An 'England Potential Debutants' XV to whet the appetite
With Eddie Jones stating that he may choose to rest some of England’s British and Irish Lions contingent in the upcoming End of Year internationals, as well as the shock inclusion of 18 year old fly half Marcus Smith in a recent training squad, there is much speculation on which uncapped English qualified players may receive full international honours over the next few years. Connor Whittick has chosen 23 players who could be in a prime position to gain England caps.
Val Rapava-Ruskin (Gloucester)
Georgian born, Rapava-Ruskin is one of Gloucester’s biggest signings this Summer, having represented Worcester Warriors last season. A monster at scrum time, the big loosehead will hope to continue his prolific form from last season in a new-look Gloucester front row.
https://twitter.com/gloucesterrugby/status/882989541581361154
Jack Walker (Bath)
A former England u20 captain, Walker was hugely unlucky with injuries last season after moving to Bath from Yorkshire Carnegie. It is probable that Walker will break into the Bath matchday 23 this year, and Eddie Jones will be closely watching this highly rated hooker.
Marcus Street (Exeter Chiefs)
With Tomas Francis and possibly Harry Williams likely to be representing their national teams in the QBEs this year, this England age-grade pop could find himself playing Premiership rugby this year. An immense ball carrier, Street epitomises the ‘modern’ style of prop, and his performances for England u18 and u20 over recent campaigns won’t have gone unnoticed.
Josh Beaumont (Sale Sharks)
If rumours are to be believed, Eddie Jones sees Beaumont Jr as a lock rather than his preferred position of number eight. With the arrival of Josh Strauss and Jono Ross to the Sharks, it is likely that Beaumont will establish himself as Sale’s starting lock, and will hope to force his name back into international contention.
Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors)
Arguably the most impressive of the England u18s in their successful Six Nations campaign, Hill is a dynamic lock/back row forward, who has also played for England u20. Having already represented Worcester in the A-League, Hill will almost certainly see Prem action this year, and will take confidence after seeing another age-grade lock, Nick Isiekwe, represent England against Argentina this Summer.
Michael Rhodes (Saracens)
Rhodes will become eligible for England in 2018, and Eddie Jones has made his admiration for the South African back row forward no secret. Rhodes started for Saracens in both of their back-to-back European Championships, and will hope to force his way into a stacked England back row. He will hope that, at age 29, Jones will not see him as too old to break into the England setup.
Sam Jones (Wasps)
Named in some of Eddie Jones’s recent squads, Sam Jones is a brilliant defensive back row forward, and is seen by some as a long term replacement for James Haskell for both club and country.
Zach Mercer (Bath)
Mercer’s breakthrough last season was nothing short of exceptional, and with the departure of David Denton, he should see himself get another consistent season of gametime for Bath this year. The England u20 captain looked unplayable during their World Cup campaign in Georgia, and many regard the former Merchiston Castle pupil as the best young number 8 in the world.
Stuart Townsend (Exeter Chiefs)
Townsend’s performance for Exeter in their Premiership semi final against Saracens will have definitely impressed Eddie Jones, and the talented young nine will be contesting with Exeter teammate Jack Maunder for an England birth, potentially replacing an aging Danny Care.
Harry Mallinder (Northampton Saints)
An inclusion in Eddie Jones’s most recent England training squad, Mallinder is a big, versatile back who was one of the only bright spots in what was a very dull season for the Saints last year. He could definitely find himself in the squad for the Autumn Internationals, and his versatility could see him work his way into the matchday 23.
Gabriel Ibitoye (Harlequins)
The former Trinity School pupil was extremely impressive for England in the recent u20 World Cup competition, scoring some excellent tries (see below) and has captained England at age grade level. Could be competing with fellow Quins academy winger Sam Aspland-Robinson for England honours in the future.
Jonny Williams (London Irish)
Williams broke through into the London Irish set up in the 2015-16 season, and represents many of the qualities Eddie Jones looks for in a centre. A big ball carrier, Williams will hope to have shaken off his injury problems, and could see himself as a potential replacement to aging Ben Te’o and injury prone Manu Tuilagi.
Joe Marchant (Harlequins)
The most likely player on this team to make his debut in the QBEs, Marchant is an agile, rapid outside centre, and his background in martial arts has certainly helped him to develop a very solid defensive game. The comparisons to Jonathan Joseph are inevitable, and Marchant will seek to elevate himself above the incumbent England outside.
Marcus Watson (Wasps)
A recent signing from Newcastle Falcons, Watson will hope to emulate the achievements of his brother, Anthony, one of the stars of the recent British and Irish Lions tour in New Zealand. With a background in rugby sevens, Watson’s pace and ball carrying ability will make him a fan’s favourite at Wasps, and a potential England bolter over the next few years.
Mike Haley (Sale Sharks)
Often name checked and admired by Eddie Jones, Haley is one of many young Sale Sharks backs who will most likely represent England over the coming seasons, and is seen as a long term option at 15 for England, potentially battling Elliot Daly or Anthony Watson for the role.
Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby)
An inclusion in a recent England training squad, Dunn is the second Bath hooker in this 23, having established himself in their match day squad last year. A solid scrummager and dependable ball carrier, Dunn has clearly impressed Eddie Jones, and could find himself in the squad for the QBEs if Jones chooses to rest Jamie George.
Nick Auterac (Bath Rugby)
Another Bath front row who suffered injury problems last season, Auterac’s fitness and pace are very rare for a prop (he conducts his fitness tests at Bath with their backs rather than their forwards), and he will be in contention for England caps over the next few years.
Jamal Ford-Robinson (Northampton Saints)
A fans favourite at Bristol, Ford-Robinson is a young tighthead prop who has been included by Eddie Jones in England training squads, and could be battling with teammate Paul Hill for an England place over the next few years.
Elliott Stooke (Bath Rugby)
Second row partner of England international Charlie Ewels, Stooke was one of a weak Bath pack’s better players last season, and will hope to continue his progress over the coming season.
James Chisholm (Harlequins)
Having represented England Saxons in 2016, Chisholm was instrumental for Harlequins last season, and at the age of just 22 could certainly see himself break into the England setup over the coming seasons. Able to play in any of the 3 back row positions, which will please Eddie Jones.
Harry Randall (Gloucester)
The livewire scrum half has been outstanding for England u20 and Hartpury College over the last season, and with Greg Laidlaw’s departure to Clermont, Randall could be poised to be one of the breakthrough stars of Gloucester’s upcoming season.
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
The 18 year old was recently included in an England training squad, and Eddie Jones has described him as ‘probably England’s fourth choice fly half right now’. Part of a Harlequins u18 team who were hugely successful in their Premiership victory, Smith also represented the side during their Singha Sevens campaign, and will undoubtedly be a mainstay of the England squad for many seasons to come, should he find first team appearances at Quins.
Sam James (Sale Sharks)
Able to slot in at fly half or either centre birth, James was key for Sale last season, and the club’s signings of Faf De Klerk and James O’Connor should see him pressure taken off his shoulders, allowing him to play his expansive, fast-paced game, which has earned him a place in England squads previously.
Comments on RugbyPass
Musk defends anonymous terrorism, fascism, threats against individuals and children etc etc But a Rugby club account….lock ‘em up!!!
1 Go to commentsActually the era defining moment came a few years earlier. February 2002 to be precise, when Michael D Higgins as finance minister at the time introduced his sports persons tax relief bill to the dial. As the politicians of the day stated “It seems to be another daft K Club frolic born in Kildare amongst the well-paid professional jockeys with whom the Minister plays golf” and that the scheme represented “a savage uncaring vision of Ireland and one that should be condemned”. The irfu and Leinster would be nowhere near the position they are in today without this key component of the finances.
2 Go to commentsIt is crystal clear that people who make such threats on line should be tried and imprisoned. Those with responsibility in social media companies who don’t facilitate this should be convicted. In real life, I have free speech to approach someone like Reinach and verbally threaten him. I am risking a conviction or a slap but I could do it. In the old days, If someone anonymously threatened someone by letter the police would ask and use evidence from the postal system. Unlike the Post, social media companies have complete instant and legal access to the content in social media. They make money from the data, billions. Yet, they turn a blind eye to terrorism, Nazi-ism and industrial levels of threats against individuals including their address and childrens schools being published online all from ananoymous accounts not real speech. They claim free speech. The fault is with the perps but also social media companies who think anonymous personas posting death threats constitutes free speech.
2 Go to commentsSo if this ain’t the best Irish team ever then who exactly is? I don’t remember any other Irish team being this good & winning a series in the Land of the Long White Cloud. Yes I may rip them often for 8 X QF RWC exits & twice not even making it to the QF, but they’re a damn good team who many think can only improve, including me!
67 Go to commentsNot a squeek out of Leinster for weeks about this match. So quiet. The first team have been quitely building for this encounter under Nienaber’s direction. All fresh, all highly motivated. They are expecting a season’s best performance from Northhampton. They will match that. They will be fresher and apparently they will have 80,000 out of the 83,000 shouting for them. I do expect Northhampton to turn up big time. Not to be missed. On a tangent it is evident how the loss of a few Premiership teams has in some respect helped other Premiership teams and England. More quality over less teams makes the teams better, which has a knock on effect on England. Not the only factor contributing to England’s rise but one of them.
2 Go to commentsOur very own monster teddy bear Ox😍💪
17 Go to commentsThis is might be the most generalised, entitled, patronising, out-of-pocket cultural indictment on a group of people you’ll ever see on what is supposedly a sports publication. I can only assume the author is weak like a woman or homosexual. I’m feeling an incredible range of emotions but I am not quite sure how to express them. I might go beat up a hockey player - assuming that’s okay with Duane and the boys? 🙂
9 Go to commentsBest thing the Welsh clubs could do is apply to join Gallagher prem surely be more exciting matches for there support than they have now.
2 Go to commentsRugbyPass writers are useless! you guys should get a real job because you all suck at writing about rugby!!!
9 Go to commentslooking forward to RWC2027 …. Boks on mission impossible for the Three-in-a-row, ABs to prove they being on par, France wishing to crown the “DuPont-era”, Ireland knocking on the Semi-Door ….. until then we’ll probably have to deal with Weird Ben’s fantasy-RWC23 (fun fact is, the drivel always creates a flooding of comments) …..
221 Go to commentsBen Smith you really make some good points in this article, the Springboks were not close to perfect and good still beat the All Blacks, imagine if they were as good as they were against France what a hiding the All Blacks would have gotten… maybe another Twickenham drubbing
221 Go to commentsIt is a good argument to keep the Rebels for one more year but also isnt this just opening the door as well for keeping them beyond 2025. If they can create some sort of financial stability in the next year and if their performances lift as they have this season then how would RA even cull them after that? It might be the most cost effective decision at this stage and perhaps many people are guilty of keeping relationships going because of the cost to decouple but then again when does that ever work out well?
24 Go to commentsDear Ben Smith you are a genius! God please become the next all blacks coach that can take on the mighty BOKS. Your rugby acumen is second to none - imagine your dads sperm bounced as unfortunately as that oval ball did….we would not be blessed with your presence. Just as the all blacks were missing a man you too are missing a chromosome for 80% of your life, so your insights are not only profound but ring true from your own experiences. Just as the TMO interfered with citing an illegal pass I am sure your local authorities interfere with your illegal passes you make on women - How dare they!!! God forbid that rugby be officiated fairly. You are the right man for the job. Next all blacks coach is here ladies and gentlemen Miss Ben Smith (He/She/They/IT)
221 Go to commentsHuge engine this guy and great to see him back ..The amount of clean outs he does at the ruck are ridiculous !!
3 Go to commentsThe level of desperation in this article is just embarrassing.
221 Go to commentsSome silly trolling in the comments.
9 Go to commentsEverywhere you turn some irish journo is advocating Ireland as the greatest, reasoning that the wc is a 4 year cycle event so, they say wc doesn’t matter it’s the rugby in between that should account for the accolade. If there was no wc then some substance could be gained, however in my opinion the moment that defined Ireland’s fate against the abs was 37 phases of repeated head bashing against a brick wall. If a change in strategy or a tinker with the game plan was executed then things could've been vastly different. And to point a finger the let down was in the hands of the number 10.
67 Go to commentsI have heard it asked if RA is essentially one of the part owners and I suppose therefor should be on the other side of these two parties. If they purchased the rebels and guaranteed them, and are responsible enough they incur Rebels penalties, where is this line drawn? Seems rough to have to pay a penalty for something were your involvement sees you on the side of the conned party, the creditors. If the Rebels directors themselves have given the club their money, 6mil worth right, why aren’t they also listed as sitting with RA and the Tax office? And the legal threat was either way, new Rebels or defunct, I can’t see how RA assume the threat was less likely enough to warrant comment about it in this article. Surely RA ignore that and only worry about whether they can defend it or not, which they have reported as being comfortable with. So in effect wouldn’t it be more accurate to say there is no further legal threat (or worry) in denying the deal. Unless the directors have reneged on that. > Returns of a Japanese team or even Argentinean side, the Jaguares, were said to be on the cards, as were the ideas of standing up brand new teams in Hawaii or even Los Angeles – crazy ideas that seemingly forgot the time zone issues often cited as a turn-off for viewers when the competition contained teams from South Africa. Those timezones are great for SR and are what will probably be needed to unlock its future (cant see it remaining without _atleast _help from Aus), day games here are night games on the West Coast of america, were potential viewers triple, win win. With one of the best and easiest ways to unlock that being to play games or a host a team there. Less good the further across Aus you get though. Jaguares wouldn’t be the same Jaguares, but I still would think it’s better having them than keeping the Rebels. The other options aren’t really realistic 25’ options, no. From reading this authors last article I think if the new board can get the investment they seem to be confident in, you keeping them simply for the amount of money they’ll be investing in the game. Then ditch them later if they’re not good enough without such a high budget. Use them to get Jaguares reintergration stronger, with more key players on board, and have success drive success.
24 Go to commentsYeah, and ours is waaay bigger than yours. Just as you's get a semi…oh hold on that never happens
67 Go to commentsLove watching
1 Go to comments