England squad announcement | Tour to Japan and New Zealand
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- Опубліковано 9 чер 2024
- Steve Borthwick named his 36 player squad to tour Japan and New Zealand.
What are the big talking points from his selections?
Which Smith should start at fly-half? What is going on in the front row?
Lots to get into.
Forwards
Fin Baxter (Harlequins, uncapped)
Dan Cole
Alex Coles
Chandler Cunningham-South
Ben Curry
Tom Curry
Theo Dan
Alex Dombrandt
Ben Earl
Charlie Ewels
Jamie George - captain
Joe Heyes
Maro Itoje
Joe Marler
George Martin
Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
Bevan Rodd
Ethan Roots
Will Stuart
Sam Underhill
Backs
Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
Fraser Dingwall
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
Tommy Freeman
George Furbank
Ollie Lawrence
Alex Mitchell
Luke Northmore (Harlequins, uncapped)
Harry Randall
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, uncapped)
Henry Slade
Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Fin Smith
Marcus Smith
Ben Spencer
Freddie Steward - Спорт
Fin cannot do anything Marcus cannot do. Marcus can do several things Fin cannot do. So Pick Marcus as the England 10.
At the moment, we haven’t seen Fin Smith do anything to pick him out as first choice England fly half.
He looks as if he will become a steady Eddie type of distributing player as time goes on, so in the Farrell/Ford type of player.
Marcus Smith, on the other hand, has to deal with his impulsiveness. He occasionally loses his cool head and this affects his game. But he’s clearly the more naturally gifted.
To say that one is better than the other in distribution is nonsense. Marcus Smith combines brilliantly with Dombrandt and Esterhuizen.
Id pick the other way round and have Marcus Smith as the starter for the three matches with Fin Smith in the bench to come on later and tie up matches and get the experience for a long England career.
Side mention. Spencer ahead of Mitchell. He mullered Mitchell on the Prem final.
Looks like a really exciting time for the England squad with some new talent. Looking forward to these games following so much change. From an ABs supporter.
Good point regarding Tom Curry. I would've preferred to see Ted Hill or Tom Pearson in this England team and give Tom a full off season and pre season to get his body right. He can certainly still be an England starter in 2027 but not if he's too broken to play. Need to manage him and his injuries to get the most out of him.
Spencer bossed Mitchel in the prem final !
I think that B.Obano was very unlucky It looks like his red card in the premiership final has cost him a tour place Lets hope he gets his chance in the Autumn As he certainly ripped up this season Also have to feel for T.Hill personally i would have left T.Curry at home to rest [ As requested by his club Sale ] and took T.Hill instead myself Also i hear that C.Langdon is injured so unable to toue Agin lets hope he gets a chance in the Autumn I would also have taken T .Rumina to give him experience
This is all spot on! Equally for me dombrandt more than a bit lucky... Could we have had a look at Greg Fisilau or Tom Willis? Plus the props... Surely one tour too many for cole and marler... What about Davidson for example? The backs not too far off so long as the right guys start. Finally, I would like to have seen Gabriel Ibitoye given a shot to see if he can step up. But equally pleased for Roebuck and Carpenter.
Dombrant is class IF you use him on the right way. Fisilau's time will come, he's only 20 (21 in July).
Ibotye is a turnstile in defence...
Great content as always Alfie! Would love to see your possible vs probables pick from the prem! i.e. who are the guys who given the chance could challenge the status quo i.e. Gabriel Ibitoye, Mercer, Tom Willis, Will Muir etc
I actually think Marcus on the bench is good, not because he’s bad but he brings tempo to the game, we saw it happen in the Ireland game, Ford did the leg work to stay in the fight and smith was the injection of pace to take us over the line. I do think Marcus will start probably all tour due to experience however that’s how I see this all unfolding,
Is this even a question? Start with Marcus because he brings the experience, then switch him to fullback and bring on Fin to close out the game/gain some experience in game management at test level. It’d already be a gamble starting Fin against Japan, but to throw him in at the deep end against New Zealand has the potential to ruin him before he’s had the chance to fully develop at this level. I don’t think Borthwick is that daft, to be honest.
I love the squad. Very pleased to see the likes of Northmore and Randall. I would give the fly half keys to Marcus and have Fin on the bench.
On the FH, i'd go Marcus.
I rate both, but think Marcus will fit England's new style in attack and defence better. he's more experienced and Fin hasn't looked as good as I'd like in the final and Euro Semi-final. Probably a bit harsh on Fin there, but we can only have one.
Also, Marcus was MoM in her first few games for England (and was fantastic), until Faz came back and played 12. I don't know why people forget that.
The backs look young and electric.
Only big commission for me is Ted Hill, would love to know the rationale as he looks made for international rugby.
Was the last time (excluding lions) there wasn't a Faz or Ford on a summer tour 2014 in the first test against NZ (Burns was ten)?
Tom Curry theory. He is earmarked to be the next captain, following Jamie George which can't be too far away. Therefore he goes on the tour, even if he isn't going to play, to be there for the team development and bonding for the future.
Wrt props. The gap between U20 and prime age is greater for props than any other position. Something needs to be done to fill that gap, even if it is just taking steps to ensure that young props are getting club games rather than the next South African that comes available. It is a tricky problem.
Good theory. I just think he's fit and not tired due to Injury lay off and awesome.
You could be write though. I'd be alright with it.
My only concern is if Earls is nailed on and Underhill is amazing and you need a lanky flanker for line out can he be guaranteed a spot?
Simple if Furbank is going to be the full back you play him with Smith. You can then afford to have two big ball carriers at 12 and 13.
I wouldn't be surprised if Randall leap-frogged Spencer to the bench spot. Borthers is looking for a natural successor to Care, Randall fits the bill. It would be really unfortunate for Spencer because he is a class act but Mitchell is the No.1 at the moment and Borthers is looking for balance.
You've still got your 'season'' head on..Yes , successful players need rewarding, but not in the short term. The japan squad will ensure Borthwick gets to see combinations working together, see's their speed of thought and effectiveness at set pieces, can they do their jobs as per plan. SB will want one win from the NZ tests. And I think Robertson does too. Good luck to Will stuart...he's been effective this half of season. Martin is perfect against the maybe retallic/barrett 'steers') Dombrandt has reformed physically, still big, but using it to gain ground now. Northmore too is fast on the rush, but can he tackle?? We're lucky too have those 3 gunslinger scrum halves! I know marler and cole are noted for the lack of grass they cover, but, in rucks/mauls, they're like glue...they'll keep opposition in/bound. I'd want freddie as my fullback. I know he can be turned, and DMAC likes his grubbers, he's worn the goldenboy shine off now. He can lead the back 3 rather than holding them back.
"And I think Robertson does too"
That mastery of understatement brought what passes as a smile to my lips!
England will be licking their chops, I imagine, to take NZ on both cold and in a parlous state of rebuilding.
Ripe for the plucking I would have thought.....
Fin starting with Marcus on the bench. Suits both their strengths in the game
I think you have to fill up that backline with Saints based on how they've developed this year. Marcus on the bench as an impact 10. Furbank either starts at 15 or isn't in the 23. Ollie, Tommy, and Feyo are very difficult to decide between. Would love to see the Curry brothers rip it up together but Sam had a worldy of a final.
Your bias against Marcus Smith is getting kinda weird tbh. Does his haircut upset you? Not "manly" enough?
He's the most talented fly half England have ever produced, it's just so typically boringly anti-flare English that we are going to waste him.
Bias?
@@alfredreynolds5 Yes. Every time you compare 10s you pick the safe option. Marcus or Owen, you pick Owen. Marcus or George, you pick George. Marcus or Fin, you pick Fin. It's like you use the same script but change the names. Always for the same defeatist, safety first reasons. It's disease that's been holding English rugby back for ever. We always sneer at flare. If we want to be the best, we need more.
That’s fair, my natural inclination is to pick the ‘safe’ option. But that’s also because I think they’re the best option at the time. Could be wrong, just my view. I’m not sure it has anything to do with Marcus’ haircut or being “manly enough” 😂 strange points to bring up.
@@alfredreynolds5 Not really, look in any comments section and his hair comes up all the time.
@@alfredreynolds5 Maybe it's subconscious for you.