View From The 22

.......Freeman to centre?

Lord Elpus wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 12, 2025 11:20 am

.......Freeman to centre?

Seemingly Sleightholme dropped

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union ... x-nations/

But Telegraph Sport understands that Borthwick is prepared to give the 24-year-old his full debut in the cauldron of the Principality Stadium and is likely to come in for Northampton’s Ollie Sleightholme, who scored two tries against Italy in the 47-24 victory against Italy.

I'm delighted for Tom if true but he is much more similar to Freeman than to Sleightholme

Hopefully true, he really deserves it

I see no issue in playing Freeman and Roebuck in the same backline - it's not like we play a gameplan suited to Sleightholme (or any other speedster)'s strengths
We're asking Sleightholme to play like Roebuck - so why not just play Roebuck?

That's pressure and a half for Tom - one of the hardest places to go for an away game as an Englishman especially with so much on the line. Great news for him all the same if true.

If he doesn't set the world alight, or makes a mistake or 2 (understandable), I really hope he isn't scapegoated.

M Smith; Roebuck, Freeman, Dingwall, Daly; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Itoje (capt), Chessum, T Curry, B Curry, Earl.

Replacements: George, Baxter, Heyes, Cunningham-South, Pollock, Willis, Van Poortvliet, Ford.

Rumours true! But throw in double Curry starting, LCD back in at 2 and George Ford on the bench.

Right time to make such substantial changes? I'm a little sceptical.

RinTin wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 12, 2025 2:06 pm

M Smith; Roebuck, Freeman, Dingwall, Daly; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Itoje (capt), Chessum, T Curry, B Curry, Earl.

Replacements: George, Baxter, Heyes, Cunningham-South, Pollock, Willis, Van Poortvliet, Ford.

Rumours true! But throw in double Curry starting, LCD back in at 2 and George Ford on the bench.

Right time to make such substantial changes? I'm a little sceptical.

Twinderloo makes sense v Morgan and Reffell. LCD is the starting 2 at the moment. IMO George was given the last game as it was his 100th.

Delighted for George. But with a 6:2, and 2 10s on the pitch, I'd've put a back 3 player on the bench. If anyone 11+ goes down early, who goes where? JVP/Mitchell to the wing? Earl to 12?

Edit: Fordy at 10, F Smith at 12 with Dingwall at 13?

Borthwick's team selection has to be dart board based - it's just so utterly random

A lot of surprises in there, tbh

4 starters and a bench player is some going though!

Why do we need to react to Wales? Why are they not reacting to us? Reffell has been a shadow of his best all tournament.

Willis has been immense at 8, with the back row subs (curry in particular) working very well and bringing real impact.

No back up second rower is surprising. Coles in for Pollock would have made sense. Willis and CCS occasionally cover there for club but that's it.

Backline changes are huge, especially having a third fly half as the only dedicate backline cover. Would have rather Daly went to fullback, Sleightholme into that wing birth and Smith bench.

We'll all have different views on this, but I find this selection strange. The dart didn't land on AOF unfortunately.

RinTin wrote: We'll all have different views on this, but I find this selection strange. The dart didn't land on AOF unfortunately.

Especially when Heyes is very ordinary.

I don't get no lock on the bench - it was weird having Hill covering but even weirder having CCS - CCS's last game at lock was 4 years ago. He has started there twice in his career, and one of those was at age grade


More flyhalves than locks in a side is an interesting tactic

According to Saracens fans on Reddit, Willis has been covering second row for them during sin bin periods. Apparently that qualifies him to be a fully fledged lock replacement in their eyes.

Olyy wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 12, 2025 2:27 pm

A lot of surprises in there, tbh

4 starters and a bench player is some going though!

We could have 1/3rd of the England team at the same time if the stars align.

Is England going to go back to the kicking game then.?..Roebuck much more suited to that as even the biggest fans of Sleightholme would agree.
How long since Sale had so many players in the national squad?

LJK wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 12, 2025 4:05 pm

Is England going to go back to the kicking game then.?..Roebuck much more suited to that as even the biggest fans of Sleightholme would agree.
How long since Sale had so many players in the national squad?

Charlie, Cuets, Titts, Sheri era?

Yareet wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 12, 2025 4:24 pm

LJK wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 12, 2025 4:05 pm

Is England going to go back to the kicking game then.?..Roebuck much more suited to that as even the biggest fans of Sleightholme would agree.
How long since Sale had so many players in the national squad?

Charlie, Cuets, Titts, Sheri era?

Those 4 plus Magnus ever feature together??

RinTin wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 12, 2025 4:36 pm

Yareet wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 12, 2025 4:24 pm

LJK wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 12, 2025 4:05 pm

Is England going to go back to the kicking game then.?..Roebuck much more suited to that as even the biggest fans of Sleightholme would agree.
How long since Sale had so many players in the national squad?

Charlie, Cuets, Titts, Sheri era?

Those 4 plus Magnus ever feature together??

Or Jones.

And we had another bloke. Played wing/fullback.....


Edit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_u ... 004633.stm

Robinson, Cueto, Charlie, Titts and Sheri taking on the mighty Canada

Frightening that was 20 years ago...!
Guess the potential downside for Sale's season, is that this is the last 6N game and any injuries now will not be good. Presume the Curry Bros will need resting anyway, and maybe LCD, but hope Ford and Roebuck will be able to play from the next game.