RugbyRebels

Oakboy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 9:47 am

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 9:41 am

Oakboy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 8:36 am

This! Serious injury to him and/or LCD must be SB's biggest fear.

Probably. We have various hookers that could step up but we really do need to back them more and get game time into them. It might be a can that Strategic Ballthrow puts off until after the world cup knowing then he'll need to start again with that position. LCD will be 34.

Post world cup some more youngsters might have sufficient game time to back long term. Craig Wright in particular.

Against any of the top 3 or 4 nations (tomorrow, say), are there any hookers who could offer credible options as starters?

I'm hoping that Oghre's recent improvement is the start of him competing for that top role. Certainly in terms of his basics, he's top-drawer.

I also still think we're far too harsh on Dan. His carrying ability is way above his weight class and, as an option off the bench, he can open a game up with his ability to break the first tackle and offload. Depends on what we want from our bench hooker really.

Puja

England squad announcement 1130am tomorrow.

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 3:06 pm

Oakboy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 9:47 am

FKAS wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 9:41 am

Probably. We have various hookers that could step up but we really do need to back them more and get game time into them. It might be a can that Strategic Ballthrow puts off until after the world cup knowing then he'll need to start again with that position. LCD will be 34.

Post world cup some more youngsters might have sufficient game time to back long term. Craig Wright in particular.

Against any of the top 3 or 4 nations (tomorrow, say), are there any hookers who could offer credible options as starters?

I'm hoping that Oghre's recent improvement is the start of him competing for that top role. Certainly in terms of his basics, he's top-drawer.

I also still think we're far too harsh on Dan. His carrying ability is way above his weight class and, as an option off the bench, he can open a game up with his ability to break the first tackle and offload. Depends on what we want from our bench hooker really.

Puja

I don’t know how much of an impression Dan has ever made on me, in either a particularly positive or negative way*, but it feels like the talk is always that he does well for his size. It doesn’t feel like all that much of a compliment. Like a reverse Matt Banahan.

Yorkie wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 9:16 pm England squad announcement 1130am tomorrow.

And not a whisper of a leak as of yet. Unusual.

Puja

Serious question. How far from being serious is the prospect of Lahiff for England? I can't really tell how much Collier is joking here, but he certainly knows more than most about scrums.



I suppose being able to play both sides doesn't mean so much anymore, but it's something in his favour? Is this just as pointless as giving caps to Davidson or Dunn?

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Fri Jan 23, 2026 12:43 am Serious question. How far from being serious is the prospect of Lahiff for England? I can't really tell how much Collier is joking here, but he certainly knows more than most about scrums.



I suppose being able to play both sides doesn't mean so much anymore, but it's something in his favour? Is this just as pointless as giving caps to Davidson or Dunn?

Pretty far. I haven't the ability to watch a video rn, but I'd be amazed if it finds some evidence to raise Lahiff above the level of a decent Prem trier.

Puja

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union ... e551z2r22o

Not unambitious, is he? I like it - you've got to have a solid ego and a little bit of cocksuredness to be at the absolute top and hopefully he's able to back up those hopes and ambitions.

Pujaa

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Fri Jan 23, 2026 12:43 am Serious question. How far from being serious is the prospect of Lahiff for England? I can't really tell how much Collier is joking here, but he certainly knows more than most about scrums.



I suppose being able to play both sides doesn't mean so much anymore, but it's something in his favour? Is this just as pointless as giving caps to Davidson or Dunn?

Absolutely miles off. Good prem player. That’s it.

He is 36 (but looks 26 to be fair).

I think I rate Lahiff higher a podcaster/commentator than I do as a player. He's a solid player that has some decent skills for a prop. Exactly the sort of squad man you want your club to pick up for a reasonable contract.

Davison would be a more logical pick as he's been around squads more recently. Even then it's picking an experienced third choice option should a break class in case of emergency thing arise.

FKAS wrote: ↑Fri Jan 23, 2026 9:14 am I think I rate Lahiff higher a podcaster/commentator than I do as a player. He's a solid player that has some decent skills for a prop. Exactly the sort of squad man you want your club to pick up for a reasonable contract.

Davison would be a more logical pick as he's been around squads more recently. Even then it's picking an experienced third choice option should a break class in case of emergency thing arise.

Picking Davidson just feels like a backward step. If we have ambitions for the 2027 World Cup then we've got to be bold, IMO. If there is a call between a stop gap and a player with a massive ceiling, like say Davidson with Fasogbon AND Sela then go with the prospect. Davidson, for example, is not going to raise us as a squad. These lads might not on day one, but they will raise us.

Lol. Appreciate the responses. Collier’s statements about the scrum sounded quite compelling - I can look at the same scrum collapse 10 times and would probably reach 10 different conclusions.

Didn’t realise he was 36 either. Oops.

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Fri Jan 23, 2026 9:35 am

FKAS wrote: ↑Fri Jan 23, 2026 9:14 am I think I rate Lahiff higher a podcaster/commentator than I do as a player. He's a solid player that has some decent skills for a prop. Exactly the sort of squad man you want your club to pick up for a reasonable contract.

Davison would be a more logical pick as he's been around squads more recently. Even then it's picking an experienced third choice option should a break class in case of emergency thing arise.

Picking Davidson just feels like a backward step. If we have ambitions for the 2027 World Cup then we've got to be bold, IMO. If there is a call between a stop gap and a player with a massive ceiling, like say Davidson with Fasogbon AND Sela then go with the prospect. Davidson, for example, is not going to raise us as a squad. These lads might not on day one, but they will raise us.

I'd happily pick four tightheads in the squad and have Sela and Fasogbon there to learn and develop. Fasogbon to join Heyes in the 23. Davison is purely there for experience and to keep them on it. If Heyes goes down, that's the only time we need Davison as I'm not keen to enter a test with two tightheads that young and inexperienced, particularly when we've only got one experienced loosehead available. I'm not a fan of Davison but tightheads tend to find their feet at the top level around 25 for a reason.