RugbyRebels

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Mon Aug 11, 2025 3:35 pm

Scrumhead wrote: ↑Mon Aug 11, 2025 3:21 pm I’m fine with most of it, but Slade? I really hoped we might have turned the page there. Particularly given how positive Borthwick has been about Atkinson.

Probably just too early for Seb or A N Other

That IC slot is absolutely bleak

Good news: no Farrell, some props, no Dan.
Bad news: Slade- fuck me, how has he kept his contract?

Surprised no AOF- would have thought they’d want to control his games.

Scrumhead wrote: ↑Mon Aug 11, 2025 3:21 pm I’m fine with most of it, but Slade? I really hoped we might have turned the page there. Particularly given how positive Borthwick has been about Atkinson.

Right there with you.

Interesting that Stoic Becontracting has gone for the full 25 this time - weren't we at 21 or something last time cause he wanted to see how people went and keep his options open? Feels like Slade's a waste of a contract and we might be better off having 24 and keeping one back to see if SAtkinson keeps on kicking on.

Actually, I'm now wondering if Slade was promised a 2 year England contract to stay in the Prem back when the rest of Exeter left and he was rumoured to be going to France.

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Mon Aug 11, 2025 5:31 pm Good news: no Farrell, some props, no Dan.
Bad news: Slade- fuck me, how has he kept his contract?

Surprised no AOF- would have thought they’d want to control his games.

Excellent point on AOF - it really does feel like he's massively overplayed at present and exactly the kind of thing these contracts are supposed to be helping with. Mind, they don't seem to be making a blind bit of difference to Itoje being ground up into a fine powder with playing far too many minutes, so maybe they don't do anything at all?

No Fazlet makes me feel slightly reassured that he's not going to just saunter back into the team and oust one of the 10s. Although I am slightly worried about him sauntering into the 12 shirt now...

Puja

Slade's inclusion is a bit of a downer. Is Daly really a key player for England now?

I’m hoping Puja is correct and Slade is there purely by virtue of still being on a central contract that’s in it’s second (and hopefully final) year.

Slade being offered a two year central contract does make sense and Borthwick does still rate him for some reason.

Re FP's point. I'm not really a Daly fan but he has played well for England and the Lions this year. Having a big (and accurate) boot in the backline does help as does his versatility.

I know it will sound like my hobby horse, but I remain convinced that SB is keeping Slade till he is fully convinced by Freeman at 13. The one game v Wales was an indicator. It's up to Lawrence to dispute that and he's on board. Two other wingers and Daly covering FB and wing back the theory.

As for 12, four candidates - Dingwall, Atkinson, Woodward and Ojomoh - are hopefully vying for the shirt (ahead of wasting game time on Farrell). It is easy to forget how well Dingwall was settling in with Atkinson looking useful on the summer tour. Maybe, neither is sufficiently ahead of the other in SB's mind for a central contract.