RugbyRebels

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

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.

SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 11:11 am

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

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.

In a 6:2 split?

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.

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.

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 ) than a Lawrence.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 1:00 pm

SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 11:11 am

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

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.

In a 6:2 split?

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.

SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 11:11 am

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

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.

Yep. 100% aligned on this.

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.

Scrumhead wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 2:57 pm

SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 11:11 am

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

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.

Yep. 100% aligned on this.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Dammit. Posted a dozen times


FTFY - Mod

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.