Saracens the team to beat for aspiring champions – Baxter

It feels like AB’s have the forward pack to compete but they need greater cohesion at 10 to get the best from their attack.

Razor wants Mo’unga back already, so it’s just building pressure the longer they wait. He’s probably the one player they are lacking at the moment.

I’m not so sure on the last part though, Finn.

I’m of the opinion that generational trauma is a real thing and expressed genetically on a cellular level.

Don’t really disagree with you re: the locks, but I think Ribbans is unlikely to return and I’m not entirely sold on Kpoku.

At centre Ojomoh could be a big part of the squad going forward (…as could Ma’asi-White, or Woodward, or Hartley), but one guy I’ve not seen too much hype about is Angus Hall. I reckon he could really throw his hat in the ring to feature at 13 in the coming seasons.

I think you’re right that Borthwick will go with Furbank at 15, although I’m not entirely enthusiastic myself, but I think Roebuck could have done enough to move ahead of IFW, at least for now. I think Arundell and Hendy will both need to prove their form a little bit before call ups, given Steward, Carpenter, Murley, & Sleightholme all look to be decent squad options at the very least.

I think de Glanville is one of the most well-rounded 15s in the game right now. He rarely stands out as an x-factor player, but there’s a chance that van Graan will continue to see his value next season. If (and I recognise that’s a large ‘if’) there comes a time where he’s getting selected ahead of Arundell and Carreras, then I think the case for him as an international player could become hard to ignore.

At 10, I believe the current pecking order is;

1) Fin Smith

2) Marcus Smith (should only be considered at 10)

3) George Ford (perfect injury cover back up)

4) Owen Farrell

5) Charlie Atkinson

My fear is that to bring Owen Farrell back into the squad (probably at the expense of Slade), Steve Borthwick will move Farrell to 12, which will limit the development of Seb Atkinson.

I fear we return to trying to find a place to fit Farrell, which is not fair on him or the pathway players coming through. It’s a tricky decision and I fear Borthwick is swayed by experience, which is why I think he would find a way to include him. I just wonder at the true cost of that decision.

There are just people out there who think the ball should be run every time we have it. They watch a 3rd string French team be extremely competitive with us on the back of an outstanding kicking game, and don’t understand that the current rules and how good defenders are favour that approach.

I think the pecking order at fly-half is 1) Fin; 2) Ford; 3) Marcus; 4) Farrell; 5) Atkinson; 6) Donoghue. But I think there could be a case for dropping Ford from the squad given him and Fin are the only players on that list who aren’t utility options. So you could see something like Fin Smith (as a 10); Marcus Smith (as a utility back); and Atkinson or Donoghue (as a development option). Although I would like to see Ford retained, given how poorly he’s been treated.

To reiterate: I like Swing Low, Sweet Chariot; I like Fields of Athenry. I do not like God Save the King. I’ll defend the former two because they are great. I won’t defend the third.

Good start no matter what anyone says.

Despite the above and the performances of the boks to date, the ABs remain firm favourites to keep there Eden Park record and, probably, to win both home tests.

This is building up to a humdinger series in NZ.

Wouldn’t be surprised if he plays by the end of the year actually. Japan. Certainly by the incoming series in 2026.

Obviously, France doesn’t have England’s depth at 10, Ntamack and Jalibert are 26 and Hastoy 28, but there’s no Sacha FM, Fin Smith or Prendergast behind for now. Reus is the closest, but I don’t see Jurd or Keletanoa (the 10s who played the U20 this year) step up.

On the other hand, in 2018, Ntamack was playing 12 and Carbonel was the big prospect at 10. A year later, Ntamack was already the new 10 at the RWC in Japan.