England v Wales Saturday 7/2/2026, ITV, 4.40pm

[Scrumhead]

Steward has actually played a few nice passes in that channel in the last while. There was definitely a similar assist in one of the Argentina games (possibly the first test?).

Sounds like Puja will be doing an M-B-M so I’ll be curious to get a more forensic breakdown of Steward’s plus and minus moments there.

[Captainhaircut]

Also, Max Lahiff was a travelling reserve along with Slade and Iyogun

Sela had a minor injury apparently. Sensible to give Lahiff a call and keep Kloska and Afo with the A side.

[FKAS]

Also, Max Lahiff was a travelling reserve along with Slade and Iyogun

Sela had a minor injury apparently. Sensible to give Lahiff a call and keep Kloska and Afo with the A side.

They'll love it on the podcast. Wilson et al have been winding up Lahiff for a few weeks about campaigning Borthwick to get him capped.

[pjm1]

Two days later reflection... I think that performance went about as well as it could have done. I was genuinely concerned - after Scotland losing to Italy - that we'd thump Wales and players would end up in the wrong headspace for next Saturday. No matter what you say about "professionalism" it's human nature to puff your chest out a bit more after a thumping result goes your way.

However, there is plenty for the team to work on, and specific errors (and oft-repeated) from individuals across the park. I counted at least 4 tries that we let slip: two non-passes, the disallowed neckroll and at least one (maybe 2?) held up. Even allowing for the fact we probably scored not long after those misses, it feels like we left 20-25 points out on the park. I'm not sure Wales left any points out there, for me. I'd actually feel more nervous if we'd put 70 on them and were properly cocksure about our performance. It's not realistic - especially for us - to expect to convert all your chances, and I don't mean we should have done... but I'm peversely glad we didn't.

What I did like though was the change in game tactics in the last 20 mins. And no, I don't mean getting our players (rather than theirs) yellow carded. I felt we were generally kicking less and putting it through the hands more, with deeper runners coming into the line. There were still some Ford beauties in terms of kicks in that final 20 but fewer, to my mind. It might also have been that Wales were kicking less to us, which would have been the smart thing to do. Their tactics were hopeless and largely played to our very specific super-strengths for the first half or more.

I really like some of the Blackett attacking plays. The layering of our attacking lines is really nice, and together with silky distribution at 10 and 12 give us so many attacking options and headaches for the opposition. Speed of ball from Mitchell was nice, but realistically not hurt by Wales never even attempting a jackal, as far as I could tell. Decent clean-out work on many occasions by our pack, but they really lacked a Reffell-type player.

I was also encouraged that we didn't show too much. Apart from increasing the attacking tempo in the final 15-20, I don't think our approach will have shown Townsend much. Whereas Italy's successes do give us a reasonable template, as do the comebacks that each of Arg and NZ enjoyed last year. I'm sure the analysts will be having a field day with that.

So I'm not downbeat. You can only beat what's in front of you, and I'm quite glad that we didn't have the perfect afternoon.

[FKAS]

"Whereas Italy's successes do give us a reasonable template"

You aren't wrong there pjm. Drawing up the winger and then kicking in behind to chase worked well for them with Tom Jordan not covering the backfield particularly well. If it's the same on the weekend we'll have an absolute field day.

[Oakboy]

"Whereas Italy's successes do give us a reasonable template"

You aren't wrong there pjm. Drawing up the winger and then kicking in behind to chase worked well for them with Tom Jordan not covering the backfield particularly well. If it's the same on the weekend we'll have an absolute field day.

There was much whingeing that Jordan did not get the Lions call, I seem to remember. He looks nothing special to me on the few occasions I have seen him.

[Puja]

"Whereas Italy's successes do give us a reasonable template"

You aren't wrong there pjm. Drawing up the winger and then kicking in behind to chase worked well for them with Tom Jordan not covering the backfield particularly well. If it's the same on the weekend we'll have an absolute field day.

There was much whingeing that Jordan did not get the Lions call, I seem to remember. He looks nothing special to me on the few occasions I have seen him.

From what I've seen, he's a very good 12, a decent 10, and has also played full-back.

Puja

[Mikey Brown]

Ben Youngs does quite a detailed dissection of how Italy tightened Scotlands defensive line and left Jordan in a tough spot on their Italy/Scotland game video.

Jordan is a funny sort of player. Can be a bit erratic/hot-headed but his versatility is kind of incredible. He can run, pass, kick and hits really hard. I don’t think he’s got many games at fullback but I can see the appeal.

I can definitely see why he was in the Lions conversation, but he’s not really nailed down a spot.