New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread

[Puja]

Roebuck's broken his toe pretty badly and likely to be out for 10 weeks, so doubtful for the start of the 6N. Real shame for him as he had a huge opportunity to cement his place in the team, and now the competition are going to get a chance to stake a claim.

Puja

[FKAS]

Roebuck's broken his toe pretty badly and likely to be out for 10 weeks, so doubtful for the start of the 6N. Real shame for him as he had a huge opportunity to cement his place in the team, and now the competition are going to get a chance to stake a claim.

Puja

Freeman likely to stay a winger and Marchant to come back in as a 13 option with Lawrence?

[Danno]

Roebuck's broken his toe pretty badly and likely to be out for 10 weeks, so doubtful for the start of the 6N. Real shame for him as he had a huge opportunity to cement his place in the team, and now the competition are going to get a chance to stake a claim.

Puja

Freeman likely to stay a winger and Marchant to come back in as a 13 option with Lawrence?

Marchant still has to see out the rest of the T14 season.

Before he goes to Sale, the traitorous shit.

[FKAS]

Roebuck's broken his toe pretty badly and likely to be out for 10 weeks, so doubtful for the start of the 6N. Real shame for him as he had a huge opportunity to cement his place in the team, and now the competition are going to get a chance to stake a claim.

Puja

Freeman likely to stay a winger and Marchant to come back in as a 13 option with Lawrence?

Marchant still has to see out the rest of the T14 season.

Before he goes to Sale, the traitorous shit.

Well he's confirmed as returning to the Prem so doesn't that make him instantly available or does he have to wait until the summer? Being in the Top14 would rule him out of pre tournament training camps and that might well count against him.

[Oakboy]

Roebuck's broken his toe pretty badly and likely to be out for 10 weeks, so doubtful for the start of the 6N. Real shame for him as he had a huge opportunity to cement his place in the team, and now the competition are going to get a chance to stake a claim.

Puja

Freeman likely to stay a winger and Marchant to come back in as a 13 option with Lawrence?

Marchant has been a 1st choice pick for his XV in France so I would expect him to be as good a player or better when he returns. However, as I understand it, he will not be available for the 6N which means Freeman might get game time in the 13 shirt. I could see SB going with either Dingwall/Freeman or Ojomoh/Lawrence. Circumstances (GS win etc.) could leave Marchant having to wait for an injury absence to get in. Then there is Atkinson - already losing ground through injury.

[Puja]

Freeman likely to stay a winger and Marchant to come back in as a 13 option with Lawrence?

Marchant still has to see out the rest of the T14 season.

Before he goes to Sale, the traitorous shit.

Well he's confirmed as returning to the Prem so doesn't that make him instantly available or does he have to wait until the summer? Being in the Top14 would rule him out of pre tournament training camps and that might well count against him.

I wouldn't have him in for the 6N unless we have an injury crisis - we've got Lawrence, Freeman, Dingwall, and Ojomoh who can play there and it'll put him at a massive disadvantage to not be under the EPS fitness regimes, and not in the January training camps, the pre-tournament training camp, and then having to go back to France during the fallow week. Let him come back to the Prem and show domestic form to fight for his place.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Yep. I’m a huge Marchant fan but let him come back and show he still deserves it in this environment.

It’s a shame for Roebuck. I’d say he’s cemented his squad place (if not quite 23 spot) already, and a half-fit Daly leapfrogged Murley and Arundell already.

Toe injuries are a tricky one though, right?

[Which Tyler]

Arundell 'felt proud' after making England return
When Henry Arundell entered the field at Allianz Stadium during England's win against Fiji after a two-year absence from the international scene, his main feeling was pride.


Decent article in there



ETA: and another on Joseph
Will Joseph is back as a force three years on from his England debut


If only he'd moved to a club that wasn't the victim of an RFU conspiracy...

[Puja]

Arundell 'felt proud' after making England return
When Henry Arundell entered the field at Allianz Stadium during England's win against Fiji after a two-year absence from the international scene, his main feeling was pride.


Decent article in there

Seems like a good head on his shoulders and good to read the bit about communication with Bestbangers - hopefully he'll be like Heyes where he takes on the work-ons and goes on to a higher level.

Puja

[FKAS]

If we're looking for a like for like replacement for Roebuck do we keep Freeman on the wing, bring back Daly or is their an opening for OHC?

[Which Tyler]

Given that (IMO) Freeman is our best winger, and first choice in that shirt... keep Freeman in his (currently) best position.

[Which Tyler]

Benhard Janse van Rensburg eligible for England next year
Exclusive: South African, who can play inside or outside centre, will be available from the beginning of the 2026-27 season



Whilst I prefer the new rule, but I see absolutely no reason why it should be applied retrospectively

[Danno]

Arundell 'felt proud' after making England return
When Henry Arundell entered the field at Allianz Stadium during England's win against Fiji after a two-year absence from the international scene, his main feeling was pride.


Decent article in there



ETA: and another on Joseph
Will Joseph is back as a force three years on from his England debut


If only he'd moved to a club that wasn't the victim of an RFU conspiracy...

I'm having no joy with the Will Joseph article WT, can you link again please?

[twitchy]

Benhard Janse van Rensburg eligible for England next year
Exclusive: South African, who can play inside or outside centre, will be available from the beginning of the 2026-27 season



Whilst I prefer the new rule, but I see absolutely no reason why it should be applied retrospectively

You have my interest.

[Which Tyler]

I'm having no joy with the Will Joseph article WT, can you link again please?

Try this one - which seems to have been captured under a diferent heading, but seems to be the same article
https://archive.is/gGl1r

[Danno]

I'm having no joy with the Will Joseph article WT, can you link again please?

Try this one - which seems to have been captured under a diferent heading, but seems to be the same article
https://archive.is/gGl1r

Thank you squire

[Danno]

We're not looking shabby at the moment

[TheNomad]

Nice to see Seb Atkinson make an impression on the weekend, and Ojomoh when he came on

Between those two and Dingwall, we're starting to develop some options!

[Captainhaircut]

Torn bicep for AOF. 6 weeks out.

Ford likely out for this weekend and maybe weekend after.

[charlesdeboeuf]

Torn bicep for AOF. 6 weeks out.

Ford likely out for this weekend and maybe weekend after.

Who do we favour as the next best young tighthead then, Fasogbon or Sela? Both involved in the A set-up. Fasogbon’s had more prem minutes but Sela has looked very assured whenever I’ve seen him.

[FKAS]

Torn bicep for AOF. 6 weeks out.

Ford likely out for this weekend and maybe weekend after.

Who do we favour as the next best young tighthead then, Fasogbon or Sela? Both involved in the A set-up. Fasogbon’s had more prem minutes but Sela has looked very assured whenever I’ve seen him.

Fasogbon is a freakishly mobile unit. I'd have him ahead of AOF personally. AOF is small for a modern tighthead. He's roughly two stone lighter and a couple inches shorter than Heyes and Stuart. He's more akin to Baxter in size. Fasogbon in the other hand is built like the units that seem to be the go to for international tightheads and has impressed so far.

Sela is not a regular in the Prem yet. Bit early for him to be in the England squad proper. No rush to get him in at 20 either.

[SixAndAHalf]

So post AIs and with Marchant and BJVR available, how is the World Cup squad shaping up? I reckon Borthers has a number of his 33 pencilled in:

Genge, Baxter, [OPEN]
LCD, [George, Tuipolotu, Jibulu]
Heyes, Stuart, [Fasogbon, AOF, Sela]
Itoje, Coles
Chessum, [Martin, Kpoku, CCS]
Curry, Pepper
Underhill, [BCurry, CCS]
Earl, Pollock

Mitchell, [Spencer, JvP, Bracken, Friday]
Ford, FSmith
[BJVR, Atkinson, Dingwall, Farrell?!]
Freeman, Lawrence, [Marchant]
IFW, Roebuck, Arundell, Caluori
Daly, [Furbank, Steward]

Wildcards would be other returnees from France such as Sinckler. Given the depth it seems hard for young / uncapped players to break in unless they have a Pollock-esque season.

[Which Tyler]

Marchant won't be available until post 6N, surely.
Earliest any new arrival to the Prem has become eligible is Shields in the summer tour isn't it?

Can't believe you've left out Ojomoh after his exploits against Argentina - especially putting an IceMan and a Saffer (who won't be eligible until September) in order to do so


ETA: Sorry, you're talking RWC, not "post AIs" - for which, see: http://www.rugbyrebels.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=7539

[Captainhaircut]

I don’t think we can say Calouri is ahead of Murley and Sleightholme. Probably will move ahead of him although a danger Sarries turn him into a one trick pony.

I think Rodd is better thought of by Borthers than people think. He’s just unfortunate with injury and stuck behind 2 excellent looseheads.

Dan obviously still in the mix at hooker too. Thought he was decent against Bath outside of some lineout wobbles.

MSmith has definitely fallen down the pecking order if he’s not even getting included in brackets…

I think Arthur Clark could possibly force his way in if he can stay fit and perform. He’s very good and offers a tight lock profile that only really Martin does currently.

At scrum half, I still think Quirke is the one who could really step up. He’s was in the most recent squads so clearly Borthwick thinks so too and he offers a versatility by being able to cover wing that none of our other scrum halves do. He needs a really long run of staying fit and then we really need Sale to have him start games. He looks so keen to impact the game of the bench that he’s a bit wild. His running game and defence are real points of difference and I think his service is quicker than the other Mitchell alternatives.

[fivepointer]

Tuipolotu at hooker and Bracken at SH have a real chance of breaking through i reckon. I can see them getting capped in the next year.