New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread

[Captainhaircut]

Oh, absolutely - if Sinckler comes back to the Premiership, it'd only be a good thing for England. There's no such thing as "too many tighthead prop options".

Not sure about if he'd go to Newcastle though. He's a very good player, but I don't know how valuable he'd be as a star amongst lesser lights - to my mind, he seems to be at his best when matched with other quality players, rather than when he's having to set the standards himself.

Puja

They have committed to paying up to the cap plus a marquee player and apparently started with sotutu and Onyama-Christie so fancy they’ll put out a decent side .

[Puja]

Oh, absolutely - if Sinckler comes back to the Premiership, it'd only be a good thing for England. There's no such thing as "too many tighthead prop options".

Not sure about if he'd go to Newcastle though. He's a very good player, but I don't know how valuable he'd be as a star amongst lesser lights - to my mind, he seems to be at his best when matched with other quality players, rather than when he's having to set the standards himself.

Puja

They have committed to paying up to the cap plus a marquee player and apparently started with sotutu and Onyama-Christie so fancy they’ll put out a decent side .

Talk is cheap, unlike buying a whole squad in from scratch. They will be paying over the odds for any players of real quality because they'll have to sell them on the project (and the early adopters will be most expensive, as no-one wants to be first) and prize them away from existing contracts elsewhere. So while I have no doubt they'll be paying up to the cap plus a marquee, they will get much less value out of that amount of money than a Saracens will, who can sell players on their reputation and pedigree as a top quality club, as well as having a stable coaching staff and a high-quality stadium and training ground that's not just promises on paper. Plus Newcastle will have to spend some of that cap on buying squad depth, because their academy production line has been thoroughly rinsed over the last couple of years, so they won't have the home-grown prospects to provide backup

They will either end up with a good first XV and very thin squad cover behind it (like Bristol did when buying a team), or strength in meh (like Leicester did when we decided to sack off using our academy for half a decade and instead pay to bring in Jason Spice) - either way they'll be mid-table at best for a couple of season while things sort themselves out.

Puja

[FKAS]

https://share.google/B6k7j9TLHiiYjHTuJ

Interview with Joe Heyes about his relationship with Will Stuart and refinding his love with rugby.

[fivepointer]

Sela starts for Bath in Toulon this weekend. guess we're going to find out soon enough if he's ready to make the step up.

[Puja]

Glaws are apparently repatriating Dan Robson for next season - he'll be 35 by the RWC, but so will Spencer and I think I'd prefer Robson. Good additional option for England to have regardless.

Puja

[Danno]

Glaws are apparently repatriating Dan Robson for next season - he'll be 35 by the RWC, but so will Spencer and I think I'd prefer Robson. Good additional option for England to have regardless.

Puja

I'd honestly thought he'd already retired until I caught up on the Cup highlights from last weekend.

I'm sure he'll make the '27 squad with that choice of club.

[Captainhaircut]

Doesn’t sound good for Will Joseph. In better news, Clark and Clement both back this weekend.

“Max Llewellyn and Will Joseph both left the field during Gloucester Rugby's Round 1 victory over Castres Olympique.

Following early assessment, a knee injury for Llewellyn has ruled him out of action until the latter part of the 2025/26 season.

Joseph continues to be assessed, but like Llewellyn, is not expecting to return to action quickly.“

[Epaminondas Pules]

Finn Carnduff has gone under the knife and faces a few more months out sadly. Not sure if already posted but saw the news today.

[FKAS]

Finn Carnduff has gone under the knife and faces a few more months out sadly. Not sure if already posted but saw the news today.

Ah balls. Poor sod has had feck all luck. This will be his third op in just over 12 months.

[Which Tyler]

Charlie Ewels sent off again

FB_IMG_1767127101804.jpg

[Mikey Brown]

Anyone who is actually able to watch rugby (I’ve seen about 1.5 club games this season) able to say how the 12 battle is looking? It’s all I can do to stay interested in the game at the moment.

It looks like Dingwall and Ojomoh both have short-term injuries, while Atkinson is playing (okay but not standout) for Gloucester?

Freeman is getting some time at 13 and both Slade/Lawrence still going well, so will Borthwick be tempted to shove a 13 there again?

[FKAS]

Anyone who is actually able to watch rugby (I’ve seen about 1.5 club games this season) able to say how the 12 battle is looking? It’s all I can do to stay interested in the game at the moment.

It looks like Dingwall and Ojomoh both have short-term injuries, while Atkinson is playing (okay but not standout) for Gloucester?

Freeman is getting some time at 13 and both Slade/Lawrence still going well, so will Borthwick be tempted to shove a 13 there again?

Dingwall got knocked out but is apparently up and well so I'd imagine a week or two rest and as long as there's no adverse symptoms he should be back in time for the 6N. He's been the solid glue in the Saints midfield again.

Ojomoh has looked good for Bath a couple of weeks out shouldn't be problematic, his debut was eye catching so will more than likely be in the squad again.

Seb Atkinson is hit and miss, not helped by Glaws being awful and his flyhalf being the most overpaid turd in the league. He's fit and in passable form.

I'm expecting at least four centres plus Freeman as a wing/centre to be selected so it'll be interesting to see who misses out. Lawrence looking good in attack but iffy in defence and having a bad off day Vs Saints and Freeman could be the one though that would be a surprise.

[Puja]

Anyone who is actually able to watch rugby (I’ve seen about 1.5 club games this season) able to say how the 12 battle is looking? It’s all I can do to stay interested in the game at the moment.

It looks like Dingwall and Ojomoh both have short-term injuries, while Atkinson is playing (okay but not standout) for Gloucester?

Freeman is getting some time at 13 and both Slade/Lawrence still going well, so will Borthwick be tempted to shove a 13 there again?

Dingwall's absolutely got the whiphand - as long as he recovers from his concussion, he'll play 12. SAtkinson isn't making a great case right now - moments of excellence mixed with meh, albeit in a poor Glaws side. I'm personally still not convinced by Ojomoh as I think his highlights are better than his whole matches, but he's probably second place. I don't think Lawrence has been demanding a shirt - still some moments of duff handling and poor ball retention - so I think we'll likely start the 6N with the Northampton partnership.

Puja

[Which Tyler]

Dingwall is currently the most rounded option at 12,
As Puja says (but overstates IMO), Ojomoh highlights and potential are higher, whilst his poorer elements are still being ironed out in what's his first season as actual 1st choice at club.
Seb is playing for Glos, which is not a good place to be this year.

Lawrence is 13 by default, because the alterris Slade, or Freeman, who's actually putting games together at OC now, though I think this 6N is a touch too early.
Come the summer and it'll be Freeman and Marchant fighting it out, and Lawrence getting a kick up the arse to improve his defensive reading, and ball retention.

RMW is actually playing some rugby, which is good to see, but needs more time. Hartley seems to have dropped off the radar (for me at least).

Side note on OC - would be interesting to see Dingwall and Ojomoh paired together, as both are more than comfortable in both shirts.

[Puja]

As Puja says (but overstates IMO), Ojomoh highlights and potential are higher, whilst his poorer elements are still being ironed out in what's his first season as actual 1st choice at club.

Now that he's finally got past Butt .

Puja

[Which Tyler]

That's still slightly behind "If only Ant Watson could get a game or two at full back"

[Oakboy]

Slade has held the 13 shirt waiting to be overtaken. He was the better of the two 13s on view at Bath yesterday. Freeman now has opened up a gap over both in terms of damaging opposition defences and he is a solid defender. I'd be surprised if SB did not pick him and Dingwall as the centre pairing.

[Mikey Brown]

Slade has held the 13 shirt waiting to be overtaken. He was the better of the two 13s on view at Bath yesterday. Freeman now has opened up a gap over both in terms of damaging opposition defences and he is a solid defender. I'd be surprised if SB did not pick him and Dingwall as the centre pairing.

This sounds about right to me. I understand the logic of Lawrence being the only 'real' 13 option with Slade past it and Freeman a rookie there, but in reality if we don't trust him in defence at this point why not continue with Freeman - who has looked very assured despite his inexperience.

I'd love to see Atkinson at 12 long term with Freeman but would be happy with Dingwall for the start of the 6 nations.

I'm loathe to risk starting a backrow discussion but Fisilau's finish vs Ted 'the man who never completes his tackles' Hill feels like it could be a moment that determines a squad place.

[Scrumhead]

Dingwall is currently the most rounded option at 12,
As Puja says (but overstates IMO), Ojomoh highlights and potential are higher, whilst his poorer elements are still being ironed out in what's his first season as actual 1st choice at club.
Seb is playing for Glos, which is not a good place to be this year.

Lawrence is 13 by default, because the alterris Slade, or Freeman, who's actually putting games together at OC now, though I think this 6N is a touch too early.
Come the summer and it'll be Freeman and Marchant fighting it out, and Lawrence getting a kick up the arse to improve his defensive reading, and ball retention.

RMW is actually playing some rugby, which is good to see, but needs more time. Hartley seems to have dropped off the radar (for me at least).

Side note on OC - would be interesting to see Dingwall and Ojomoh paired together, as both are more than comfortable in both shirts.

I think this is an interesting possibility. Usually when a player goes to France a lot is made of what England are missing > endless debates about eligibility for selection etc. Marchant has attracted very little of that and is flying under the radar despite being in consistently good form and a regular starter for SF.

Subjectively, I think Marchant is hugely underrated - but it’s also worth considering that he was Borthwick’s starting 13 in the RWC and, as a player who regularly swaps between centre and wing, he brings additional versatility that is likely to make him an attractive option.

Lawrence can be brilliant, but he can also be frustratingly average. He definitely has more power than Marchant, but that’s the only area where I’d say he has an obvious point of difference. It’s probably even on pace, but I’d regard Marchant as a better defender, better distributor and notably better aerially. Possibly a Quins tinted view, but TLDR: I think Marchant has a very good chance of making the Nations Championship squad.

[Captainhaircut]

I can definitely see Lawrence going down the list, especially with Marchant coming back and possibly BJVR coming in.

We’ll then have the pleasure of the commentators asking us why he isn’t being selected by England any time he does something good…

I’ve said before but his lack of quality defending the 13 channel will be his downfall. We can’t keep hiding him at 12 in defence and hoping the 12 we select can defend 13.

[Scrumhead]

Agree with all of that.

Kind of forgot about BJVR. I hope it doesn’t happen but I’m pretty resigned to the fact that it will given the lobbying from the RFU.

Best case scenario, the homegrown players do well enough to make his eligibility useful but irrelevant.

[Oakboy]

Anybody heard updates on Dingwall's health/fitness. He needs to be back playing quickly. A 3 or 4 match absence could cost him dearly in the challenge for the 12 shirt.

[twitchy]

Not sure but here is a CM article on england centre's:

https://archive.ph/7c472

[Puja]

Telegraph reckon that Fisilau has been invited to the pre-6N alignment camp, but that Hendy has not. The former seems eminently sensible - don't expect him to make a XXIII without injuries, but good to have him training and learning the ropes as well as seeing the levels he needs to aspire to. The latter is a little disappointing, but understandable given that he still occasionally has absolute nightmare games for Saints and I can't blame England for wanting to make sure he's fixed the problems that lead to those before deciding to take a look.

Puja

[Puja]

Also, apparently Ojomoh is back in training after his injury, which is good news.

Puja