I don't think it's laziness it's more that he just didn't have the endurance to play the full 80.Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 9:22 amI’m not saying it all hinges on how today goes, but I think Willis disappearing might have significantly altered his trajectory. I can’t see him playing lock much all that much if it’s suddenly looking like he can be developed as the super physical, aggressive carrying 8.FKAS wrote: ↑Sat Nov 08, 2025 8:40 amI think what he needs is to be somewhere that's going to put an emphasis on him improving core elements of his game that make him useful as that utility forward. Sale with their focus on the set piece or Sarries with their focus on high work rate in defence were obvious moves that would have seen him work on areas that maybe aren't as strong as they could be (wouldn't go as far as weaknesses).Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Fri Nov 07, 2025 4:08 pm
A tight forward? Or a loose-forward who is one of his team’s few tight carriers?
I sort of get what you mean, but does he need to be in a pack of other monster carriers to continue developing? Or is being the star carrier in a team that play fast and loose, while needing to keep up the work-rate/fitness, not an option as well?
I think what's encouraging from an England point of view is to see how Quins are embracing him as that utility option as opposed to the back up 8 that can play a six if we want more carrying in the backrow. In a ideal world we'd see him double down on his lineout work and start to lead the Quins lineout and spend some time in the second row with Petti.
I could see him fitting in at either Sale or Sarries, like you say, but equally I think offering a club team a vital point of contrast is valuable too.
Intriguing either way though.
I feel like he’s been quite harshly criticised at times since he first burst on the scene for England. At the time I thought it was way too early, then he impressed, then he got written off as lazy and lacking nous despite being about 21.
Personally I think the option to use him at lock is transformative in where he stands in the squad. He's looked a decent jumper at the lineout and a menace at stopping the rolling maul. Being able to offer a strong carrying game from lock and the backrow is very useful. You're right in that the Willis decision might well change things for him. I'm not sure he can replicate what TWillis did in the carrying stakes but I'd be delighted for him to prove me wrong.
