RugbyRebels

Forwards: Ollie Chessum, Arthur Clark, Alex Coles , Luke Cowan-Dickie, Chandler Cunningham-South, Tom Curry, Theo Dan, Trevor Davison, Ben Earl, Greg Fisilau, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Maro Itoje, Emmanuel Iyogun, George Kloska, Guy Pepper, Henry Pollock, Bevan Rodd, Sam Underhill.

Backs: Henry Arundell, Seb Atkinson, Elliot Daly, Fraser Dingwall, George Ford, Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Alex Mitchell, Cadan Murley, Tom Roebuck, Henry Slade, Marcus Smith, Fin Smith, Ben Spencer, Freddie Steward, Jack van Poortvliet.


Sela out with a niggle, so Kloska comes in. IFW is apparently out "for a number of weeks. I don't know how many, but it's a number rather than a single week, which is disappointing," according to Sing Badbunny.

Puja

England squad for the coming week:

LP: Genge, Iyogun, Rodd
HK: Cowan-Dickie, Dan, George
TP: Davison, Heyes, Kloska
LK: Chessum, Clark, Coles, Itoje
FL: Cunningham-South, T. Curry, Pepper, Underhill
N8: Earl, Fisilau, Pollock

SH: Mitchell, Spencer, van Poortvliet
FH: Ford, F. Smith, M. Smith
IC: Atkinson, Dingwall
OC: Freeman, Lawrence, Slade
WG: Arundell, Murley, Roebuck
FB: Daly, Steward.

Kloska for Sela
Lawrence for Ojomoh
Roebuck for IFW

Genge a doubt apparently.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 7:32 pm Genge a doubt apparently.

Injury or citation?

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 7:45 pm

fivepointer wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 7:32 pm Genge a doubt apparently.

Injury or citation?

Carrying a knock apparently.

Kloska is more experienced than Fasogbon and Sela but quite a bit younger than Davison. At 26 he should be coming into his prime years. Not a bad idea to have a look at him in the full squad after some solid A side showings.

FKAS wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:50 pm

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 7:45 pm

fivepointer wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 7:32 pm Genge a doubt apparently.

Injury or citation?

Carrying a knock apparently.

Kloska is more experienced than Fasogbon and Sela but quite a bit younger than Davison. At 26 he should be coming into his prime years. Not a bad idea to have a look at him in the full squad after some solid A side showings.

Maybe it was Borthwick giving him a kick up the arse after a very poor 40min performance.

FKAS wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:50 pm

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 7:45 pm

fivepointer wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 7:32 pm Genge a doubt apparently.

Injury or citation?

Carrying a knock apparently.

Kloska is more experienced than Fasogbon and Sela but quite a bit younger than Davison. At 26 he should be coming into his prime years. Not a bad idea to have a look at him in the full squad after some solid A side showings.

I'd certainly be keen to see if Kloska can add something decent from the bench. Davison's cameo was actually worse than I expected it to be, and I did set a pretty low bar on my expectations!

Puja

fivepointer wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 7:32 pm Kloska for Sela
Lawrence for Ojomoh
Roebuck for IFW

Genge a doubt apparently.

Also FSmith for Furbank, who has "been sent back to rehabilitation." Poor sod seems cursed, although great to have FSmith back in again.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 11:28 pm

fivepointer wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 7:32 pm Kloska for Sela
Lawrence for Ojomoh
Roebuck for IFW

Genge a doubt apparently.

Also FSmith for Furbank, who has "been sent back to rehabilitation." Poor sod seems cursed, although great to have FSmith back in again.

Puja

Starting to echo Billy, who was never the same again after his own double arm-break. Their roles couldn't be more different, but the 'never quite right again' bit is being fulfilled at the moment.

Puja wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 11:26 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:50 pm

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 7:45 pm

Injury or citation?

Carrying a knock apparently.

Kloska is more experienced than Fasogbon and Sela but quite a bit younger than Davison. At 26 he should be coming into his prime years. Not a bad idea to have a look at him in the full squad after some solid A side showings.

I'd certainly be keen to see if Kloska can add something decent from the bench. Davison's cameo was actually worse than I expected it to be, and I did set a pretty low bar on my expectations!

Puja

He just stood out like a sore thumb, didn’t he…

Yeah, pick Kloska.

Puja wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 11:28 pm

fivepointer wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 7:32 pm Kloska for Sela
Lawrence for Ojomoh
Roebuck for IFW

Genge a doubt apparently.

Also FSmith for Furbank, who has "been sent back to rehabilitation." Poor sod seems cursed, although great to have FSmith back in again.

Puja

Rehab might just mean game time and match fitness or at least fingers crossed. He's not played a whole lot of rugby this season so he might just be going back to play PRC.

Quite a promotion for Kloska who is progressing very nicely. His scrummaging is pretty reliable and he'll certainly offer far more in the loose than Davison.

FKAS wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 7:51 am

Puja wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 11:28 pm

fivepointer wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 7:32 pm Kloska for Sela
Lawrence for Ojomoh
Roebuck for IFW

Genge a doubt apparently.

Also FSmith for Furbank, who has "been sent back to rehabilitation." Poor sod seems cursed, although great to have FSmith back in again.

Puja

Rehab might just mean game time and match fitness or at least fingers crossed. He's not played a whole lot of rugby this season so he might just be going back to play PRC.

DT reports Furbank and Sela both sustained head knocks in training. That sounds a bit careless by somebody.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 8:20 am

FKAS wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 7:51 am

Puja wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 11:28 pm

Also FSmith for Furbank, who has "been sent back to rehabilitation." Poor sod seems cursed, although great to have FSmith back in again.

Puja

Rehab might just mean game time and match fitness or at least fingers crossed. He's not played a whole lot of rugby this season so he might just be going back to play PRC.

DT reports Furbank and Sela both sustained head knocks in training. That sounds a bit careless by somebody.

Not necessarily. It is a contact sport and training involves contact. bangs happen. Doesn't always need blame.

Oakboy wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 8:20 am

FKAS wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 7:51 am

Puja wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 11:28 pm

Also FSmith for Furbank, who has "been sent back to rehabilitation." Poor sod seems cursed, although great to have FSmith back in again.

Puja

Rehab might just mean game time and match fitness or at least fingers crossed. He's not played a whole lot of rugby this season so he might just be going back to play PRC.

DT reports Furbank and Sela both sustained head knocks in training. That sounds a bit careless by somebody.

Really? Seems perfectly plausible for two players to've cracked heads in a contact training drill, especially given one of them's very inexperienced.

Puja

ETA. As EP says above.

Puja wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 10:19 am

Oakboy wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 8:20 am

FKAS wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 7:51 am

Rehab might just mean game time and match fitness or at least fingers crossed. He's not played a whole lot of rugby this season so he might just be going back to play PRC.

DT reports Furbank and Sela both sustained head knocks in training. That sounds a bit careless by somebody.

Really? Seems perfectly plausible for two players to've cracked heads in a contact training drill, especially given one of them's very inexperienced.

Puja

ETA. As EP says above.

Fair enough. That still makes three injured players in training (including IFW). Carry on at that rate and how many will be left for the game in Paris?

Oakboy wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 11:30 am

Puja wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 10:19 am

Oakboy wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 8:20 am

DT reports Furbank and Sela both sustained head knocks in training. That sounds a bit careless by somebody.

Really? Seems perfectly plausible for two players to've cracked heads in a contact training drill, especially given one of them's very inexperienced.

Puja

ETA. As EP says above.

Fair enough. That still makes three injured players in training (including IFW). Carry on at that rate and how many will be left for the game in Paris?

Start with a squad of 36, keep our consistency of losing 3 players each round, that brings us to 21, so we'll just end up running a 6:0 bench. Should be fine.

Alternatively, we take the attitude that hamstrings and head bumps will happen, unless we're planning on training without the players running or doing any contact, and not extrapolate trends from three injuries.

Puja

Stom wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 6:21 am

Puja wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 11:26 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:50 pm

Carrying a knock apparently.

Kloska is more experienced than Fasogbon and Sela but quite a bit younger than Davison. At 26 he should be coming into his prime years. Not a bad idea to have a look at him in the full squad after some solid A side showings.

I'd certainly be keen to see if Kloska can add something decent from the bench. Davison's cameo was actually worse than I expected it to be, and I did set a pretty low bar on my expectations!

Puja

He just stood out like a sore thumb, didn’t he…

Yeah, pick Kloska.

Gods bless him, he tried, but he did look like he'd won a competition to be out there.

I will add the caveat that I have no memories of him having a problem at the scrum (albeit under very little pressure), so I wouldn't necessarily leap to Kloska unless Slim Biscuiteater is confident he will actually be an upgrade, but it is slightly worrying thinking about Davison playing against France.

The best situation would be if we get a fantastic start against Scotland, pile a tonne of points on, and feel confident enough that we can bring Heyes off at half-time to wrap him in bubble wrap for games to come.

Puja

Puja wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 11:46 am

Stom wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 6:21 am

Puja wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 11:26 pm

I'd certainly be keen to see if Kloska can add something decent from the bench. Davison's cameo was actually worse than I expected it to be, and I did set a pretty low bar on my expectations!

Puja

He just stood out like a sore thumb, didn’t he…

Yeah, pick Kloska.

Gods bless him, he tried, but he did look like he'd won a competition to be out there.

I will add the caveat that I have no memories of him having a problem at the scrum (albeit under very little pressure), so I wouldn't necessarily leap to Kloska unless Slim Biscuiteater is confident he will actually be an upgrade, but it is slightly worrying thinking about Davison playing against France.

The best situation would be if we get a fantastic start against Scotland, pile a tonne of points on, and feel confident enough that we can bring Heyes off at half-time to wrap him in bubble wrap for games to come.

Puja

He would be a complete passenger. You'd probably be better off with Heyes doing 80, which is an insane comment.

Slightly harsh on Davison I think - he's largely there to scrummage which he did reasonably well, and actually popped up to touch the ball a couple of times which was a surprise.

He's clearly a big step down on Heyes / Stuart / AOF - I couldn't watch Friday night as I was playing myself but I'd be open to giving Kloska a go if he looked a step up.

Personally I'm pretty surprised Fasogbon doesn't get a look in - he has elite size and is a good scrummager. I've seen suggestions his fitness isn't up to it?

SixAndAHalf wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 12:13 pm Slightly harsh on Davison I think - he's largely there to scrummage which he did reasonably well, and actually popped up to touch the ball a couple of times which was a surprise.

He's clearly a big step down on Heyes / Stuart / AOF - I couldn't watch Friday night as I was playing myself but I'd be open to giving Kloska a go if he looked a step up.

Personally I'm pretty surprised Fasogbon doesn't get a look in - he has elite size and is a good scrummager. I've seen suggestions his fitness isn't up to it?

I think with Fasogbon it is something we’re not fully aware of. I think it was Ben Kay who criticises his maul work the other week so I wonder if he’s lacking there plus possibly at lineout, clearing out and workrate.

Not things we would be particularly aware of but that Borthers would have.

Still plenty of time for him to improve.

I'm no front row expert (or any other position TBH) but I was under the impression that Fasogbon is simply suffering second season syndrome - with the insult to injury of playing for a terrible Gloucester side.

Been analysed and worked out, will struggle for a bit, and hopefully find his way back, especially if provided with better team-mates in the right 5 to help him out

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 12:48 pm I'm no front row expert (or any other position TBH) but I was under the impression that Fasogbon is simply suffering second season syndrome - with the insult to injury of playing for a terrible Gloucester side.

Been analysed and worked out, will struggle for a bit, and hopefully find his way back, especially if provided with better team-mates in the right 5 to help him out

I would agree with Cpt Haircut that it's likely something the coaches have seen that we haven't. Fasogbon is suffering some second season syndrome, but he's still better than Davison in almost every aspect and is a far better long-term selection to boot. However, Bestbehaviour has form for ignoring a developing prop, even if they're probably the next cab off the rank, and challenging them to fix their flaws before he'll pick them. Considering how well it turned out with Heyes, I hope we get to be excited about 2027!Fasogbon.

Puja

It is worth considering that Fasogbon is 21. AOF is a similar age and we've only drip fed him in. I don't mind for a second taking a similar route with Fasogbon and Sela. Get them in, drip feed them experience. We don't need them to be good in the short term, we need them to be great in the long term.

Stom wrote: ↑Mon Feb 09, 2026 6:21 am

Puja wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 11:26 pm

FKAS wrote: ↑Sun Feb 08, 2026 8:50 pm

Carrying a knock apparently.

Kloska is more experienced than Fasogbon and Sela but quite a bit younger than Davison. At 26 he should be coming into his prime years. Not a bad idea to have a look at him in the full squad after some solid A side showings.

I'd certainly be keen to see if Kloska can add something decent from the bench. Davison's cameo was actually worse than I expected it to be, and I did set a pretty low bar on my expectations!

Puja

He just stood out like a sore thumb, didn’t he…

Yeah, pick Kloska.

Was Davison that obviously poor? Genuinely I didn’t see him do anything notably bad.

That doesn’t mean I think he is a test player, I just want to be fair to the guy,