RugbyRebels

twitchy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 8:57 am Not sure but here is a CM article on england centre's:

https://archive.ph/7c472

Agree with most of that - think Freeman at 13 with Roebuck on the wing maximises our ceiling. At 12, I lean towards Seb Atkinson especially if Dingwall isn't fit. The difficult question is what to do with Lawrence but I could see a role for him in the number 23 shirt.

SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 11:11 am

twitchy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 8:57 am Not sure but here is a CM article on england centre's:

https://archive.ph/7c472

Agree with most of that - think Freeman at 13 with Roebuck on the wing maximises our ceiling. At 12, I lean towards Seb Atkinson especially if Dingwall isn't fit. The difficult question is what to do with Lawrence but I could see a role for him in the number 23 shirt.

In a 6:2 split?

SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 11:11 am The difficult question is what to do with Lawrence but I could see a role for him in the number 23 shirt.

If the difficulty is that he's not as good (in entirety or specifically for the game plan) than his rivals for the shirt - then the answer is that he's given work-ons, and goes away and tries to improve on them.

I'm not sure I want a specialist in the 23 shirt, even with a 5:3 bench - even with more flexible players in the starting XV.
I guess if you've got enough flexibility in the starting XV that all injury events can be covered - then there MIGHT be room for a glass canon at 23 - but that's more of a Manu or Arundell (or Marcus ) than a Lawrence.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 1:00 pm

SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 11:11 am

twitchy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 8:57 am Not sure but here is a CM article on england centre's:

https://archive.ph/7c472

Agree with most of that - think Freeman at 13 with Roebuck on the wing maximises our ceiling. At 12, I lean towards Seb Atkinson especially if Dingwall isn't fit. The difficult question is what to do with Lawrence but I could see a role for him in the number 23 shirt.

In a 6:2 split?

Yes I could see that but you'd have to construct the starting backline with that in mind. Freeman at 13 helps and then also MSmith or Furbank at 15.

SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 11:11 am

twitchy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 8:57 am Not sure but here is a CM article on england centre's:

https://archive.ph/7c472

Agree with most of that - think Freeman at 13 with Roebuck on the wing maximises our ceiling. At 12, I lean towards Seb Atkinson especially if Dingwall isn't fit. The difficult question is what to do with Lawrence but I could see a role for him in the number 23 shirt.

Yep. 100% aligned on this.

When is Roebuck due back though? He’s been out for a little while now. If he’s not fit, our next best wingers have quite different profiles (Murley, Sleightholme etc.) or are inexperienced (Caluori).

If Roebuck is out, Will Muir might have timed his return to fitness exceptionally well. He or Caluori are the next best in terms of kick chase/ball retention.

Scrumhead wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 2:57 pm

SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 11:11 am

twitchy wrote: ↑Tue Jan 06, 2026 8:57 am Not sure but here is a CM article on england centre's:

https://archive.ph/7c472

Agree with most of that - think Freeman at 13 with Roebuck on the wing maximises our ceiling. At 12, I lean towards Seb Atkinson especially if Dingwall isn't fit. The difficult question is what to do with Lawrence but I could see a role for him in the number 23 shirt.

Yep. 100% aligned on this.

When is Roebuck due back though? He’s been out for a little while now. If he’s not fit, our next best wingers have quite different profiles (Murley, Sleightholme etc.) or are inexperienced (Caluori).

If Roebuck is out, Will Muir might have timed his return to fitness exceptionally well. He or Caluori are the next best in terms of kick chase/ball retention.

Do you see it as IFW or Arundel on the other wing? Is there no temptation to have both? In terms of the aerial contest, I think OHC is also in with a shout.

In the Bath game IFW made a nonsense of his height - perhaps indicating a re-think to the extent that covering Roebuck's absence with a tall guy may not be the best way to go.

IFW all the way.

I think it’s one ‘stepper’ (IFW, Arundell, Murley, Sleightholme) and one winger who is aerially dominant (Roebuck, Muir, Caluori). I’m not saying the skills are mutually exclusive BTW - the more elusive wings are mostly OK to good on the kick chase too and the aerial guys have footwork, just more a comment on their stand out attributes. Not a bad shout of OHC.

As an aside, I think Quins’ dire form and Sleightholme’s injury lay off have given Arundell a major bump up the pecking order.

Was no one watching the recent Bath v Sarries game?
Arundell did well up against the New Messiah in the high ball game.
I’d like to see him in the 23 shirt come the 6Ns.
He’s a total handful in a way none of the others aren’t, bar IFW.

I'm quite a bit out of touch living in Germany for many years but I do pay for streaming sites to watch games. My question is why is Radwan not in the running? I've liked him for years. Changed clubs to get more profile. He looks so dangerous every time he gets the ball.

Dammit. Posted a dozen times


FTFY - Mod

Radwan has previously had issues with positioning, kicking and competing in the air. He's done a fair bit to improve two of the three. He could take Murley's side in the squad, a lot will depend on whether they view Freeman as a centre or a wing I expect.

From The Times:

Smith’s calf injury is minor and unlikely to rule him out for long. Northampton are hopeful that the full back George Furbank should also return soon from a calf niggle he is managing, and they are monitoring Fraser Dingwall, the centre, who was knocked out against Harlequins at the start of the month, though he joked in a social media post that he “just wanted a snooze”.

Morton wrote: ↑Wed Jan 07, 2026 8:12 pm I'm quite a bit out of touch living in Germany for many years but I do pay for streaming sites to watch games. My question is why is Radwan not in the running? I've liked him for years. Changed clubs to get more profile. He looks so dangerous every time he gets the ball.

His problem is named Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. Solid Backselector seems to have a preference of trying to have a tall jumpy wing and a fleet-footed evasive wing, and Radwan is in the latter category (while he is good in the air, he's not a specialist), so he's up against probably the least droppable player in the team who is also in incredible form. Even if IFW gets injured, he's then competing with Arundell, who is also incredibly dangerous and incredibly quick. We're got such a logjam of incredible talent on the wing right now.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 11:08 am

Morton wrote: ↑Wed Jan 07, 2026 8:12 pm I'm quite a bit out of touch living in Germany for many years but I do pay for streaming sites to watch games. My question is why is Radwan not in the running? I've liked him for years. Changed clubs to get more profile. He looks so dangerous every time he gets the ball.

His problem is named Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. Solid Backselector seems to have a preference of trying to have a tall jumpy wing and a fleet-footed evasive wing, and Radwan is in the latter category (while he is good in the air, he's not a specialist), so he's up against probably the least droppable player in the team who is also in incredible form. Even if IFW gets injured, he's then competing with Arundell, who is also incredibly dangerous and incredibly quick. We're got such a logjam of incredible talent on the wing right now.

Puja

Yep. Murley in a similar boat now I think. At the weekend he won contested high balls, won turnovers, assisted tries and scored himself, yet it feels like it would barely move the dial unless there’s an injury or two in the ‘strike-runner’ group of wings.

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 1:09 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 11:08 am

Morton wrote: ↑Wed Jan 07, 2026 8:12 pm I'm quite a bit out of touch living in Germany for many years but I do pay for streaming sites to watch games. My question is why is Radwan not in the running? I've liked him for years. Changed clubs to get more profile. He looks so dangerous every time he gets the ball.

His problem is named Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. Solid Backselector seems to have a preference of trying to have a tall jumpy wing and a fleet-footed evasive wing, and Radwan is in the latter category (while he is good in the air, he's not a specialist), so he's up against probably the least droppable player in the team who is also in incredible form. Even if IFW gets injured, he's then competing with Arundell, who is also incredibly dangerous and incredibly quick. We're got such a logjam of incredible talent on the wing right now.

Puja

Yep. Murley in a similar boat now I think. At the weekend he won contested high balls, won turnovers, assisted tries and scored himself, yet it feels like it would barely move the dial unless there’s an injury or two in the ‘strike-runner’ group of wings.

And Sleightholme behind them as well. We really are blessed right now.

Puja

AOF having shoulder surgery. Out of the 6N. Nightmare.

Davison and Fasogbon next up?

Thats a pity.

Yes, I think Davison and Fasogbon are the likely call ups.

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 2:58 pm

Mikey Brown wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 1:09 pm

Puja wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 11:08 am

His problem is named Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. Solid Backselector seems to have a preference of trying to have a tall jumpy wing and a fleet-footed evasive wing, and Radwan is in the latter category (while he is good in the air, he's not a specialist), so he's up against probably the least droppable player in the team who is also in incredible form. Even if IFW gets injured, he's then competing with Arundell, who is also incredibly dangerous and incredibly quick. We're got such a logjam of incredible talent on the wing right now.

Puja

Yep. Murley in a similar boat now I think. At the weekend he won contested high balls, won turnovers, assisted tries and scored himself, yet it feels like it would barely move the dial unless there’s an injury or two in the ‘strike-runner’ group of wings.

And Sleightholme behind them as well. We really are blessed right now.

Puja

If he was fit and in form. I didn't watch the BB game but prior to that Slieghtholme has looked ropey so far, unsurprising given the injury he's returning from.

Captainhaircut wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 3:18 pm AOF having shoulder surgery. Out of the 6N. Nightmare.

Davison and Fasogbon next up?

I wouldn't touch Davison with a barge pole. I would bring Sela in. He'd be 3rd choice, unlikely to play, but may get a few mins off the bench in a game knowing Sweaty Ballbag. But he'd be in the environment experiencing what is required to step up. Davison is just a waste of a place.

Harsh, I think he’s a decent player. I just question the value of picking him when he has a very limited chance of making the RWC squad.

I would prefer to invest in Fasogbon and Sela. They’re probably not ready for test rugby right now. However, there’s much more benefit to be gained by building their experience as they probably will be ready in 2yrs time.

I’d back either to be fine against Wales’ 2nd choice loosehead. Scotland will be tougher, but Sutherland (likely no. 17) isn’t the player he was a few years back and Ireland are potentially going to be down to their 3rd choice loosehead with Porter and McCarthy looking like they’ll miss the 6N. If they come through these three games, they’ll hopefully have started to find their feet come the back end of the tournament.

I think it's too early for Sela. Needs more senior game time and time to develop.

Fasogbon as an option off the bench is fairly idea, massive unit who's mobile. Not sure I'd want him starting a game currently though which is where Davison would become useful. Heyes to start and Fasogbon from the bench would be the preferred but if Heyes has to drop out then Davison starts and Fasogbon remains the impact option.

FKAS wrote: ↑Fri Jan 16, 2026 12:39 pm I think it's too early for Sela. Needs more senior game time and time to develop.

Fasogbon as an option off the bench is fairly idea, massive unit who's mobile. Not sure I'd want him starting a game currently though which is where Davison would become useful. Heyes to start and Fasogbon from the bench would be the preferred but if Heyes has to drop out then Davison starts and Fasogbon remains the impact option.

While I agree with you that it wouldn't be ideal for Fasogbon to start, and there is a lot to be said for picking the option for now rather than just going all-out on potential and development, the question has to be raised as to whether Davison would actually be meaningfully better as a starting international than Fasogbon would, on just current ability only.

Puja

A couple of months ago, I would probably have said the same thing, but Sela impresses me every time I see him play and he doesn’t look like a guy with a handful of first team games under his belt.

Puja wrote: ↑Fri Jan 16, 2026 1:27 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Fri Jan 16, 2026 12:39 pm I think it's too early for Sela. Needs more senior game time and time to develop.

Fasogbon as an option off the bench is fairly idea, massive unit who's mobile. Not sure I'd want him starting a game currently though which is where Davison would become useful. Heyes to start and Fasogbon from the bench would be the preferred but if Heyes has to drop out then Davison starts and Fasogbon remains the impact option.

While I agree with you that it wouldn't be ideal for Fasogbon to start, and there is a lot to be said for picking the option for now rather than just going all-out on potential and development, the question has to be raised as to whether Davison would actually be meaningfully better as a starting international than Fasogbon would, on just current ability only.

Puja

There's not a lot in it certainly but Davison is a canny operator, he's got the experience and knows what's going to be coming from the opposition loosehead. Particularly in the 6N where there's some really tricky customers with Nicky Smith, Schoeman, Porter (a man who simply can't scrummage straight) and any of the many France can put out. Just provide a stable footing for the first half alongside Baxter and then Genge and Fasogbon can turn up the temperature after half time.

Worth noting Davison has a decent skill set handling wise and his selection really is only break glass in case of emergency. Otherwise he's just keeping the young tyros honest in training.