New and Improved EPS Watch/Player Form Thread

[Which Tyler]

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.

Sarries certainly did against Bath, and it was so telegraphed that I can't recall it even working once

[Oakboy]

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.

Sarries certainly did against Bath, and it was so telegraphed that I can't recall it even working once

It was a good assessment trial for Arundell, I thought. He came through with flying colours, showing useful all-round skills as well as pure pace. IMO, the guy is a good test for SB. A top HC would definitely develop Arundell into an outstanding international back three asset.

[Oakboy]

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.

Agreed. Only injury or bad coaching could hold them back, I'd guess.

[Scrumhead]

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.

Yeah, 100% agree on both. I’d also add Jibulu to that.

Friday might be an option but that one is a bit more of a stretch. His game time really depends whether he’s seen as the understudy to Porter or the 3rd choice behind Townsend.

[charlesdeboeuf]

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.

Yeah, 100% agree on both. I’d also add Jibulu to that.

Friday might be an option but that one is a bit more of a stretch. His game time really depends whether he’s seen as the understudy to Porter or the 3rd choice behind Townsend.

Would be a tragedy if he’s stuck behind Townsend for the next two years... Despite McParland being the better athlete, always thought Friday was a far superior scrum half and England u20s looked a much better team when he was playing. I see he’s back from his injury now, hopefully he can push on and start getting some senior game time.

EDIT: apologies Stu, maybe tragedy is a bit much, didn’t appreciate he’s still got another year at u20s level.

[SixAndAHalf]

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.

With Caluori, I'm possibly forecasting forwards to what he will be in 2027 and assume Borthers is doing the same by having him around the squad early.

MSmith and Ojomoh were omissions on my part - MSmith I think will definitely go as he can be a World Class no. 23.

[Mikey Brown]

I didn’t even see the Bath/Sarries game at the weekend but it’s funny how many differing opinions I’ve read on the Arundell/Callouri aerial battle.

Many saying Arundell really made a statement with his performance and quite a few others saying it was just BT sport bigging him up while he didn’t actually have that much success in the air.

It’s funny what a huge part of the game this is now that a random club game will be dissected to this degree.

[Which Tyler]

Yeah, some people are idiots.

The narrative beforehand is that Callouri is a god in the air (even if he's a one-trick pony) whilst Arundell is fast, but poor positioning, decision making / concentration and a bit work-shy. This should have been a perfect storm and an embarrassment for Arundell.

The reality was that Callouri took all of 1 high ball cleanly, which was a restart landing on top of a static (rookie) #8.
Closest thing to an error by Arundell was "overrunning" a high ball, whilst getting his hand on the ball and knocking it back. He might not have won much clean ball, but that wasn't his job, given the last couple of months of build up.

Hype at HT was all about the wunderkind from Saracens, with an acknowledgement that Arundell had done better than expected.
Arundell had the best game I've seen him play, for any team, and basically answered every question I've had about him (though he still needs to show it's not a one-off)

TL:DR:
His job was "stop that guy", that guy was then stopped with 100% success rate =/= "didn't have much success"

[SixAndAHalf]

I worry Caluori and Arundell are both typecast for their super-strengths (high ball and speed respectively) whereas from my perspective they are both pretty well rounded players. I'd like to see both become options at 15 as I think we have a weakness there (vs a strong pool of young wingers).

[Mikey Brown]

Yeah, some people are idiots.

The narrative beforehand is that Callouri is a god in the air (even if he's a one-trick pony) whilst Arundell is fast, but poor positioning, decision making / concentration and a bit work-shy. This should have been a perfect storm and an embarrassment for Arundell.

The reality was that Callouri took all of 1 high ball cleanly, which was a restart landing on top of a static (rookie) #8.
Closest thing to an error by Arundell was "overrunning" a high ball, whilst getting his hand on the ball and knocking it back. He might not have won much clean ball, but that wasn't his job, given the last couple of months of build up.

Hype at HT was all about the wunderkind from Saracens, with an acknowledgement that Arundell had done better than expected.
Arundell had the best game I've seen him play, for any team, and basically answered every question I've had about him (though he still needs to show it's not a one-off)

TL:DR:
His job was "stop that guy", that guy was then stopped with 100% success rate =/= "didn't have much success"

Cheers. Appreciate the detailed (and no doubt unbiased!) input. It would be fantastic if he really is progressing that way because his physical gifts are ridiculous. I know Daly isn’t as fast as he was, but the rate Arundell that left him trailing was hilarious.

It’s funny how quickly these cliches/typecasts develop. Callouri has it already after about 4 pro games. Roebuck is so big and good in the air that he’s almost not seen as a good runner? As if he’s just a lumbering oaf, a useless lump just like Freddie Steward.

It’s a bit like how all fly-halves must sit in the Spencer/Cipriani mould or the Wilkinson/Pollard one.

[Which Tyler]

100% agreed
And once a typecast has been set it's basically unmovable

[Epaminondas Pules]

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.

In terms of players coming through, there's a year and a half really to make a push, which isn't that long, that said there's still chance.

Brantingham if he can get fit (due back in the new year) and stay fit, otherwise Iyogun to make the consistent step up, or AOF's versatility, or could Haffar push on.
Hooker: Jibilu would be the obvious choice as well as Tuipolotu.
Tighthead: Fasogbon and Sela stand out.
Lock: Bamber, maybe Burrow, who is getting more and more game time. Sodeke too if Sarries back him. Kpoku if he comes home.
Backrow: Ilione is there abouts. Green keeps putting in performances which won't hurt a bit. Fisilau was the A squad choice. Kenningham on the verge of full squad. Ted Hill should be in the mix big time. Long shots for Michelow and if he ever gets fit Carnduff. Roots is having a revival.
Scrum Half: Bracken has the most expeience and is getting regular game time. McParland is probably next in terms of hierarchy with his A squad inclusions. Friday a longer shot, but is hugely rated.
Centres: There's a few who could make a push. Waghorn and Kerr at Quins as well as Beard obviously who has been in and out. Joseph has hit the ground running at Glous. Woodward is on the radar. Maasi-White likewise. Longer shot for someone like Hall.
Back three: Radwan and Hassell-Collins are close; Murley in an out, Sleightholme to come back from injury. Calouri the big hope. Redshaw is in the A squad and back fit and playing well. Bracken has been doing very well at Sarries when he's played. Elliot is still to come back there too. Hendy and Hodge have both been talked about.

[charlesdeboeuf]

Nothing being said of Ciaran Donoghue either. Fairly sure he was very close to going on the summer tour and I imagine if he was fit he would have been in the A squad. Can play 10, 15 and, given he’s rapid, could also play wing in a pinch.

[Captainhaircut]

What do we have in terms of games pre World Cup squad being announced? 20 (5 six nations 2026, 3 summer 2026, 4 autumn 2026, 5 six nations 2027, 3 warm ups 2027)?

It’s hard to see many forcing their way in for 6N 2026, so that’s 15 games for anyone who was outside the autumn squad (plus a few missing to injury).

[Mikey Brown]

You’d think with long Lions season and World Cup draw being announced the summer 2026 will see a good few players rested and new players tested.

[Scrumhead]

Possibly, but it might also depend on how the Nations Championship is viewed. A win in SA would be a huge statement 12mths from the RWC.

I don’t really think we need to try out too many players TBH. A few positions need depth, but unless someone comes from nowhere, there are only a handful of uncapped players with a realistic chance of forcing their way into the mix.

The obvious gaps are at hooker and scrum half. Tuipolotu and Jibulu look the most likely to break into the squad given their involvement with the A side.

Bracken has already been training with the seniors and could leapfrog Quirke. Friday has a lot of talent but is a bit more of an outside bet.

Beyond that Ilione and Caluori are the other uncapped players who look most likely to be included when fit and the time is right.

AOF is out for 6wks which might mean he misses the start of the 6 Nations. That might open the door for Sela or Fasogbon.

As @charlesdeboeuf said, Donoghue was definitely on the radar pre-injury. The challenge for him will be getting game time with Carreras a new challenger for the same spots.

Other than those, I’m not really seeing a huge need to bring anyone else in unless they’re banging the door down or injury dictates.

[Mikey Brown]

I guess it depends a lot on any sort of centre combo gelling and Furbank continuing to be the fantastic fullback he has become since injury.

We’re playing SA in the summer? I guess I’ve come to think of those summer games as the only chance to blood youngsters but we might have some really serious opponents.

[Puja]

I guess it depends a lot on any sort of centre combo gelling and Furbank continuing to be the fantastic fullback he has become since injury.

We’re playing SA in the summer? I guess I’ve come to think of those summer games as the only chance to blood youngsters but we might have some really serious opponents.

South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina (ETA, not Japan), IIRC.

Puja

[Scrumhead]

Apart from the hookers, I don’t see a burning need to ‘blood youngsters’. Or definitely not in any significant volume. If someone like Caluori really demands selection then fine, but that’s more of a luxury than something we really need.

Having Furbank back will be a big boost and I agree that the centre combination is a big priority. Personally, I'd go with Atkinson and Lawrence, but I can also see the argument for Ojomoh and Lawrence as a more established partnership.

[Epaminondas Pules]

I guess it depends a lot on any sort of centre combo gelling and Furbank continuing to be the fantastic fullback he has become since injury.

We’re playing SA in the summer? I guess I’ve come to think of those summer games as the only chance to blood youngsters but we might have some really serious opponents.

South Africa, Fiji, and Japan, IIRC.

Puja

Argentina rather than Japan

[Danno]

Apart from the hookers, I don’t see a burning need to ‘blood youngsters’. Or definitely not in any significant volume. If someone like Caluori really demands selection then fine, but that’s more of a luxury than something we really need.

Having Furbank back will be a big boost and I agree that the centre combination is a big priority. Personally, I'd go with Atkinson and Lawrence, but I can also see the argument for Ojomoh and Lawrence as a more established partnership.

I'd mildly disagree and argue for us looking at another SH as well. I don't much like Spencer, JVP is out of favour, Randall doesn't fit the kicking plan because half of his boxes go... let's charitably say vertically both up and down, and Quirke can't get a start at Sale.

[FKAS]

Apart from the hookers, I don’t see a burning need to ‘blood youngsters’. Or definitely not in any significant volume. If someone like Caluori really demands selection then fine, but that’s more of a luxury than something we really need.

Having Furbank back will be a big boost and I agree that the centre combination is a big priority. Personally, I'd go with Atkinson and Lawrence, but I can also see the argument for Ojomoh and Lawrence as a more established partnership.

I'd mildly disagree and argue for us looking at another SH as well. I don't much like Spencer, JVP is out of favour, Randall doesn't fit the kicking plan because half of his boxes go... let's charitably say vertically both up and down, and Quirke can't get a start at Sale.

JvP is nearly always broken. His development has definitely been interrupted with being out for so long.

[Mellsblue]

We need a couple of hookers to emerge, a fourth lock/Martin to stop breaking, a second no8, two scrum halves, a couple of ICs to put together more than two good games, a second 13 plus Furbank to prove form and a third choice 15 to get some game time. Other than that it’s hunky dory.

[Danno]

We need a couple of hookers to emerge, a fourth lock/Martin to stop breaking, a second no8, two scrum halves, a couple of ICs to put together more than two good games, a second 13 plus Furbank to prove form and a third choice 15 to get some game time. Other than that it’s hunky dory.

Bill's in the bag mate

[Oakboy]

We need a couple of hookers to emerge, a fourth lock/Martin to stop breaking, a second no8, two scrum halves, a couple of ICs to put together more than two good games, a second 13 plus Furbank to prove form and a third choice 15 to get some game time. Other than that it’s hunky dory.

Overall, are we quantity rather than quality? My optimism allows for building a team better than the sum of its parts. We have few, if any, absolute top stream talented players but we have depth.