Borthwick’s England 2.0

[Banquo]

No Farrell and Freeman starting.

Step forward

Poor Tommy. And he is meant to be. Or is there a comma missing?

If I put it this way. 2 good things 1) no Farrell and 2) Freeman starting

Thank the Lord that’s cleared up

[Banquo]

If Roots is as bad as everyone is saying, presumably he'll be dumped after the Italy game. I've never been convinced about Pearson or t'other Curry. I liked the idea of C-S starting. I suspect Roots could just be the bulk to balance Earl and Underhill, neither of whom I'd pick (in the positions indicated). Roots starting (if it happens) is no more surprising than him being in the squad in the first place. It says more about the weakness of the alternatives than his strengths, I'd suggest.

He’s not bad. Just meh.

[Oakboy]

If Roots is as bad as everyone is saying, presumably he'll be dumped after the Italy game. I've never been convinced about Pearson or t'other Curry. I liked the idea of C-S starting. I suspect Roots could just be the bulk to balance Earl and Underhill, neither of whom I'd pick (in the positions indicated). Roots starting (if it happens) is no more surprising than him being in the squad in the first place. It says more about the weakness of the alternatives than his strengths, I'd suggest.

He’s not bad. Just meh.

Quite. There is no outstanding alternative to make his presence superfluous. My only reservation is that his selection is as a direct result of Richard Hill's assessment, reportedly. As SB opined, according to the DT, if Hill enthuses about a back-row candidate, you listen. I suppose it's all about affecting the game. A good performance against Italy probably gets him in for Wales etc.

[p/d]

Who, out of that XV, would you say will lose their position when injured players are available during the 6n?

[twitchy]

Is the team announced today?

[Which Tyler]

Is the team announced today?

2.00

[twitchy]

Cheers.

[twitchy]

[twitchy]

[Banquo]

So pleased for Fraser and Colesy.

[Banquo]

I don't mind that much, though ideally not Roots at all, and F Smith starting.

[Oakboy]

I suppose p/d will like the bench - Theo, Ellis, Chandler, Fin and Immanuel.

[Puja]

That is a terrible photo of George. That's my first thought.

Puja

[Danno]

I have extremely mixed feelings.

[Oakboy]

The question must be, 'If we were starting in Paris would SB have picked that 23?'

[Banquo]

btw, is Obano unavailable?

[Banquo]

The question must be, 'If we were starting in Paris would SB have picked that 23?'

probably, who else?

[Banquo]

I have extremely mixed feelings.

its a bad picture, for sure

[p/d]

That is a terrible photo of George. That's my first thought.

Puja

I think it is brilliant!!!

[Emsworth]

Steward luckiest to get the call I reckon, given how good Furbank has been of late. T'otherwise I can see why the other selections are in. It's almost certain that Cunningham-South, Fin and Feyi-Waboso will get first caps too at some point in the match, and a chance to show something.

5 new players introduced over the 23 shows that we're certainly in rebuild mode and Sordid Banana is looking to develop our personnel Now the key factor is will there be any change in the way we approach the game?

[Puja]

Good to see Mitchell recovered, although doubly disappointing not to have FSmith in that case. To be frank though, I've seen worse teams from us. The only player I have a massive problem with there is Daly and even he has the potential to get back into something like form and does provide a lot of experience to a relatively callow side. CCS is an exciting and aggressive pick, compared to the safer options available.

Beno Obano must be cursing whatever deity he has angered in his past to get such atrocious luck. From the many times he was on the cusp of England caps only to get injured and now this 6N he looked a shoo-in with all his main rivals injured, only for two of them to recover in the nick of time and deprive him of even a spot on the bench.

Puja

[Puja]

Steward luckiest to get the call I reckon, given how good Furbank has been of late.

Agreed. He is the man in possession, but he's got to be under real pressure from Furbank's form - I'm just glad he didn't get shifted out to the wing to make room.

Puja

[Oakboy]

The question must be, 'If we were starting in Paris would SB have picked that 23?'

probably, who else?

I think the bench would have been more conservative anyway. It's a good job the opposition is in the order as listed. There's some building to do.

[Banquo]

The question must be, 'If we were starting in Paris would SB have picked that 23?'

probably, who else?

I think the bench would have been more conservative anyway. It's a good job the opposition is in the order as listed. There's some building to do.

The bench maybe as much about capturing a couple of players.

[p/d]

I suppose p/d will like the bench - Theo, Ellis, Chandler, Fin and Immanuel.

got the edge on the starting XV that’s for sure.