consideration to shifting Marcus Smith to full-back and deploying Freddie Steward on the wing as he plots a course to England’s Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin.

[Mellsblue]

Strictly Baldrick has a cunning plan.

[Puja]

…or I guess just stick Steward there.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/ ... ix-nations

Steve Borthwick has revealed he is giving strong consideration to shifting Marcus Smith to full-back and deploying Freddie Steward on the wing as he plots a course to England’s Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin.

That article feels like rage-bait for this board. Some strong conclusions suggested by the text, but the actual quotes attributed to Speak Bashfully are nowhere near as strident as being implied.

Reading just the bits in speechmarks and it doesn't sound like he's "revealed he is strongly considering picking Steward on the wing and Smith at 15," but instead answering a question about can Steward play on the wing with "it's certainly a possibility" and then talking about how flexibility affects his bench options and how MSmith at 15 is good because of his counterattacking play.

He might still do it, of course, but I think panic/derision is unwarranted at this current time.

Puja

[Banquo]

Strictly Baldrick has a cunning plan.

Stats Bore....well yes.

[Stom]

…or I guess just stick Steward there.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/ ... ix-nations

Steve Borthwick has revealed he is giving strong consideration to shifting Marcus Smith to full-back and deploying Freddie Steward on the wing as he plots a course to England’s Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin.

That article feels like rage-bait for this board. Some strong conclusions suggested by the text, but the actual quotes attributed to Speak Bashfully are nowhere near as strident as being implied.

Reading just the bits in speechmarks and it doesn't sound like he's "revealed he is strongly considering picking Steward on the wing and Smith at 15," but instead answering a question about can Steward play on the wing with "it's certainly a possibility" and then talking about how flexibility affects his bench options and how MSmith at 15 is good because of his counterattacking play.

He might still do it, of course, but I think panic/derision is unwarranted at this current time.

Puja

If he does, I might not bother with the hassle of watching.

It's so infuriating to see how many players are given a go by...

Ireland
Scotland
Wales
France
South Africa
New Zealand
Australia...

I mean, seriously, every other team slots in new talent a lot easier than England. We're stuck in the idea of "oh, you need experience". Just like the bloody jobs market right now.

It's abysmal, it's frustrating, and it's just argh.

Yes, he might not do it. But the simple fact that he's built a squad like he has, without some of the best up and coming talent around, and then the talent that does make the squad is unlikely to play...it's infuriating.

[Mikey Brown]

…or I guess just stick Steward there.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/ ... ix-nations

Steve Borthwick has revealed he is giving strong consideration to shifting Marcus Smith to full-back and deploying Freddie Steward on the wing as he plots a course to England’s Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin.

That article feels like rage-bait for this board. Some strong conclusions suggested by the text, but the actual quotes attributed to Speak Bashfully are nowhere near as strident as being implied.

Reading just the bits in speechmarks and it doesn't sound like he's "revealed he is strongly considering picking Steward on the wing and Smith at 15," but instead answering a question about can Steward play on the wing with "it's certainly a possibility" and then talking about how flexibility affects his bench options and how MSmith at 15 is good because of his counterattacking play.

He might still do it, of course, but I think panic/derision is unwarranted at this current time.

Puja

You’re right, but it’s less fun that way. I don’t think it’s actually likely that’s what we’ll see either, but there’s something funny about him even entertaining the idea.

The reality is some games we’d absolutely get away with Steward on the wing. You just don’t know what game you’ll get. Murley might look like our Kolbe or we might just be praying we had someone “solid under the highball” instead.

[Oakboy]

…or I guess just stick Steward there.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/ ... ix-nations

That article feels like rage-bait for this board. Some strong conclusions suggested by the text, but the actual quotes attributed to Speak Bashfully are nowhere near as strident as being implied.

Reading just the bits in speechmarks and it doesn't sound like he's "revealed he is strongly considering picking Steward on the wing and Smith at 15," but instead answering a question about can Steward play on the wing with "it's certainly a possibility" and then talking about how flexibility affects his bench options and how MSmith at 15 is good because of his counterattacking play.

He might still do it, of course, but I think panic/derision is unwarranted at this current time.

Puja

You’re right, but it’s less fun that way. I don’t think it’s actually likely that’s what we’ll see either, but there’s something funny about him even entertaining the idea.

The reality is some games we’d absolutely get away with Steward on the wing. You just don’t know what game you’ll get. Murley might look like our Kolbe or we might just be praying we had someone “solid under the highball” instead.

I applaud and admire your 'glass half-full' approach. Fun and watching England under Jones or Borthwick is not a connection many would make, I'd suggest.

[Captainhaircut]

There’s a strong chance that Steward plays wing as we are a bit thin there. Sleightholme didn’t play this weekend so doubts about him and Roebuck and Murley have never started a test so unlikely Borthers will do that in Ireland. So that leaves Daly or Steward with Freeman on the other.

[twitchy]

lol

[FKAS]

There’s a strong chance that Steward plays wing

I frigging hope not.

[p/d]

Not sure why you wouldn’t start Roebuck or Murley

[Captainhaircut]

Not sure why you wouldn’t start Roebuck or Murley

I would start both with Freeman at 13 but can’t see that happening. Much like in the autumn, few fixture order isn’t kind to us.

[FKAS]

Not sure why you wouldn’t start Roebuck or Murley

Roebuck has looked decent in his brief chances with England and would slot in perfectly with what we want from our wingers. Murley would require some tweaking of the game plan but not a significant amount.

Slightly Boring hasn't been radical but he has brought through new talent. We would all want a couple more but that's the same for most sides. The Irish fans are up in arms about how little they are developing in terms of centres for instance.

[Puja]

Not sure why you wouldn’t start Roebuck or Murley

Roebuck has looked decent in his brief chances with England and would slot in perfectly with what we want from our wingers. Murley would require some tweaking of the game plan but not a significant amount.

Slightly Boring hasn't been radical but he has brought through new talent. We would all want a couple more but that's the same for most sides. The Irish fans are up in arms about how little they are develo00ping in terms of centres for instance.

Very much agreed - if we were talking about our only option being a maverick like Ibitoye, then I could possibly see the concern, but Roebuck is pretty much the perfect Brontebook winger, so I'm not really concerned that he'd ignore him.

I'm always baffled by this perception that Select Berated doesn't pick anyone new or young or exciting, given how many he has brought in. There's a lot of things to castigate him for, but "He won't give a winger a first start against a big side" isn't one of them, given Sleightholme's first start came against South Africa (and was preceded by a week of people being doom and gloom that Boringback'd probably pick Cueto or someone and leave the exciting young thing on the bench!).

Plus

[Stom]

Not sure why you wouldn’t start Roebuck or Murley

Roebuck has looked decent in his brief chances with England and would slot in perfectly with what we want from our wingers. Murley would require some tweaking of the game plan but not a significant amount.

Slightly Boring hasn't been radical but he has brought through new talent. We would all want a couple more but that's the same for most sides. The Irish fans are up in arms about how little they are develo00ping in terms of centres for instance.

Very much agreed - if we were talking about our only option being a maverick like Ibitoye, then I could possibly see the concern, but Roebuck is pretty much the perfect Brontebook winger, so I'm not really concerned that he'd ignore him.

I'm always baffled by this perception that Select Berated doesn't pick anyone new or young or exciting, given how many he has brought in. There's a lot of things to castigate him for, but "He won't give a winger a first start against a big side" isn't one of them, given Sleightholme's first start came against South Africa (and was preceded by a week of people being doom and gloom that Boringback'd probably pick Cueto or someone and leave the exciting young thing on the bench!).

Plus

He’s absolutely willing to drop one player into the team. But only if the incumbent is injured. And not if the incumbent is simply playing awful. And not if the system is simply not working.

And then, only into groups that are otherwise functioning.

[twitchy]

I think the issue is that we recognise that being england manager seems to have this corrosive effect on a person's judgement. We are all waiting for the inevitable slide into "picking steward on the wing" which leads to him getting sacked after the 6N (but then learning from his terrible england experience and leading wales to winning the WC).

[Oakboy]

I think the issue is that we recognise that being england manager seems to have this corrosive effect on a person's judgement. We are all waiting for the inevitable slide into "picking steward on the wing" which leads to him getting sacked after the 6N (but then learning from his terrible england experience and leading wales to winning the WC).

Does Borthwick stick or twist at this point? Would it be a surprise if he picks: Genge, George, Stuart, Itoje, Martin, Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Mitchell, M Smith, Sleightholme, Slade, Lawrence, Freeman, Steward?

Of course, should he do so, what little respect I still have for him would evaporate. If I was in his shoes, I'd rather be condemned for too many changes than not enough at this stage but that presupposes that 7 defeats in the last 10 games is seen as badly under-performing rather than dishing out a string of excuses.

'We beat Ireland and narrowly lost to France' is fact, of course. But, any sort of claim that we are making progress was shattered by three AI defeats. It's not many months ago that posters here (including me) saw Australia as a relatively easy forthcoming fixture.

I suppose one argument is that we have played some decent stuff for part of every game. Maybe Borthwick has accepted that turning up for the whole 80 is an essential starting point. The captaincy change is a step in the right direction. I just hope that he does more than improve his bench selections.

[fivepointer]

Heard on the radio that George sustained a hamstring injury yesterday. If so, its unlikely he will feature in Dublin and possibly beyond that.

[Scrumhead]

I think the issue is that we recognise that being england manager seems to have this corrosive effect on a person's judgement. We are all waiting for the inevitable slide into "picking steward on the wing" which leads to him getting sacked after the 6N (but then learning from his terrible england experience and leading wales to winning the WC).

Does Borthwick stick or twist at this point? Would it be a surprise if he picks: Genge, George, Stuart, Itoje, Martin, Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Mitchell, M Smith, Sleightholme, Slade, Lawrence, Freeman, Steward?

Of course, should he do so, what little respect I still have for him would evaporate. If I was in his shoes, I'd rather be condemned for too many changes than not enough at this stage but that presupposes that 7 defeats in the last 10 games is seen as badly under-performing rather than dishing out a string of excuses.

'We beat Ireland and narrowly lost to France' is fact, of course. But, any sort of claim that we are making progress was shattered by three AI defeats. It's not many months ago that posters here (including me) saw Australia as a relatively easy forthcoming fixture.

I suppose one argument is that we have played some decent stuff for part of every game. Maybe Borthwick has accepted that turning up for the whole 80 is an essential starting point. The captaincy change is a step in the right direction. I just hope that he does more than improve his bench selections.

I could be way off here, but I think we might get some surprises.

As much as injuries are annoying and disruptive, they also force change and that could well be for the better.

I’d like to see:

1. Genge
2. Cowan-Dickie
3. Stuart
4. Itoje
5. Martin
6. T. Curry
7. Earl
8. Willis
9. Mitchell
10. M. Smith
11. Freeman
12. Dingwall
13. Lawrence
14. Roebuck
15. Daly

16. Dan 17. Baxter 18. Heyes 19. Chessum 20. Cunningham South 21. Van Poortvliet 22. F. Smith 23. Murley

I doubt Daly will be a popular pick but honestly, I think there is more to be gained by picking him than Steward at this moment in time.

[Epaminondas Pules]

…or I guess just stick Steward there.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/ ... ix-nations

Steve Borthwick has revealed he is giving strong consideration to shifting Marcus Smith to full-back and deploying Freddie Steward on the wing as he plots a course to England’s Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin.

That would be a monumentally stupid decision!

[Oakboy]

I think the issue is that we recognise that being england manager seems to have this corrosive effect on a person's judgement. We are all waiting for the inevitable slide into "picking steward on the wing" which leads to him getting sacked after the 6N (but then learning from his terrible england experience and leading wales to winning the WC).

Does Borthwick stick or twist at this point? Would it be a surprise if he picks: Genge, George, Stuart, Itoje, Martin, Chessum, T Curry, Earl, Mitchell, M Smith, Sleightholme, Slade, Lawrence, Freeman, Steward?

Of course, should he do so, what little respect I still have for him would evaporate. If I was in his shoes, I'd rather be condemned for too many changes than not enough at this stage but that presupposes that 7 defeats in the last 10 games is seen as badly under-performing rather than dishing out a string of excuses.

'We beat Ireland and narrowly lost to France' is fact, of course. But, any sort of claim that we are making progress was shattered by three AI defeats. It's not many months ago that posters here (including me) saw Australia as a relatively easy forthcoming fixture.

I suppose one argument is that we have played some decent stuff for part of every game. Maybe Borthwick has accepted that turning up for the whole 80 is an essential starting point. The captaincy change is a step in the right direction. I just hope that he does more than improve his bench selections.

I could be way off here, but I think we might get some surprises.

As much as injuries are annoying and disruptive, they also force change and that could well be for the better.

I’d like to see:

1. Genge
2. Cowan-Dickie
3. Stuart
4. Itoje
5. Martin
6. T. Curry
7. Earl
8. Willis
9. Mitchell
10. M. Smith
11. Freeman
12. Dingwall
13. Lawrence
14. Roebuck
15. Daly

16. Dan 17. Baxter 18. Heyes 19. Chessum 20. Cunningham South 21. Van Poortvliet 22. F. Smith 23. Murley

I doubt Daly will be a popular pick but honestly, I think there is more to be gained by picking him than Steward at this moment in time.

I'd rather have Daly at 15 than Marcus!!

Against Ireland and France, I'm not too happy about Earl and Curry on the flanks. One or the other at 7 with CCS or Chessum at 6 seems more threatening somehow, especially at turning defence into attack.

Dingwall at 12 may function better with Freeman at 13 perhaps? I know criticising Slade is popular. He may be past it now but I'm becoming more convinced that the non-functioning of his pairing with Lawrence is at least as much the latter's fault if not more so. I'd be comfortable with dumping both.