I think England rugby is beginning to suffer from a lack of friendly games. With the exception of the games during the lions tour, we play against tier 1 or high end tier 2 sides with the expectation of winning. No team / coach wants to be the first England side to lose to Japan. But it means we are aren’t allowing new players like Baxter the chance to prove themselves. We used to get a few new caps each year against Italy in the six nations, but as they got better in recent years we put out our full strength side against them. I’m struggling to see when we are able to try new players.
Thanks for this video. Surprised at Rodd as all will be , but do feel Borthwick likes training time with his new lads and Finn Baxter going to benefit from that rather than game time. But do like the strength of this team and Borthwick keeping this new team together to build his combinations and great to see Cunningham -south start. Does this team build a few more problems for Steve Borthwick in the next game though , in terms of freshness and Maro ? .
Saw the team had been picked headline in the Telegraph , but came here first to see it and hear your take on it Rich . So very appreciative of you getting out of bed for us England rugby lovers . 🏴
Awesome team. Surprised by Rodd but it makes sense considering how little time Baxter has had in camp. Rodd probably has better fitness around the park as well. Itoje, i think, can opt out of the player welfare program, which is odd, but probably means he plays every game. Sleightholme needs time learning the defensive system so, again, not too much of a surprise and stoked to see Roebuck come off the bench. Really excited by the back line versatiltiy and that back row sbould scare any team. Go on lads!
I wasn't sure if the Bath and Northampton players would by and large get a rest. Give or take its probably pretty close to a a first choice 23. Bit disappointing that Baxter isn't getting game time as baring injury I'm not sure he'll feature now? With the above logic will Ben Spencer feature? He's got the better all round game than Randall and if you'd have watched the prem final and never seen them play before and asked who the first choice England 9 was out of the two...... Strong team though, I'm just not sure if Borthwick is trying to give some game time/some palyers a look or this is what he wants for the first AB test. I'm liking that back row.
Impressed you got this out so early and so quickly. I like him going full noise for this. We want to be as cohesive as possible for the first NZ. The only call I'm not sure about is T Curry on the bench. Great player, but not sure he is ready or that he is a great bench option. Feel for Ollie Sleighthome but he is basically competition with IFW for the pacy winger/not fantastic in the air spot. And IFW is better all round . Also with Freeman covering 13, Borthwick won't want to risk not having an ariel threat on the wing. And Roebuck is good at that.
The numerous takes in the comments about Spencer over Mitchell based on the final are a little odd. Bath’s pack were well on top, no 9 is going to do well when losing the breakdown consistently (full credit to Bath). Mitchell has been excellent for England and fully deserves to start, even as a fan of Spencer’s kicking and game management.
Unlikely to see Sleightholme now for the rest of the tour unless there's an injury. Pity because we know what Freeman brings but he's only just come into camp so might be undercooked. Although Borthers might need Freeman at centre at some point in which case Roebuck is cover for Freeman. Interested to see what Roebuck brings. Could be a bolter.
A missed opportunity to start Sleightholme on the wing. Feyi, Furbank and Sleightholme. Looks like it could be a long term unit. Freeman doesn't look a long term option outwide. Dont think hes got elite level pace.
The reason for Itoje's limit is: "players should not exceed 2,400 minutes over a season" but I can't see which particular rule that is exactly. Could it be just a guideline? Is it from World Rugby or England Rugby (or the premiership)? Can anyone confirm?
Enjoyed the impromptu on-the-fly review. More pressure on you not to fluff your lines, but it's refreshing to get a gut reaction hot off the press. More, please!
I think Borthwick is taking the Eddie Jones revenge threat seriously! Our strongest team, but yes, would like to see one flyer on the wing as opposed to all-round Rugby players and Spencer needs to be given more of a chance.
I’m excited for this , at last SB picks form, BUT, did he due to players missing, like Daly? So glad to see better in form players though chosen, Baxter and Sleightholme, are seriously unlucky not to get selected! SB really doesn't like the top Prem try scorers, murley last year, not selected, Sleightholme this year not selected. Bit strange.
I thought Itoje only had 108 minutes of play left under the player safety agreement? Does this mean he won't be playing for most of the two NZ games? Or can he go over the agreed minutes?
Yea it's odd but Freddie Steward went over the limit on the tour to Australia. I think if it can be medically justified in someway they can go over the limit. It looks like this might happen with itoje, maybe they'll give him a longer rest period after??
This does look like an almost full strength team. Don't know how the camps have gone but as many have alluded to, this is not really a freindly as EJ is in charge of Japan and they will be a threat, especially if we are rusty (which we will be). I hope that some of the others will get a chance in the NZ tests but that just falls back to how camp has been going I guess. I always thought Rodd was worth a shout. I remember in the Saffers AI where we scraped a win and we had Quirke as SH, Rodd was pretty solid in that scrum and played well. I imagine that Borthwick also needs a permission slip from Finn Baxters mum, so possibly a logistics issue there! Can't wait to seem him play however.
Not sure why people are acting like Bevan Rodd is a scrub. He was a huge part of Sale's winning streak to make the premiership semi finals and only has five caps so it isn't like he's an old head blocking Baxter's path. Both players are interchangeable and will hopefully be the two props we can run with for years to come.
Cant believe so many against the 20 min red card. Different attitude up north i guess. The 2 better teams being England women and the ABs losing their respective WC finals due to accidents was enough to me to show we need change.
Strong team - no messing about. Surprised by Itoje. Good team - should be too strong for Japan. Only Tom Curry for fitness to come in, maybe Spencer on bench.
Borthwick has taken England from being the worst team in the 6N, to one of the best. Coaching and team selection makes a huge difference in this game. We - the Welsh - just need to get rid of Gats. Again 🤦♂️.
Can't see why Baxter isn't starting, nor Randall - perfect opportunity for both of them to show what they can do (and Mitchell was clearly second best as 9 against Spencer in the Prem Final). Crazy to 'use up' Itoje's limited minutes (only 102 left) against Japan, with two tests against the ABs coming up And still don't think T.Curry should be touring so soon after his major surgery (and against Alex Sanderson's advice) Like the backline 10-15 though...
Shame we’re missing out on getting more experienced props, should have Baxter in here. We know what we get from ewels, a workman. Great Randall is in, good to get rowbuck in, now we’ll see. No real No8 in the whole squad.
The only selection that I don't like is Ewels...He has 30 odd caps and I can't remember ay of them except his 90 seconds against Ireland in 2002. Good club player but anonymous at international level!!
