Agree with most of that - think Freeman at 13 with Roebuck on the wing maximises our ceiling. At 12, I lean towards Seb Atkinson especially if Dingwall isn't fit. The difficult question is what to do with Lawrence but I could see a role for him in the number 23 shirt.twitchy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 8:57 am Not sure but here is a CM article on england centre's:
https://archive.ph/7c472
New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread
Moderator: Puja
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SixAndAHalf
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Re: New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread
- Oakboy
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Re: New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread
In a 6:2 split?SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 11:11 amAgree with most of that - think Freeman at 13 with Roebuck on the wing maximises our ceiling. At 12, I lean towards Seb Atkinson especially if Dingwall isn't fit. The difficult question is what to do with Lawrence but I could see a role for him in the number 23 shirt.twitchy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 8:57 am Not sure but here is a CM article on england centre's:
https://archive.ph/7c472
- Which Tyler
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Re: New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread
If the difficulty is that he's not as good (in entirety or specifically for the game plan) than his rivals for the shirt - then the answer is that he's given work-ons, and goes away and tries to improve on them.SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 11:11 am The difficult question is what to do with Lawrence but I could see a role for him in the number 23 shirt.
I'm not sure I want a specialist in the 23 shirt, even with a 5:3 bench - even with more flexible players in the starting XV.
I guess if you've got enough flexibility in the starting XV that all injury events can be covered - then there MIGHT be room for a glass canon at 23 - but that's more of a Manu or Arundell (or Marcus
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SixAndAHalf
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Re: New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread
Yes I could see that but you'd have to construct the starting backline with that in mind. Freeman at 13 helps and then also MSmith or Furbank at 15.Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 1:00 pmIn a 6:2 split?SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 11:11 amAgree with most of that - think Freeman at 13 with Roebuck on the wing maximises our ceiling. At 12, I lean towards Seb Atkinson especially if Dingwall isn't fit. The difficult question is what to do with Lawrence but I could see a role for him in the number 23 shirt.twitchy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 8:57 am Not sure but here is a CM article on england centre's:
https://archive.ph/7c472
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Scrumhead
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Re: New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread
Yep. 100% aligned on this.SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 11:11 amAgree with most of that - think Freeman at 13 with Roebuck on the wing maximises our ceiling. At 12, I lean towards Seb Atkinson especially if Dingwall isn't fit. The difficult question is what to do with Lawrence but I could see a role for him in the number 23 shirt.twitchy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 8:57 am Not sure but here is a CM article on england centre's:
https://archive.ph/7c472
When is Roebuck due back though? He’s been out for a little while now. If he’s not fit, our next best wingers have quite different profiles (Murley, Sleightholme etc.) or are inexperienced (Caluori).
If Roebuck is out, Will Muir might have timed his return to fitness exceptionally well. He or Caluori are the next best in terms of kick chase/ball retention.
- Oakboy
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Re: New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread
Do you see it as IFW or Arundel on the other wing? Is there no temptation to have both? In terms of the aerial contest, I think OHC is also in with a shout.Scrumhead wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 2:57 pmYep. 100% aligned on this.SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 11:11 amAgree with most of that - think Freeman at 13 with Roebuck on the wing maximises our ceiling. At 12, I lean towards Seb Atkinson especially if Dingwall isn't fit. The difficult question is what to do with Lawrence but I could see a role for him in the number 23 shirt.twitchy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 8:57 am Not sure but here is a CM article on england centre's:
https://archive.ph/7c472
When is Roebuck due back though? He’s been out for a little while now. If he’s not fit, our next best wingers have quite different profiles (Murley, Sleightholme etc.) or are inexperienced (Caluori).
If Roebuck is out, Will Muir might have timed his return to fitness exceptionally well. He or Caluori are the next best in terms of kick chase/ball retention.
In the Bath game IFW made a nonsense of his height - perhaps indicating a re-think to the extent that covering Roebuck's absence with a tall guy may not be the best way to go.
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Scrumhead
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Re: New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread
IFW all the way.
I think it’s one ‘stepper’ (IFW, Arundell, Murley, Sleightholme) and one winger who is aerially dominant (Roebuck, Muir, Caluori). I’m not saying the skills are mutually exclusive BTW - the more elusive wings are mostly OK to good on the kick chase too and the aerial guys have footwork, just more a comment on their stand out attributes. Not a bad shout of OHC.
As an aside, I think Quins’ dire form and Sleightholme’s injury lay off have given Arundell a major bump up the pecking order.
I think it’s one ‘stepper’ (IFW, Arundell, Murley, Sleightholme) and one winger who is aerially dominant (Roebuck, Muir, Caluori). I’m not saying the skills are mutually exclusive BTW - the more elusive wings are mostly OK to good on the kick chase too and the aerial guys have footwork, just more a comment on their stand out attributes. Not a bad shout of OHC.
As an aside, I think Quins’ dire form and Sleightholme’s injury lay off have given Arundell a major bump up the pecking order.
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Beasties
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Re: New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread
Was no one watching the recent Bath v Sarries game?
Arundell did well up against the New Messiah in the high ball game.
I’d like to see him in the 23 shirt come the 6Ns.
He’s a total handful in a way none of the others aren’t, bar IFW.
Arundell did well up against the New Messiah in the high ball game.
I’d like to see him in the 23 shirt come the 6Ns.
He’s a total handful in a way none of the others aren’t, bar IFW.
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Morton
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Re: New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread
I'm quite a bit out of touch living in Germany for many years but I do pay for streaming sites to watch games. My question is why is Radwan not in the running? I've liked him for years. Changed clubs to get more profile. He looks so dangerous every time he gets the ball.
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Morton
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Re: New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread
Dammit. Posted a dozen times
FTFY - Mod
FTFY - Mod
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FKAS
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Re: New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread
Radwan has previously had issues with positioning, kicking and competing in the air. He's done a fair bit to improve two of the three. He could take Murley's side in the squad, a lot will depend on whether they view Freeman as a centre or a wing I expect.