RugbyRebels

Forwards
Ollie Chessum
Dan Cole
Ben Curry
Alex Dombrandt
Ben Earl
Ellis Genge
Jamie George
Joe Heyes
Jonny Hill
Nick Isiekwe
Maro Itoje
Courtney Lawes
Lewis Ludlam
George McGuigan (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
Bevan Rodd
Sam Simmonds
Kyle Sinckler
Mako Vunipola
Jack Walker (Harlequins, uncapped)
Jack Willis
Backs
Elliot Daly
Owen Farrell
Tommy Freeman
Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, uncapped)
Dan Kelly
Max Malins
Joe Marchant
Alex Mitchell
Cadan Murley (Harlequins, uncapped)
Henry Slade
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Marcus Smith
Freddie Steward
Manu Tuilagi
Jack van Poortvliet
Ben Youngs

Early takes from scanning that:
BCurry!
FSmith!
Murley!
OHC!
No random Prem plodder because Eddie likes the cut of his job and the fact that he had a hard childhood!

I am cautiously very pleased.

Puja

fivepointer wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 10:44 am Forwards
Ollie Chessum
Dan Cole
Ben Curry
Alex Dombrandt
Ben Earl
Ellis Genge
Jamie George
Joe Heyes
Jonny Hill
Nick Isiekwe
Maro Itoje
Courtney Lawes
Lewis Ludlam
George McGuigan (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
Bevan Rodd
Sam Simmonds
Kyle Sinckler
Mako Vunipola
Jack Walker (Harlequins, uncapped)
Jack Willis
Backs
Elliot Daly
Owen Farrell
Tommy Freeman
Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, uncapped)
Dan Kelly
Max Malins
Joe Marchant
Alex Mitchell
Cadan Murley (Harlequins, uncapped)
Henry Slade
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Marcus Smith
Freddie Steward
Manu Tuilagi
Jack van Poortvliet
Ben Youngs

Someone need to rearrange this but pretty good from a first glance? No major omissions/surprises aside from Billy? Malins and Isiekwe I didn’t necessarily expect to see.

He's doing a press conference now - Farrell confirmed as captain, Lawes and Genge as vice captains. Borthwick's just given a paean for his attitude in trainign and how he remembers him coming in as a 17 year old at Saracens and working very hard. Also specifically referenced that he has had it confirmed with the RFU legal department that he's definitely available for Scotland.

Puja

But missing Val R-R, Ribbans, Hill, Lawrence and Quirke.

Plus Farrell is named as captain.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 10:49 am But missing Val R-R, Ribbans, Hill, Lawrence and Quirke.

Plus Farrell is named as captain.

Ah. Yeah I really wanted to see a bit more of those guys. Is Quirke even back yet though? Surely Ribbans is the only other TH lock after Hill?

Farrell as captain is disappointing. I'd take any of Genge, George, Itoje, Lawes.

Forwards:
Ellis Genge
Mako Vunipola
Bevan Rodd
Jamie George
George McGuigan
Jack Walker
Kyle Sinckler
Joe Heyes
Dan Cole
Maro Itoje
Ollie Chessum
Jonny Hill
Nick Isiekwe
Courtney Lawes
Ben Curry
Jack Willis
Ben Earl
Lewis Ludlam
Alex Dombrandt
Sam Simmonds

Backs
Jack van Poortvliet
Ben Youngs
Alex Mitchell
Marcus Smith
Owen Farrell
Fin Smith
Dan Kelly
Henry Slade
Manu Tuilagi
Joe Marchant
Elliot Daly
Tommy Freeman
Ollie Hassell-Collins
Max Malins
Cadan Murley
Freddie Steward

Puja wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 10:48 am He's doing a press conference now - Farrell confirmed as captain, Lawes and Genge as vice captains. Borthwick's just given a paean for his attitude in trainign and how he remembers him coming in as a 17 year old at Saracens and working very hard. Also specifically referenced that he has had it confirmed with the RFU legal department that he's definitely available for Scotland.

Has now spent time praising both Lawes and Genge and saying how important the squad vice captains are. Giving an absolute dead bat on any questions about selection but, when asked about "Does that mean Farrell is an automatic starter at 10", said very firmly that "This is a squad selection, not a team selection. I'll be naming my team in 16 days time."

Puja

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 10:51 am

fivepointer wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 10:49 am But missing Val R-R, Ribbans, Hill, Lawrence and Quirke.

Plus Farrell is named as captain.

Ah. Yeah I really wanted to see a bit more of those guys. Is Quirke even back yet though? Surely Ribbans is the only other TH lock after Hill?

Farrell as captain is disappointing. I'd take any of Genge, George, Itoje, Lawes.

Quirke got 30ish mins on Saturday.

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 10:56 am

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 10:51 am

fivepointer wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 10:49 am But missing Val R-R, Ribbans, Hill, Lawrence and Quirke.

Plus Farrell is named as captain.

Ah. Yeah I really wanted to see a bit more of those guys. Is Quirke even back yet though? Surely Ribbans is the only other TH lock after Hill?

Farrell as captain is disappointing. I'd take any of Genge, George, Itoje, Lawes.

Quirke got 30ish mins on Saturday.

No Ford either, although that's not hugely surprising considering he hasn't had even a single minute yet.

Puja

No Furbank. I’ve had it with Borthwick. Time for a change.

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 10:58 am No Furbank. I’ve had it with Borthwick. Time for a change.

Well Aaron Morris was rubbish the other day. It's possible that he's lost faith in the theory that any time spent at Bedford makes a world beater?

Puja

Somehow hadn't spotted Jack Walker in there either. Very happy for him and glad that neither him or McGuigan had to lose out to an 'apprentice'.

Very interested to see what happens at 8. Wasn't sure either one would make it to be honest. I'd got the impression Tom Willis was a cert.

Puja wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 10:59 am

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 10:58 am No Furbank. I’ve had it with Borthwick. Time for a change.

Well Aaron Morris was rubbish the other day. It's possible that he's lost faith in the theory that any time spent at Bedford makes a world beater?

Puja

Look. I know we like to have a laugh on here but this has crossed a line. Theory?!? Pfft. It’s a fact. Exhibit A: Harry ‘the mulleted monster’ Wells. Etzebeth without the posing and the posturing (and the caps).

No Billy V?

For me the biggest omission is VRR.

There's some very good things here.
All the uncapped players are good choices, I'm really pleased for Kelly, Marchant, Curry and Heyes. Not selecting May, Nowell, Cokanasiga, Furbank, B Vunipola and Porter is fine by me.
In most positions, most of the selections are uncontentious.
I'm really cheesed off there's no Val R-R. I think Ribbans is a far better lock than Isiekwe who is one very lucky fella and i'm a big fan of Ted Hill. Disappointed for Lawrence but that is partly balanced by having Marchant in the squad. I wouldnt have picked Tuilagi but Borthwick was always going to. Quirke just hasnt played enough i'm guessing.
And Farrell as sodding captain!
Well as we know, you cant have everything with these squad announcements.

Isiekwe might be lucky to be in but he is mobile and very good at the lineout. Traits SB seems to like in his locks.

Disappointed VRR and Lawrence haven't made the cut.

Shiny wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 11:07 am For me the biggest omission is VRR.

Aye. Has looked a class act this season.

Chuffed for Ben Curry, Kelly, Willis, Rich Lane and F Smith.

Pretty happy with that for a start. I imagine Quirke is being given time and may yet come in later. Injuries/bans will happen, creating room for others to come in.

Disappointed in no VRR, Ribbans or Tom Willis, but some of the omissions I’m delighted about.

Promising start. He’s never gonna light up a press conference or interview. I’m ok with that.

Is Marler banned or something?
Also pretty amazed from what little I’ve seen of Ribbans that he’s not even in the squad.
Otherwise there a lot that looks careful and deliberate so good

badback wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 12:40 pm Is Marler banned or something?
Also pretty amazed from what little I’ve seen of Ribbans that he’s not even in the squad.
Otherwise there a lot that looks careful and deliberate so good

Marler played yesterday so he must be permantly out of the picture from choice. Let's face, it Cole is brought in to shore up one side of the front row, Marler should be in to do it on the other side. He'd be my starting LH.

badback wrote: ↑Mon Jan 16, 2023 12:40 pm Is Marler banned or something?
Also pretty amazed from what little I’ve seen of Ribbans that he’s not even in the squad.
Otherwise there a lot that looks careful and deliberate so good

I guess he’s just viewed as unreliable? Old? A pain in the arse? Hard to argue with any of those, as much as I think he’s still got some very valuable qualities.

Generally very positive, would agree about a real shame for the likes of Lawrence, T Hill, Val RR and Ribbans missing out