Borthwick’s England 2.0

[Banquo]

Opportunity for dingwall you'd think....

[Oakboy]

Opportunity for dingwall you'd think....

Yes, and in matching him with experience, I'd expect Slade at 13 and Freeman on the wing (ending thoughts, for now, of Freeman at 13).

[Puja]

Ooft. Dreadful luck for Beard, although I understand he is still travelling to the training camp and is hoping to pass his HIA and be involved in the Italy week.

Massive opportunity for Dingwall though - he's got the door open for him to have a really good go at locking down that 12 shirt and I'm praying to all the gods that he trains well enough to avoid the Slade/Daly combo that no-one wants to see. Big chance for Ojomoh as well, both for him to show what he can do and also to learn what's expected at the higher level.

Langdon the big loser here - you'd assume the red card and possible ban have counted against him.

Puja

[Puja]

Opportunity for dingwall you'd think....

Yes, and in matching him with experience, I'd expect Slade at 13 and Freeman on the wing (ending thoughts, for now, of Freeman at 13).

I wouldn't hate that centre partnership, especially if paired with FSmith and Mitchell as a club 9/10/12.

Puja

[jimKRFC]

Good news for Bristol!

[francoisfou]

Opportunity for dingwall you'd think....

Yes, and in matching him with experience, I'd expect Slade at 13 and Freeman on the wing (ending thoughts, for now, of Freeman at 13).

I wouldn't hate that centre partnership, especially if paired with FSmith and Mitchell as a club 9/10/12.

Puja

I’m sure that loads of us would be more than happy with that combo, but will Stevie Blunder have the balls to go with it?

[FKAS]

"You look at the way Fin, and Mitch [Alex Mitchell] and Tommy Freeman and Fraser Dingwall, the way they have taken Northampton on," said Borthwick.

"I think they have changed the way they have played slightly, and I think it is a great change.

"Away in Thomond Park in those conditions, the way they stayed in that fight, the way they were relentless in doing the right thing at the right time and the way they took scoring opportunities, I think that shows a team that has the right mindset, the mindset we want to make sure we have with this England team."

Based on that from Silver Back then you'd assume they've got a good chance of forming a good part of the back line.

[Banquo]

Good news for Bristol!

mad that there are prem games...

[FKAS]

Good news for Bristol!

mad that there are prem games...

It is. Tigers will be without a specialist tighthead and only have one senior prop with tighthead experience and I don't think he's done it above Championship level. After that it's Hoyt or Crane who've been turning out for Leicester Lions and Loughborough University respectively.

I suspect other sides will be having similar issues.

[p/d]

Gutted for Lawrence….. and as a result gutted for Seb ‘JSD’ Atkinson

Eyes wide shut

[Banquo]

Good news for Bristol!

mad that there are prem games...

It is. Tigers will be without a specialist tighthead and only have one senior prop with tighthead experience and I don't think he's done it above Championship level. After that it's Hoyt or Crane who've been turning out for Leicester Lions and Loughborough University respectively.

I suspect other sides will be having similar issues.

parochially also impacts Champ teams.

[Which Tyler]

It is. Tigers will be without a specialist tighthead and only have one senior prop with tighthead experience and I don't think he's done it above Championship level. After that it's Hoyt or Crane who've been turning out for Leicester Lions and Loughborough University respectively.

I suspect other sides will be having similar issues.

Yeah, Bath are feeling a bit decimated now (but spread out), but... it's the England training camp. I don't recall anyone ever asking for no clashes between premiership and non-international weekends before now.
Delighted for all the Bath players involved, except Lawrence.
Depth will be tested... for 1 single match.


Why does Hurd not count as a THP for Leicester?

[FKAS]

It is. Tigers will be without a specialist tighthead and only have one senior prop with tighthead experience and I don't think he's done it above Championship level. After that it's Hoyt or Crane who've been turning out for Leicester Lions and Loughborough University respectively.

I suspect other sides will be having similar issues.

Yeah, Bath are feeling a bit decimated now (but spread out), but... it's the England training camp. I don't recall anyone ever asking for no clashes between premiership and non-international weekends before now.
Delighted for all the Bath players involved, except Lawrence.
Depth will be tested... for 1 single match.


Why does Hurd not count as a THP for Leicester?

Hurd is injured, has pulled out the Scotland 6N squad with a foot injury. Normally wouldn't matter but both Cole and Heyes are with England. Unless they release Cole for game time as he hasn't played that much in recent weeks.

[Which Tyler]

TY, I knew he'd been called up, didn't realise he'd pulled out

[FKAS]

TY, I knew he'd been called up, didn't realise he'd pulled out

Yeah I feel bad for him. Would have been a great chance for him to play up against Fin Baxter and try to lay down a marker before joining the Scotland camp.

Despite looking about 35 Hurd is only 24 so there's still time for him to pick up caps. At least he remains EQ for the time being (being Leicestershire born and bred).

[Stom]

Quins are pretty badly hit, too...

Marler, CCS, Dombrandt, Care, MSmith away with England, and Kenningham, Lewies (as ever), Lamb, J.Evans, Beard, Northmore, Murley, and Cleaves confirmed out injured.

One place we're not hit hard is front row

[FKAS]

Quins are pretty badly hit, too...

Marler, CCS, Dombrandt, Care, MSmith away with England, and Kenningham, Lewies (as ever), Lamb, J.Evans, Beard, Northmore, Murley, and Cleaves confirmed out injured.

One place we're not hit hard is front row

So you'll win the scrum and hopefully we win everywhere else . That'll be an interesting change for Tigers this season.

[Puja]

TY, I knew he'd been called up, didn't realise he'd pulled out

Replaced by Elliot Millar-Mills - Scotland really are struggling for props right now.

Puja

[FKAS]

TY, I knew he'd been called up, didn't realise he'd pulled out

Replaced by Elliot Millar-Mills - Scotland really are struggling for props right now.

Puja

Less scouting reports and more genealogy websites these days.

[Which Tyler]

TY, I knew he'd been called up, didn't realise he'd pulled out

Replaced by Elliot Millar-Mills - Scotland really are struggling for props right now.

Puja

Wales called up Bath's Academy THP, sitting at roughly 5th/6th in the club pecking order.

For this weekend's derby, Borthwick takes Genge, and no-one else from Bristol.
Gives Genge back.

Borthwick takes Obano and Stuart and Underhill and Spencer and Lawrence.
Breaks Lawrence (I know, I know), and takes Ojomoh and Muir as compensation.

I wish them all the very best, and look forward to seeing what the understudies can do bolstered by first choices, rather than the 13-15 chance JvG has done so far when rotating.

[fivepointer]

Saints are hard hit too. Interesting to see just who fills positions 9-15 at the weekend. Possibly good news for Newcastle.

[Banquo]

Saints are hard hit too. Interesting to see just who fills positions 9-15 at the weekend. Possibly good news for Newcastle.

might have to nab some Bedford players . Mind, Quins will likely nab some from London Scottish as well. we will lose our Bath dev players too probably.

[Mellsblue]

Saints are hard hit too. Interesting to see just who fills positions 9-15 at the weekend. Possibly good news for Newcastle.

might have to nab some Bedford players . Mind, Quins will likely nab some from London Scottish as well. we will lose our Bath dev players too probably.

One final runout for Booooooooooj!

[Which Tyler]

we will lose our Bath dev players too probably.

Unless we've got injuries I don't know about (easily possible) I don't think we're down deep enough into depth anywhere to need to recall loanees (again, unless we've loaned someone without me noticing)

Obano replaced by Du Toit, with Schoeman on the bench - still around
Stuart replaced by Jonker with probably Griffin on the bench (he may be out on loan actually)
Underhill replaced by Reid - still around
Spencer replaced by Schreuder - TCS to bench (I'd have them the other way around, pretty sure TCS is still around)
Lawrence and MOjo replaced by Butt - Still around
Muir replaced by playing TdG and Gallagher, or possibly by McConnochie if fit
6:2 bench as usual

[Banquo]

we will lose our Bath dev players too probably.

Unless we've got injuries I don't know about (easily possible) I don't think we're down deep enough into depth anywhere to need to recall loanees (again, unless we've loaned someone without me noticing)

Obano replaced by Du Toit, with Schoeman on the bench - still around
Stuart replaced by Jonker with probably Griffin on the bench (he may be out on loan actually)
Underhill replaced by Reid - still around
Spencer replaced by Schreuder - TCS to bench (I'd have them the other way around, pretty sure TCS is still around)
Lawrence and MOjo replaced by Butt - Still around
Muir replaced by playing TdG and Gallagher, or possibly by McConnochie if fit
6:2 bench as usual

Richards is already back with you and I'd be surprised if Verden wasn't summoned. Its not quite as simple as having players for the 1st team, most DORs insist on having c 40 for training purposes. Mind, given Bath have 72-77 (depending on who you believe) players under contract might not be an issue