ENGLAND INCUMBENTS, CONTENDERS & DARK HORSES! | Who to Watch in The Premiership pre 6 Nations 2024

[@TheSpikester184]

Great video, can't wait to see the same 23 players we saw during the autumn nations with no new blood.

[@flaviolovegaming]

Opoku fordjour playing both sides is such a nice thing to have. I used to prop both sides and always felt it wasn’t to hard to do while other props I played with always said it was more of a struggle. To be able to do it top level shows a real knowledge in technique but also adaption to difference.

[@PaulHolder]

England fans before any squad: "Pick hungry players doing well for their club!" England Manager: *Picks the same players as last time*

[@nellyprice]

Ain't that the truth. Shocking lack of vision and elan, but if fans and board are on managers back once we lose can see why. Dyesnt excuse it. Just pick the best players and let them play their best game, stop with all the cliches abiut experience and leadership and big game players, let the best show their worth and develop. Slate passes and kicks well but doesn't run so isn't a threat to make defences unsure of how to play him, love him at club level but He s not our centre answer at internationals.

[@sisyphusonlunch5541]

After watching Bristol tonight, I think Ibitoye has to start getting game time, I always wanted Slightholme in, but Ibitoye just looks the next level. Van Rensburg was unbelievably good too. He should walk into that England team at 12 when he's qualified.

[@JoshuaBrunell]

Joe Heyes is surely a shout for tight head if Cole retires before the six nations or as an alternative to Davidson. The A squad coaches were singing his praises and as a tigers player is probably right in Borthwicks mind.

[@rugbyanalyst]

Thanks, yes missed him

[@thewomble1509]

Obano has to come in on the l/hd now Marler has called it a day too.

[@whitebear5405]

I still find it amazing Hayes hasn't played any rugby yet. Sums Borfwick up. Unpopular opinion. I don't think Baxter is that good. I still think we haven't found our Loose head scrummaging machine yet.

[@AntSudbury-tv3we]

Cole should retire

[@retlwiz]

While I understand experience at international level is important, it hasn’t worked out picking Slade, Curry and Ford, none of whom were really match fit and other players have looked sharper (Underhill, Ben Curry and Finn Smith). I also think Dombrandt blew his international chances last year in the 6 Nations - he just isn’t good enough defensively and I’d prefer to see Tom Willis. Apart from that it’s just getting the terrible defence to actually work a bit and I think England could do quite well.

[@Jjaaccoobb..]

I’d have Pearson down more as that 3rd blindside rather than open side tbh

[@justinstephenson9360]

The problem is that we are talking about Borthwick picks. Dombrandt should not be anywhere near the squad. He is a very good player but has been given more than enough chances to prove he is an international quality 8 and has never put in the performance to demand the shirt, his time should be finished and we should be looking at others, specifically Tom Willis. Personally, I see Pollock as coming in as a blind side flanker. I know he plays 8 a lot, so that flexibility helps balance the squad. As for the backs, I am not convinced by JVP at 9, his distribution is a bit slow, he can be bullied by the opposition. Randall is not a starter for me, but a great player to bring off the bench for 30 minutes. Mitchell and Spencer are my first choices at 9. At 10 Ford will remain 3rd choice but I do like what I have seen of Burke. Other than that difficult to argue with the video but I do like what I am seeing from Tom De Glanville

[@battlecry82]

Anthony Watson still oozes class and (perhaps crucially) has a lot of experience despite being only 30. I know injuries have been unkind but he seems to be very much the forgotten man - for no good reason

[@Ford64101]

Talking about Newcastle? Currently beating Sarries by 12 points, let's see where this goes!!

[@garymorin4813]

I think you could put Freeman as a dark horse for centre, in two games for England he moved there after Slade went off

[@joefair1137]

Dan frost is a player that stood out a couple seasons ago when Exeter got to the semis of Europe. Bullied all the hookers he played against that year. But he hasn’t looked great this season or the last. If he gets to that high form again I genuinely think he’s one of the best hookers we have.

[@ianeveratt7273]

The best thing this autumn was having an A team again, unfortunately there's only one fixture during the six nations. It's a great chance to see the contenders in higher level than the premiership. The good news is there's a full U20 six nations

[@matthewrollo8732]

Jack Kenningham would be one that I thought has looked very good on his return from injury.

[@mikegray8776]

Thinking towards the next World Cup - and the likely ongoing talent-drain between now and then - the key priority is to resolve this overseas issue. In Jack Willis, we have a player who would make the 23 for any other nation - even SA - yet in a very lean period, Borewick refuses to even examine the issue. He is just not ambitious enough.

[@cavangibbs]

Best rugby channel on you tube

[@rugbyanalyst]

...so kind, I'm just having fun

[@mhoppy6639]

Certainly some of the best analysis of players strengths /weaknesses and also some nice imaginative assessments that I love watching. It’s a shame that the England selection policy seems to be reverting to the awful “positions for the boys” that I saw in the 80s which most of you are too young to remember. Plodding, ignoring huge runs of form at club level and the results reflected it. Jack Rowell’s approach to Neil Back springs to mind. (I know that was slightly later but it wasn’t til Woodward started picking on form much more that things changed)

[@davidboyle1193]

​@rugbyanalyst you never call out borthwick, he's completely out of his depth

[@ashleysoudah]

Hendy really impressed me...think he should be given an opportunity against Italy or Wales.

[@tobydonelan2646]

Jack Clement should be in and around the England backrow, proved he can play 6, 7 or 8 and has been a top performer this season so far.

[@paulaustin7940]

I think Hendy should be put down as an option at Full back, and I'd also like Barbeary being talked into playing Hooker again.

[@tombarden8293]

Ever considered doing a podcast?

[@tomdawson5281]

I think Will Rigg could answer our problems at 12, he’s a power centre but also classy. Also through in Zack Wimbush

[@darthmaul408]

Obano easily in the loosehead incumbents. Completely discounting Ewels is brave of you Rich. I don’t think he deserves to be there, but Jones and Borthwick obviously see something nobody else does.

[@peterh8129]

Such a shame Rapava-Ruskin was ignored by Eddie when he was MoM on a regular basis. Been injury prone after that but in his prime should have been given a chance.

[@BGrovesyy]

Sam Spink at Saracens (ex-wasps) worth a shout

[@andreemurray7039]

Borthwick won't pick any new players he,ll pick the old boys on thier zeamer frame

[@athorrington7766]

What’s happened with Dan Kelly - thought he could’ve been a good option at centre? Will rigg as well

[@andrewdale3695]

Not that England would ever pick him, but Wil Evans has signed a new contract with Quins

[@mikegray8776]

It must by now have occurred to Borewick that our defence needs a total rethink, and a new TOP coach. (Defo NOT El Abd !!) This means that key defensive positions may also need very different personnel - certainly Centres and Back Row.

[@jsp__]

Will Evans has re-signed for Harlequins last week, so there's some hope still!

[@andrewharris1837]

Good choices but don't worry Borthwick won't pick any promising young forwards with talent,he just likes grunt😮

[@shaunwebber1545]

Van Rensburg from Bristol would be a good 12 with Lawrence at 13.Think he qualifies in 2026?

[@barnard162]

Given England's scrum half woes, they should have called up Gus Warr before Scotland did.

[@TC-lq7cu]

Tom Lichfield should be worth a serious look.

[@tcr_tiagy]

I would love to see Cokanasinga and Radwan have proper game time..... love to see both of them, but probably won't

[@eliot2752]

Blamire is off to Tigers I believe. Blake and Blamire are our only hookers that are approaching 18st, Blake especially. Some times it feels horses for courses selections especially against a team like SA or France that you want extra weight in that front row.

[@andynorfolk5347]

Think he will use the summer tour to blood a lot of new players. My 6N squad would be LHP- Genge Baxter Obano HK- George LCD Dan THP- Stuart Heyes Asher SR- Itoje Martin Chessum Tumia BF- CCS Hill OF- Underhill Curry Pearson 8- Earl Willis SH- Mitchell JVP Porter FH - M Smith F Smith Ford C- Lawrence Slade Hartley Beard W- IFW Sleightholme Freeman Roebuck FB- Furbank Steward Genge LCD Stuart Itoje Martin Chessum Underhill Earl Mitchell M Smith Sleightholme Lawrence Freeman IFW Furbank Obano George Asher Tumia CCS Curry JVP F Smith Big impacts of the bench with some big men and strong scrum off the bench. Earl to cover centres. Need to give Freeman a run at 13 Furbank extra playmaker instead of Slade. Itoje Captain.

[@Dihedrals]

I do believe balmier is eyeing up leaving Newcastle

[@charliecutting6146]

Sam Arnold is eligible for England. Would be a quality option at 12 for England

[@rowarth12]

Blamire's off to Leicester isnt he? Would have thought he'll be in the frame this time next year.

[@adamwhittington4399]

I'd use ted hill as a second row with martin and have chessum at 6. Underhill 7 and Willis 8. And if rfu get their balls out and let overseas players in, Jack Willis back up

[@paulmulryne8405]

As much fun as this is, Borthwick ain't picking any of those outside calls 😂 he's so risk averse. If his win % was higher, maybe.

[@Drew32511]

I would throw Zack Wimbush in for a dark horse at centre can play 12 or 13 and looked good before he got injured

[@jbub3415]

Blamire is already off to Leicester next season, I believe

[@nickrad6966]

Will be starting England hooker in a year

[@whitebear5405]

Yeah good for him. He is good enough for any top team. He deserves more England caps

[@Macron87]

Hasn’t blamire signed for Leicester?

[@mikedellar5653]

That’ll guarantee Borthwick picks him!

[@danelson1826]

Joe Heyes?

[@rugbyanalyst]

Good spot

[@StanWilks]

Wa-bo-so. Come on, Rich. Love the content, though! 😂

[@rugbyanalyst]

One day

[@Bpt8825]

For the Six Nations I’d like to see(I know it won’t happen due to eligibility): Baxter, Dan, Stuart, Itoje, Martin, T Hill, T Willis, J Willis Mitchell, F Smith, Hartley,Freeman, Roebuck, Feyi-Waboso Arundell Bench: Rodd, Langdon, Fagosban, O Chessum,Earl, Porter, M Smith, Slightholme

[@notmcgreo764]

thats not the strongest squad we could put out

[@GrumpyWurzel]

Everyone knows we’re going to at least see Cole, Donbrant, Ford, Slade and Daly in the starting 23, unfortunately

[@Pasta745]

I think Ethan roots will play just probably off the bench Also Joe cokanasigna is having great performances for bath so I do believe he’ll also play 2.

[@thewomble1509]

Ted (cough) Hill..................

[@Bpt8825]

Jesus, neither of those players should be anywhere near the England squad

[@simonhague2674]

He's not going to do it (too risk adverse) but we need a full clear out... I would remove Daly, Lozowski, Slade, George, Cole, LCD, Davison and Spencer. All good players but just too old to invest more caps in before the next RWC. In terms of TH Prop, we have to move on from Cole, he's past it now and it showed. Personally, I'd like to see them take a good look at Marcus Street... and as a real wild card, how about Will Rigg at 12

[@Whocares-n3b]

I really think the man doesnt like sale players yk 🤣

[@mikedellar5653]

Who does?🤭

[@mygoogle1482]

Genge has been average…. Another good trainer/ leader we often get lumbered with during the jones borthwick era. We need to get more new front rows in more rapidly. Borthwick is blocking this by his narrowminded non-player-developmental orientated attitude. The fish rots from the head down until we get an experience international coach with vision we will continue to flounder. The players can only do so much. The person in charge is not fit to be in charge, on his own. Why is Ben curry being selected? Barbeary isn’t even playing for bath so I can’t see how he is a contender. Why are we still selecting the best open side in the world and number eight. Why do we continue going back to Vpf. When he’s not even the best player in the premiership. The key is that we select players who are on form. Rather than players that the coach is loyal to trust and has invested his hope in.