RugbyRebels

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 2:14 pm I mean Radwan’s pace wasn’t ever in question. Seeing him take a high ball on the run was new though. Both him and OHC look more rounded players than on their last England outings.

Murley got a well timed hat-trick to at least get his name back in the mix, but what a slide for him from finally getting a shot as a 6 nations starter to now likely being behind Freeman, IFW, Roebuck, Sleightholme, OHC, Radwan, possibly fighting with Muir. Even if 3 of those are unavailable he might struggle.

I still don’t see why Arundell should jump the queue on any of those, but it makes sense Blackett would be keen to get an early look at him.

What is Illione’s main position? Primarily a 7?

In fairness to him he was injured for most of that time and has impressed as soon as he’s come back in. Borthwick liked him enough to play him vs. Ireland so I’d like to think he’ll make the plane at the very least.

Last I read, Muir was injured too but not how serious that is?

fivepointer wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 2:14 pm Interesting that Morgan has named Ilione. I've been impressed every time i've seen him play this season. He does have an athleticism that could work very well at the highest level.

Dont think Fisilau will be fit and surely there must be question marks over IFW, Furbank and Ojomoh.

very surprised if Furbank goes.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 2:14 pm I mean Radwan’s pace wasn’t ever in question. Seeing him take a high ball on the run was new though. Both him and OHC look more rounded players than on their last England outings.

Murley got a well timed hat-trick to at least get his name back in the mix, but what a slide for him from finally getting a shot as a 6 nations starter to now likely being behind Freeman, IFW, Roebuck, Sleightholme, OHC, Radwan, possibly fighting with Muir. Even if 3 of those are unavailable he might struggle.

I still don’t see why Arundell should jump the queue on any of those, but it makes sense Blackett would be keen to get an early look at him.

What is Illione’s main position? Primarily a 7?

Mind, Murley's hattrick wasn't in the most competitive of games! I do feel sorry for him, as he's had incredibly shitty luck with injuries and I hope he does get a good chance in the team at some point.

I always used to think of Ilione as an 8, given his height and strength at age groups, but he's been 90% a 7 for Leicester since breaking through into first team rugby, with a smattering of 6 every now and again.

Puja

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 2:14 pm What is Illione’s main position? Primarily a 7?

Primarily a 7, he has come on at 8 as well and can do a job on the blindside. He's rounding out his game very nicely, getting to the point where he can do a bit of everything. 9 starts and 23 appearances this season. Including one game at Notts and the PRC. He's found his physicality at this level which helps. Not explosive in the wide channels like Pollock so doesn't have much in the way of highlights on YouTube but is coming off the bench and adding impact (which gives Tigers the one impact sub per game). Turnovers, good defence and carries hard and direct. A lot to like but his progress did stall with some injuries and his studies (studying medicine) taking priority previously, now seems more focused on rugby.

Would be a bit of a punt by Borthwick to take him on tour at this point but he is a leader and an intelligent bloke.

Training camp next weekend minus players from Bath and Saints. Should give us an indication of who is in the frame for touring.

Scrumhead wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 2:19 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Mon May 12, 2025 2:14 pm I mean Radwan’s pace wasn’t ever in question. Seeing him take a high ball on the run was new though. Both him and OHC look more rounded players than on their last England outings.

Murley got a well timed hat-trick to at least get his name back in the mix, but what a slide for him from finally getting a shot as a 6 nations starter to now likely being behind Freeman, IFW, Roebuck, Sleightholme, OHC, Radwan, possibly fighting with Muir. Even if 3 of those are unavailable he might struggle.

I still don’t see why Arundell should jump the queue on any of those, but it makes sense Blackett would be keen to get an early look at him.

What is Illione’s main position? Primarily a 7?

In fairness to him he was injured for most of that time and has impressed as soon as he’s come back in. Borthwick liked him enough to play him vs. Ireland so I’d like to think he’ll make the plane at the very least.

Last I read, Muir was injured too but not how serious that is?

Will Muir is 29. Shouldn't we be developing younger options that are likely to see us through to the next world cup and possibly beyond? If he was the league's stand out winger I might have a different view, not saying he's not very good but there's options.

I do feel a bit sorry for Murley, he had a complete shocker at the back Vs Ireland. Proper deer in the headlights stuff. He looked decent in attack but his ability under the high ball (jumping to claim it) is a weakness as well and against Argentina I think it likely he'd be targeted. Might play on Borthwick's mind in selection.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Fri May 16, 2025 7:12 am Training camp next weekend minus players from Bath and Saints. Should give us an indication of who is in the frame for touring.

When is the squad getting announced? Can’t find details of the timing anywhere

TheNomad wrote: ↑Sat May 17, 2025 8:28 am

fivepointer wrote: ↑Fri May 16, 2025 7:12 am Training camp next weekend minus players from Bath and Saints. Should give us an indication of who is in the frame for touring.

When is the squad getting announced? Can’t find details of the timing anywhere

They said Tuesday during the Sale game last night.

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Sat May 17, 2025 9:01 am

TheNomad wrote: ↑Sat May 17, 2025 8:28 am

fivepointer wrote: ↑Fri May 16, 2025 7:12 am Training camp next weekend minus players from Bath and Saints. Should give us an indication of who is in the frame for touring.

When is the squad getting announced? Can’t find details of the timing anywhere

They said Tuesday during the Sale game last night.

Cool. Thanks a lot!

TheNomad wrote: ↑Sat May 17, 2025 10:41 am

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Sat May 17, 2025 9:01 am

TheNomad wrote: ↑Sat May 17, 2025 8:28 am

When is the squad getting announced? Can’t find details of the timing anywhere

They said Tuesday during the Sale game last night.

Cool. Thanks a lot!

That is a preliminary training one though, just to take advantage of the fallow week for 8 of the clubs while the Euro finals are going on. Will give us an idea of his mind though (and realistically, I doubt there are going to be too many surprises or bolters coming from Bath or Saints that we won't be able to predict).

Puja

Really hoping to see both Sam Underhill and Ted Hill each get a run out at 6. I don’t recall the former playing 6 at test level yet but have no doubt he could make just as big an impact there as his existing caps at openside. Some in the media have tried to characterise Pollock as England’s McCaw, for me a more apposite comparison,given Pollock’s style, would be with Michael Jones ( circa ‘87-91). Pepper looks more of a McCaw esque out and out fetcher and will be good to see the competition between him and Ben Curry for the openside berth.

Atkinson S is in. Good looking squad, bar Slade still being there.

List by position (I have no idea why we insist on alphabetical order for these announcements)

Props
Finn Baxter
Fasogbon
Joe Heyes
AOF
Bevan Rodd

HK
George
Theo Dan
Gabriel Oghre

LK
Arthur Clarke
Joe Batley
Nick Isiekwe
(Richard Capstick)

BR
Jack Kenningham
Ben Curry
Emeka Ilione
Alex Dombrandt
Tom Willis

SH
Raffi Quirke
Harry Randall
JvP

FH
George Ford
Charlie Atkinson

Centres
Henry Slade
Seb Atkinson (FINALLY!)
Oscar Beard
Reikiti Masai-white
Luke Northmore

WG
Cadan Murley
IFW
Tobias Elliott
Tom Roebuck

FB
Freddie Steward
Joe Carpenter

Who will miss out when the Saints and Bath players return?

Surprised Capstick is in. Not really sure why he's there.

No PBB is a shame, ditto the two Tigers wingers who are on as good if not better form that the wingers selected.

Good selection of centres, not particularly pleased to see Slade back but given the otherwise youthful collection of centres and back three it's not a bad shout to have him there alongside Ford.

Atkinson recognised is a cause for a small cheer. So too the inclusion of Ilione and Batley. Not convinced by Ogrhe or Northmore and not sure what Slade offers now.
Presumably CCS injured? OHC a bit unlucky and i would have liked to see Woodward in the squad.

Capstick's a weird one. He's mostly a back row who plays lock sometimes for Exeter and, while he has the build for it, I'm not sure whether he's got anything which could see him get to the top level. Surely be better to invest in Tuima or Bamber - I'm not sure either of those will make it at the top level either, but at least they *might*?

Great to see Batley, SAtkinson, and Kenningham get a chance to show that they can do. Slade's upsetting if he's inked into a test space - otherwise I'm okay with him setting a standard in training and being someone that the other centres need to surpass. Dombrandt's boring but understandable.

Trying to work out who the names are that're omitted from our various lists of speculations. No Radwan, OHC, or PBB on the wings, although it's hard to argue with the names that are there. Woodward not there in the centres, but he's very young and new. Very thankful we haven't surrendered and gone with Spencer at 9.

Puja

fivepointer wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 12:21 pmPresumably CCS injured?

Yeah, he was on the unavailable list for Quins last week.

Puja

CCS is rehabbing with the squad.

I wouldn’t have been surprised to see Radwan miss out but OHC is a surprise. Capstick and Northmore being in is a strange too. I’d have taken Bamber and Woodward.

Slade might be there as cover for 10? Personally I’d take him (for that role only) over Charlie Atkinson.

Puja wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 12:38 pm Very thankful we haven't surrendered and gone with Spencer at 9.

Plays for Bath...

England training squad

Forwards:

Joe Batley (Bristol Bears), Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs), Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Theo Dan (Saracens), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester Rugby), Jamie George (Saracens), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Emeka Ilione (Leicester Tigers), Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), Jack Kenningham (Harlequins), Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears), Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Shark), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks), Tom Willis (Saracens)

Backs:

Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), Oscar Beard (Harlequins), Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks), Tobias Elliott (Saracens), Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Rekeiti Ma'asi-White (Sale Sharks), Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Luke Northmore (Harlequins), Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks), Harry Randall (Bristol Bears), Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)

Loosehead
Fin Baxter
Bevan Rodd

Hooker
Theo Dan
Jamie George
Gabriel Oghre

Tighthead
Afo Fasogbon
Joe Heyes
Asher Opoku-Fordjour

Lock
Joe Batley
Arthur Clark
Nick Isiekwe

Back Row
Richard Capstick
Ben Curry
Alex Dombrandt
Emeka Illione
Jack Kenningham
Tom Willis

Scrum Half
Jack Van Poortvliet
Raffi Quirke
Harry Randall

Fly Half
Charlie Atkinson
George Ford

Centre
Seb Atkinson
Oscar Beard
Rekeiti Ma'asi-White
Luke Northmore
Henry Slade

Back Three
Joe Carpenter
Tobias Elliot
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
Cadan Murley
Tom Roebuck
Freddie Steward

Points of interest I suppose are AOF as fifth prop, covering both sides.

Only 3 locks, with Capstick playing there a bit for Exeter - wouldn't have thought he was big enough really.

Quirke and Atkinson's inclusions, but maybe that's just a numbers thing

IFW at least fit enough to be having a look at.

Obviously a huge amount of this will change though.

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 12:56 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 12:38 pm Very thankful we haven't surrendered and gone with Spencer at 9.

Plays for Bath...

Why can't I have hope?

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Tue May 20, 2025 1:30 pm Why can't I have hope?

Because you're a Leicester & England fan