In the world of rugby banter, England vice-captain Ellis Genge and Anthony engage in a playful social media tiff over the intricacies of rugby positions!
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The friendly sparring started when Genge questioned the perceived ease of playing on the wing, sparking a lively exchange in the digital arena. “Playing wing don’t sound that hard,” quipped Genge during a candid moment on the For Love Of Rugby Podcast.
Former England speedster Watsons couldn’t resist joining the fray, injecting some cheeky humor into the conversation. “Could say the same about bending over and pushing. Think they’re hard coz they got a couple cauliflowers,” Watsons cleverly retorted on X, adding a touch of spice to the banter.
Rugby positions have always been characterised by the diverse range of physical and technical attributes required, making the sport accessible to players of all shapes and sizes. Each position demands a unique skill set, contributing to the rich tapestry of the game.
Despite the lighthearted exchange, there’s a deeper appreciation for the challenges and intricacies of each position on the rugby pitch.
From the agility and speed demanded by wingers to the brute strength required by forwards, every role plays a crucial part in the team’s success.
Predicting the England Team to Play Ireland in the 2024 Six Nations
Borthwick is set to name his match day 23 on Thursday, so we have decided to look into the near future and make our picks for the team to face Ireland.
BACK THREE
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
11. Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Right from the off, we have made a change to the starting XV that took on Scotland, with Freddie Steward back in the fold for the Irish test. The Leicester Tigers man was left out of the trip to Murrayfield, despite being fully fit to take on Gregor Townsend’s side. This tactical decision left many England fans scratching their heads, and voicing their conflicting opinions on social media. George Furbank started up in Scotland and marked his England return with an impressive try, as the visitors took off with a hot start.
We’ve retained the adaptable Northampton man to our squad, yet he takes a seat as a back-three replacement, with Steward picked to start. On his day, there are few better than the Leicester fullback under the high ball, and his talents will sure be called upon when Jack Crowley peppers the back-field with an aerial bombardment. We have left the wings unchanged, as the combination of Elliot Daly and Tommy Freeman has steadily emerged as England’s leading partnership in the wide channels.
Saracen’s resident Swiss army knife, Daly’s versatility across the back-three and midfield could well play dividends in the match’s latter stages, when heavy Irish hits take a toll on the England men. We back Tommy Freeman to continue his explosive international form, as the Northampton man has established himself as Borthwick’s break-through bolter of the campaign. Having missed just three minutes of action so far, we expect another ironman outing from Freeman this Saturday.
CENTRES
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
12. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)
Onto the centres, and we expect to see Henry Slade retain his spot in the England starting XV, despite his early withdrawal last time out against Scotland. Slade was not up to his usual standards in Edinburgh, and was replaced by his Exeter teammate Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. The wing’s introduction reshuffled the back-line against Scotland, yet we can see Borthwick reverting back to the status quo with Slade once again starting in the 13 jersey.
It was an anti-climactic week for Manu Tuilagi, as he was firmly in the media’s focus ahead of the Scotland test squad announcement. Borthwick found no place for the Sale man for the trip North of the border, despite his hotly anticipated return to match fitness. Instead, Ollie Lawrence was selected, yet the Bath centre had an underwhelming outing upon his own return from injury. We believe it is now time for Borthwick to call upon Tuilagi, with the Samoan-born centre eager to neutralise the gain-line threats of Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw, and provide an assortment of his own heavy carries.