The Official English Rugby Thread

[ASMO]

Played Quins. Scrapped out the win against a game Glaws side.

How South Africa don't think they need Esterhuizen is beyond me. He's a much more rounded player than de Allende.

Quins just seem to have a knack of winning those tight games, they never panic and trust themselves...they are what Bristol dream of being.

[Kawazaki]

Northmore always seems class when I catch Quins, should he be in line for England? He's better than Slade.

Lozowski is playing better than Slade, can play across the back line and is a 90% goal kicker but it doesn't seem to make any difference regards England selection.

[Kawazaki]

Please tell me this clear FK offence isn't becoming commonplace!

All done from a throw by a hooker standing with both feet over the touchline.

[Prembore]

Please tell me this clear FK offence isn't becoming commonplace!

I haven't seen it a lot but did notice it yesterday and wondered why the referee didn't do anything. The advantage it gives the team driving is enormous.

[sockwithaticket]

Northmore always seems class when I catch Quins, should he be in line for England? He's better than Slade.

Lozowski is playing better than Slade, can play across the back line and is a 90% goal kicker but it doesn't seem to make any difference regards England selection.

Well, yes. We've discussed him in the past. I'd have him in the squad in a heart beat, but he looks done in the red rose until Eddie finally fucks off.

[sockwithaticket]

Played Quins. Scrapped out the win against a game Glaws side.

How South Africa don't think they need Esterhuizen is beyond me. He's a much more rounded player than de Allende.

Quins just seem to have a knack of winning those tight games, they never panic and trust themselves...they are what Bristol dream of being.

They're a bit of a case study for the winning habit/confidence effect at the moment.

[Kawazaki]

Northmore always seems class when I catch Quins, should he be in line for England? He's better than Slade.

Lozowski is playing better than Slade, can play across the back line and is a 90% goal kicker but it doesn't seem to make any difference regards England selection.

Well, yes. We've discussed him in the past. I'd have him in the squad in a heart beat, but he looks done in the red rose until Eddie finally fucks off.

The Sunday Times match report...

Three minutes after the interval, Saracens showed a ruthlessness that Northampton lacked with Lozowski scything through to score. His England situation remains a mystery. Saracens know they have a gem, though, hence his new deal.

Why don't the hacks just ask Jones FFS?

[Niegs]

Can we just roll back to the simpler time when Kyle Sinckler thought he was a dinosaur?

[sockwithaticket]

Can we just roll back to the simpler time when Kyle Sinckler thought he was a dinosaur?

Holy word salad, Batman.

If it helps him, then alright, but that kind of new agey, woo-woo stuff makes my eyes roll so hard that falling over is a real risk.

[Kawazaki]

I doubt you'd see a world-class prop post crap like that on social media. England seem to have a number of front-rowers that must be very very easy to wind up and win penalties from.

[Madness]

It's 2022 and only a few weeks till the start of the Six Nations, away to the Scots. So, traditionally, pick YOUR team if and its a big if everyone is fit and on form, so a completely free choice but remembering its Scotland in the first week so weather could be atrocious.

Marler
George
Stuart
Itoje
Launch
Curry
Willis
Vunipola
Robson
Smith
Daly
Tuilagi
Slade
Watson
Steward

Genge, LCD, Sinks, Lawes, Dombrandt, Mitchell, Farrell, Malins

Big, nasty pack to start with to put pressure on scrum and lineout, with Willis, Curry and Itoje the breakdown should be a nightmare for the Scots and they don't have the power game to play off slow possession. Then being on the the pace in the pack and speed the game up.

[Margin__Walker]

U20s squad for the 6N

England U20s 2022 Six Nations fixtures

Friday 4 February - Scotland v England - KO 8pm - DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh

Friday 11 February - Italy v England - KO 7pm - Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso

Friday 25 February - England v Wales - KO 7pm – Castle Park, Doncaster (Tickets are available here.)

Saturday 12 March – England v Ireland - KO 7.15pm – StoneX Stadium, London (Tickets are available here.)

Sunday 20 March - France v England - KO 8pm - Stade Aime Giral, Perpignan


England men U20s Elite Player Squad – 2022

Forwards
Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
Alfie Bell (Wasps)
Lucas Brooke (London Irish)
Kofi Cripps (Wasps)
Mark Dormer (Newcastle)
Ollie Fletcher (Newcastle)
Robin Hardwick (Wasps)
Will Hobson (Harlequins)
Emeka Ilione (Leicester)
Geordie Irvine (Northampton)
Tom Lockett (Northampton)
Toby Knight (Saracens)
Guy Pepper (Newcastle)
Charlie Rice (Bristol)
Ewan Richards (Bath)
John Stewart (Bath)
Mike Summerfield (London Irish)
Alex Wardell (Saracens)

Backs
Henry Arundell (London Irish)
Seb Atkinson (Worcester)
Deago Bailey (Bristol)
Jamie Benson (Harlequins)
Tom Carr-Smith (Bath)
Ethan Grayson (Northampton)
Olly Hartley (Wasps)
George Hendy (Northampton)
Matty Jones (Gloucester)
Louie Johnson (Newcastle)
Will Joseph (London Irish)
Tom Litchfield (Northampton)
Fin Smith (Worcester)
Iwan Stephens (Newcastle)

[Kawazaki]

It's 2022 and only a few weeks till the start of the Six Nations, away to the Scots. So, traditionally, pick YOUR team if and its a big if everyone is fit and on form, so a completely free choice but remembering its Scotland in the first week so weather could be atrocious.

Marler
George
Stuart
Itoje
Launch
Curry
Willis
Vunipola
Robson
Smith
Daly
Tuilagi
Slade
Watson
Steward

Genge, LCD, Sinks, Lawes, Dombrandt, Mitchell, Farrell, Malins

Big, nasty pack to start with to put pressure on scrum and lineout, with Willis, Curry and Itoje the breakdown should be a nightmare for the Scots and they don't have the power game to play off slow possession. Then being on the the pace in the pack and speed the game up.

1. Marler
2. Cowan-Dickie
3. Sinckler
4. Itoje
5. Lawes
6. Curry
7. Earl
8. Dombrandt
9. Quirke
10. Smith
11. Radwan
12. Lozowski
13. Slade
14. Malins
15. Steward

Genge, George, Stewart, Hill, Simmonds, Mitchell, Farrell, Daly

[JM2K6]

Northmore always seems class when I catch Quins, should he be in line for England? He's better than Slade.

That's a rather big call

Is it? Tbh I really don't rate Slade, I'd pick a lot of players ahead of him. He's flaky and inconsistent in a way that really should attract the same level of scrutiny Twelvetrees ended up being drowned in. The difference being he's playing in an overally better side, so perhaps his errors aren't quite so significant.

Very different kinds of players though. Slade undeniably has vision with his passing and kicking that most other backs can only dream of. Northmore is gainline central, runs great lines and makes breaks for fun. They'd probably dovetail well. Marchant somewhere in the middle of the two in terms of skillset but with more consistent output and a well rounded game. Who you pick depends on what the rest of your backline looks like TBH.

Northmore misses a few tackles himself but no-one's quite as bad as Slade there.

[Raggs]

Can we just roll back to the simpler time when Kyle Sinckler thought he was a dinosaur?

Holy word salad, Batman.

If it helps him, then alright, but that kind of new agey, woo-woo stuff makes my eyes roll so hard that falling over is a real risk.

It's woo, new age word salad, and yet still managing to try conform everything to supposed gender norms at the same time. Something for everyone to get annoyed at!

[GogLais]

Can we just roll back to the simpler time when Kyle Sinckler thought he was a dinosaur?

Holy word salad, Batman.

If it helps him, then alright, but that kind of new agey, woo-woo stuff makes my eyes roll so hard that falling over is a real risk.

Well whales are big and strong and they dont have roots so there you go.

[Madness]

U20s squad for the 6N

England U20s 2022 Six Nations fixtures

Friday 4 February - Scotland v England - KO 8pm - DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh

Friday 11 February - Italy v England - KO 7pm - Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso

Friday 25 February - England v Wales - KO 7pm – Castle Park, Doncaster (Tickets are available here.)

Saturday 12 March – England v Ireland - KO 7.15pm – StoneX Stadium, London (Tickets are available here.)

Sunday 20 March - France v England - KO 8pm - Stade Aime Giral, Perpignan


England men U20s Elite Player Squad – 2022

Forwards
Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
Alfie Bell (Wasps)
Lucas Brooke (London Irish)
Kofi Cripps (Wasps)
Mark Dormer (Newcastle)
Ollie Fletcher (Newcastle)
Robin Hardwick (Wasps)
Will Hobson (Harlequins)
Emeka Ilione (Leicester)
Geordie Irvine (Northampton)
Tom Lockett (Northampton)
Toby Knight (Saracens)
Guy Pepper (Newcastle)
Charlie Rice (Bristol)
Ewan Richards (Bath)
John Stewart (Bath)
Mike Summerfield (London Irish)
Alex Wardell (Saracens)

Backs
Henry Arundell (London Irish)
Seb Atkinson (Worcester)
Deago Bailey (Bristol)
Jamie Benson (Harlequins)
Tom Carr-Smith (Bath)
Ethan Grayson (Northampton)
Olly Hartley (Wasps)
George Hendy (Northampton)
Matty Jones (Gloucester)
Louie Johnson (Newcastle)
Will Joseph (London Irish)
Tom Litchfield (Northampton)
Fin Smith (Worcester)
Iwan Stephens (Newcastle)

Less famous parents than before? Anyone know who to watch from this lot?

[Margin__Walker]

A few famous parents Madness. Brooke is Zinzan's son. Ethan Grayson in there and Hardwick's old man (Rob) was capped iirc.

Guys like Baxter, Ilione, Stephens and Smith worth looking out for. Plenty of decent kids in there though. From a LI PoV:

Joseph - JJ's younger brother. Looked really good at the start of last season in the snippets of gametime he got before picking up an injury that has kept him out for a year.
Brooke - Hooker/flanker hybrid. Mainly playing 7. His 6N last season was cut short by a red card for a high hit(and subsequent ban)
Arundell - Looks great at FB. Powerful, quick, good step.
Summerfield - Prop. Not really seen him play.

[JM2K6]

Big fan of Jamie Benson, he's a 10 and has shown up really well this season for the senior team when called upon. Fin Baxter's been on the fringe of the senior squad too - but it's almost impossible to judge props at this age level, they all look amazing every year and it's only in senior rugby do you find out if they've got what it takes.

I had half hoped we'd see *that* crop of Quins youngsters (Cleaves, Oresanya, Slevin) in there but they're all very young.

[notfatcat]

and Hardwick's old man (Rob) was capped iirc.

I could be wrong but isn't that guy's son the one who played 10/12 for the U20s a few years ago - a current Leicester player?

[Margin__Walker]

and Hardwick's old man (Rob) was capped iirc.

I could be wrong but isn't that guy's son the one who played 10/12 for the U20s a few years ago - a current Leicester player?

Yeah, Tom. Although he fell out with Borthwick and is now playing over in France.

[GogLais]

[quote=Margin__Walker post_id=166287 time=<a href="tel:1641215683">1641215683</a> user_id=149]
U20s squad for the 6N

England U20s 2022 Six Nations fixtures

Friday 4 February - Scotland v England - KO 8pm - DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh

Friday 11 February - Italy v England - KO 7pm - Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso

Friday 25 February - England v Wales - KO 7pm – Castle Park, Doncaster (Tickets are available here.)

Saturday 12 March – England v Ireland - KO 7.15pm – StoneX Stadium, London (Tickets are available here.)

Sunday 20 March - France v England - KO 8pm - Stade Aime Giral, Perpignan


England men U20s Elite Player Squad – 2022

Forwards
Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
Alfie Bell (Wasps)
Lucas Brooke (London Irish)
Kofi Cripps (Wasps)
Mark Dormer (Newcastle)
Ollie Fletcher (Newcastle)
Robin Hardwick (Wasps)
Will Hobson (Harlequins)
Emeka Ilione (Leicester)
Geordie Irvine (Northampton)
Tom Lockett (Northampton)
Toby Knight (Saracens)
Guy Pepper (Newcastle)
Charlie Rice (Bristol)
Ewan Richards (Bath)
John Stewart (Bath)
Mike Summerfield (London Irish)
Alex Wardell (Saracens)

Backs
Henry Arundell (London Irish)
Seb Atkinson (Worcester)
Deago Bailey (Bristol)
Jamie Benson (Harlequins)
Tom Carr-Smith (Bath)
Ethan Grayson (Northampton)
Olly Hartley (Wasps)
George Hendy (Northampton)
Matty Jones (Gloucester)
Louie Johnson (Newcastle)
Will Joseph (London Irish)
Tom Litchfield (Northampton)
Fin Smith (Worcester)
Iwan Stephens (Newcastle)

Less famous parents than before? Anyone know who to watch from this lot?
[/quote]

U20s squad for the 6N

England U20s 2022 Six Nations fixtures

Friday 4 February - Scotland v England - KO 8pm - DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh

Friday 11 February - Italy v England - KO 7pm - Stadio Comunale di Monigo, Treviso

Friday 25 February - England v Wales - KO 7pm – Castle Park, Doncaster (Tickets are available here.)

Saturday 12 March – England v Ireland - KO 7.15pm – StoneX Stadium, London (Tickets are available here.)

Sunday 20 March - France v England - KO 8pm - Stade Aime Giral, Perpignan


England men U20s Elite Player Squad – 2022

Forwards
Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
Alfie Bell (Wasps)
Lucas Brooke (London Irish)
Kofi Cripps (Wasps)
Mark Dormer (Newcastle)
Ollie Fletcher (Newcastle)
Robin Hardwick (Wasps)
Will Hobson (Harlequins)
Emeka Ilione (Leicester)
Geordie Irvine (Northampton)
Tom Lockett (Northampton)
Toby Knight (Saracens)
Guy Pepper (Newcastle)
Charlie Rice (Bristol)
Ewan Richards (Bath)
John Stewart (Bath)
Mike Summerfield (London Irish)
Alex Wardell (Saracens)

Backs
Henry Arundell (London Irish)
Seb Atkinson (Worcester)
Deago Bailey (Bristol)
Jamie Benson (Harlequins)
Tom Carr-Smith (Bath)
Ethan Grayson (Northampton)
Olly Hartley (Wasps)
George Hendy (Northampton)
Matty Jones (Gloucester)
Louie Johnson (Newcastle)
Will Joseph (London Irish)
Tom Litchfield (Northampton)
Fin Smith (Worcester)
Iwan Stephens (Newcastle)

Less famous parents than before?

Colin Stephens fairly famous in Llanelli. His DGs beat Oz in 1992.

[Slick]

It's 2022 and only a few weeks till the start of the Six Nations, away to the Scots. So, traditionally, pick YOUR team if and its a big if everyone is fit and on form, so a completely free choice but remembering its Scotland in the first week so weather could be atrocious.

Marler
George
Stuart
Itoje
Launch
Curry
Willis
Vunipola
Robson
Smith
Daly
Tuilagi
Slade
Watson
Steward

Genge, LCD, Sinks, Lawes, Dombrandt, Mitchell, Farrell, Malins

Big, nasty pack to start with to put pressure on scrum and lineout, with Willis, Curry and Itoje the breakdown should be a nightmare for the Scots and they don't have the power game to play off slow possession. Then being on the the pace in the pack and speed the game up.

You have a very outdated view of Scottish rugby

[duke]

It's 2022 and only a few weeks till the start of the Six Nations, away to the Scots. So, traditionally, pick YOUR team if and its a big if everyone is fit and on form, so a completely free choice but remembering its Scotland in the first week so weather could be atrocious.

Marler
George
Stuart
Itoje
Launch
Curry
Willis
Vunipola
Robson
Smith
Daly
Tuilagi
Slade
Watson
Steward

Genge, LCD, Sinks, Lawes, Dombrandt, Mitchell, Farrell, Malins

Big, nasty pack to start with to put pressure on scrum and lineout, with Willis, Curry and Itoje the breakdown should be a nightmare for the Scots and they don't have the power game to play off slow possession. Then being on the the pace in the pack and speed the game up.

You have a very outdated view of Scottish rugby

He has a pretty outdated view of fit England players too

[inactionman]

It's 2022 and only a few weeks till the start of the Six Nations, away to the Scots. So, traditionally, pick YOUR team if and its a big if everyone is fit and on form, so a completely free choice but remembering its Scotland in the first week so weather could be atrocious.

Marler
George
Stuart
Itoje
Launch
Curry
Willis
Vunipola
Robson
Smith
Daly
Tuilagi
Slade
Watson
Steward

Genge, LCD, Sinks, Lawes, Dombrandt, Mitchell, Farrell, Malins

Big, nasty pack to start with to put pressure on scrum and lineout, with Willis, Curry and Itoje the breakdown should be a nightmare for the Scots and they don't have the power game to play off slow possession. Then being on the the pace in the pack and speed the game up.

You have a very outdated view of Scottish rugby

He has a pretty outdated view of fit England players too

To be fair, the post was qualified by 'pick YOUR team if and its a big if everyone is fit and on form, so a completely free choice'

Stuart is an interesting choice, powerful lad and going on some recent performances he's actually added some handling skills to his repertoire. He's playing in a toxically out-of-sorts Bath team though, which doesn't exactly put a spring in step.

[sockwithaticket]

Bristol have signed Ibitoye apparently.

[SaintK]

Bristol have signed Ibitoye apparently.

Not sure it's quite a done deal according to the Bristol local press.

Bristol Bears are chasing the signature of exciting former Harlequins winger Gabriel Ibitoye according to the latest reports.
Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam is always looking in unusual places for potential new players having signed Toby Fricker from the semi-professional Welsh Premiership and Siva Naulago from Super League side Hull FC in recent years, now he is looking to sign former England U20 winger Ibitoye from Israeli club the Tel Aviv Heat.

[ASMO]

Bristol have signed Ibitoye apparently.

Did i hear right that Nathan Hughes is likely to be on his way out end of season?

[sockwithaticket]

Bristol have signed Ibitoye apparently.

Did i hear right that Nathan Hughes is likely to be on his way out end of season?

The way BT were talking at the weekend, that's basically confirmed. Tbh they paid far more for him than they should have done and he's definitely not played at a level befitting the price tag.

[sockwithaticket]

Bristol have signed Ibitoye apparently.

Not sure it's quite a done deal according to the Bristol local press.

Bristol Bears are chasing the signature of exciting former Harlequins winger Gabriel Ibitoye according to the latest reports.
Bristol director of rugby Pat Lam is always looking in unusual places for potential new players having signed Toby Fricker from the semi-professional Welsh Premiership and Siva Naulago from Super League side Hull FC in recent years, now he is looking to sign former England U20 winger Ibitoye from Israeli club the Tel Aviv Heat.

I can see why he'd be attractive to Bris - a raw young talent still with buckets of untapped potential if he buckles down and works on his game; should be pretty cheap too given his current playing situation.

Unless he's got something better lined up, Ibitoye would be a fool to turn down a chance of returning to the top flight.

[sockwithaticket]

and Hardwick's old man (Rob) was capped iirc.

I could be wrong but isn't that guy's son the one who played 10/12 for the U20s a few years ago - a current Leicester player?

Just seen this picture of the Wasps boys, Robin has a much kinder hairline than older brother Tom.

[inactionman]

Ouch

Apparently Jackson Wray fractured his skull against Northampton.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59881678

[notfatcat]

Ouch

Apparently Jackson Wray fractured his skull against Northampton.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59881678

Must have accidentally got in the way of one of his team mate's head pats.

[Niegs]

Ouch

Apparently Jackson Wray fractured his skull against Northampton.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59881678

Must have accidentally got in the way of one of his team mate's head pats.

I shouldn't, but that made me LOL

[Crash669]

Ouch

Apparently Jackson Wray fractured his skull against Northampton.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/59881678

Must have accidentally got in the way of one of his team mate's head pats.

[sockwithaticket]

Bristol looking the best I've seen them so far this season.

Sale still undermining themselves with shoddy discipline.

[Kawazaki]

Rob du Preez is having a mare.

And the usual Radradra hype is getting the full airing from the comms.

[bogbunny]

Lot of close decisions going Briz's way

[fishfoodie]

Without McGinty; Sale are desperately average, considering how much money has been spent on them

[fishfoodie]

Curry needs to belt up to; he's a penalty magnet