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Jack van Poortvliet the big winner as England name 29-strong squad

78 days ago

Jack van Poortvliet reacts during last Sunday's England A game versus Ireland A (Photo by Ryan Hiscott/Getty Images)

Jack van Poortvliet has emerged as the big winner in the latest England Guinness Six Nations squad announcement, as his performance last Sunday for England A versus their Irish counterparts in Bristol has resulted in him displacing Ben Spencer in Steve Borthwick’s latest senior team assembly.

Spencer was part of the squad of 36 that gathered last week at Pennyhill Park to prepare for the round three Six Nations win over Scotland, but van Poortvliet has now moved ahead again in the packing order.

His inclusion has left Spencer to return to Bath, one of the seven Gallagher Premiership clubs involved in this weekend’s Premiership Rugby Cup quarter-finals along with Ealing Trailfinders, the sole Championship representative.

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The Bath scrum-half was one of eight players from last week’s Calcutta Cup squad not included by Borthwick in the reduced squad that assembled in York on Wednesday for a training camp ahead of the round four clash with Italy on March 9 in London.

Sale props Bevan Rodd and Asher Opoku-Fordjour were also released for club duty, but five other players will have their progress monitored in York separate from Borthwick’s main training group.

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Tom Curry, Ben Earl and Ollie Lawrence are not injured but they are all on a modified training programme this week and are expected to train fully next week at Pennyhill. Tom Willis, who exited the win over Scotland with a concussion, is undergoing his graduated return to play and is expected to be available for full training next Tuesday.

Meanwhile, George Martin, who cried off the England bench last Friday with a knee injury and was replaced by Ted Hill, will undergo further tests this week and an update will be issued in due course regarding his availability to face the Azzurri.

England training squad
Forwards (15):
Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks)
Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
Theo Dan (Saracens)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
Ted Hill (Bath Rugby)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)

Backs (14):
Oscar Beard (Harlequins)
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
George Ford (Sale Sharks)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears)
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)

• Rehabilitation (5): Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby), George Martin (Leicester Tigers), Tom Willis (Saracens), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), Ben Earl (Saracens).

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Comments

6 Comments

Mike 78 days ago

England need George Martin back, if he’s fit. Ollie Chessum is an excellent lock but he brings something different to Martin, and is arguably too similar to Maro, ie. the athletic lock. One thing that didn’t work well last Saturday was ruck speed. Martin is the proverbial big lump and clears rucks all day. I prefer him at tight head lock, Maro at loose head lock, and Chessum at blindside, so you still have the lineout option. Add T. Willis at 8, again assuming he is fit, and Earl or a Curry at 7 (other on the bench), and you have a balanced looking back 5 to the scrum.

fl 78 days ago

I agree on 4,5, & 6 (although given Chessum can play tighthead lock and Itoje can’t, I wonder if the ideal scrum set up would have Itoje at 6 and Chessum and Martin at 4 & 5?) but I think Earl & T. Curry are so good that both should be starting.

Chessum, Martin, Itoje, T. Curry, & Earl is an excellent set up for the lineout, but is also probably the best defensive lineup England can put together, and the best jackaling lineup they can realistically put together. They’re missing a traditional no.8, but (i) England aren’t playing a gameplan that relies upon that, and (ii) Earl, Martin, and Chessum are actually really good carriers anyway.

AD 78 days ago

The England scrum half selections are baffling.

I can only assume that Spencer murdered Borthwick’s granny and JVP has photos of Wigglesworth cavorting with farm animals

fl 78 days ago

or maybe JVP is 10 years younger and has performed better in international rugby?

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Comments on RugbyPass

Cantab 3 days ago

Teenager Braxton Sorensen-McGee reflects on dream Black Ferns debut

Although NZ won comfortably enough they weren’t always convincing and a better opposition may well have found them out. If our gun 7s players can translate their skills to the 15s game the team would have the ability to beat anyone. Need to be given the chance though.

4 Go to comments

James 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

And how do you see the Wallabies loosehead / Lion’s tighthead battle Nick?

37 Go to comments

dw 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Also interested in your thoughts on A Bell. Haven't noticed many scrum issues recently. He also seems to play 60 or so mins every game. A bit of a fan (even though he’s a tah..) but wondered if the Lions would target his scrummaging

37 Go to comments

dw 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

True. And you look at how the European coaches have got so much out of skelton and how much the local fans love him…and then some Oz fans will still say “he played poorly for the tahs I'm 2015!”

37 Go to comments

dw 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Thanks Nick but your headline has just jinxed us and reminded me of that night in 2013!

I love any analysis of the scrums such as the above. Cheers.

Allalatoa seems to be in good form and Nongorr appears to be able to hold his own? I think they will pick Tupou regardless of form. After Friday night I am concerned he could be sent off in the first five mins of the test though! He got too pumped up and hit a player high and was carded

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 3 days ago

'Most complacent selection decision you will ever see': Barrett benching slammed as Leinster knocked out

I watched the mainstream NZ pundits eg Mils Muliaina and they DID back NZ to win almost to a man.

Ireland will talk their team up as anyone would with the caveats we are playing the ABs and match was de facto 50:50, That is not the same as dismissing the opposition. EG After the quarter John Kirwan said he was sorry France didn’t win versus SA becuase a ‘France-NZ final would be perfect. (The semis had not even been played yet, England and Argentina completely dismissed! He didn’t even realize his own arrogance) NZ are not even aware of the arrogance they exude. Has no Kiwi politely asked the national team to take down the ‘Superstars and Humble Heroes’ boasting on the AB site? Its cringeworthy stuff. Do NZ really see themselves like this?

Note all this BS about Irish arrogance started just after NZs defeat in the 2022 series. Not a coincidence.

Also: this is Irish national TV. We will talk our team up as everyone does. We care too much about judgemental and thin skinned Kiwis getting offended.

91 Go to comments

JM 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Aussie rugby fans are obsessed with players they hate, for whatever reason.

Michael Hooper is another one, and the hatred only increased whenever he won John Eales medals or the two times he was nominated world player of the year.

I reckon it is because our forwards are technically and mentally weak they put it all on one player who they think should make way for the messiah.

Same for the general team performance and the hate put on players like White, Lolesio, and Foley who should be pulling rabbits out of the hat every play.

I reckon, if we had of had 5 players with Hooper’s desire and drive spread across the team (and especiallythe forwards), we wouldn’t have woken up in the bottom of the ditch.

37 Go to comments

RedWarriors 3 days ago

'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

He shouldn’t have been picked. Not physically able for the most intense matches notably in Twickenham last year. Giving him the captaincy was also a very short sighted decision then after RWC 2023. Ireland have a tendency to be a little too loyal, which can mean the team ages and the rebuild is bigger than should be.

Plenty of lads out there to fill that squad.

4 Go to comments

OJohn 3 days ago

Geoff Parling returns to Leicester as head coach

Hooray

0 Go to comments

Carlos 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He was also a YC magnet.

37 Go to comments

Carlos 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Windsor-Faulkner-Price. 😊

37 Go to comments

Solenn Bonnet 3 days ago

Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

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0 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Ah, the Pooler front row ! Most legendary in the history of the , I would think. Max Boyce helped…”Here we. here we, here we go, with the Pontypool front row.”

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Would not go as far as whole house in our family, but for me, yes, W1. Loved playing in the scrum, love watching now😀

37 Go to comments

Mzilikazi 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yes, I see that article here on RP, Nick. That is good news that Schmidt is going to look at the o’seas players.

Yes, I would think you are right that LAR will qualify. On the same points as MP, but surely they are too good not to win this crunch game….could be tEnse for ROG in the stands though.

37 Go to comments

BC 3 days ago

Who would make it into a Women's British and Irish Lions starting XV?

I would pick Oifa Wafer at 6, put Aldcroft in the second row with Ward. I think Wafer is one of the few non-England players mentioned that would contend for a Red Rose shirt, the others being King and possibly Neve Jones. Conversely there are two English players mentioned, Sing and Venner, that probably won’t even make the Red Rose WC squad, let alone a Lions Tour. Still a lot can change in two years, watch out for Millie David.

1 Go to comments

Otagoman II 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Great article NB, thanks. I would like to know what is the reasoning why so many things are penalties in the scrum. Is it to do with safety or something else?

37 Go to comments

NB 3 days ago

'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

👍