After every weekend of the 2025 Six Nations, James Haskell and Mike Tindall have been answering Telegraph readers’ questions.
With the championship in the balance going to into Super Saturday, James Haskell returns to answer your questions about Ellis Genge at hooker, imagining Finn Russell in an England shirt and whether Jerusalem should be England’s anthem.
You can leave questions for the hosts of The Good, The Bad & The Rugby podcast at any point in the final week of this year’s championship.
‘He drives Harlequins’ attack’
Peter Godwin asked: If the Marcus Smith fullback experiment is not to be abandoned, should the England management be able to require Harlequins to field him at fullback to maximise the prospects of the plan succeeding?
I don’t think you can ever ask a club to do that. It might be an idea but he is obviously still a very good No 10 and he drives Harlequins’ attack. Ideally you want him to get more time at full-back but I’m not sure asking Harlequins is realistic.
‘It is not rocket science’
Bob Trouser: Have England finally got a decent 9 and 10 pairing?
Firstly, what a negative spin on it. England have always had a number of good nine-ten combinations. They have played three consistent games together, they play at club level together, they have a rapport. It is not rocket science why it is working. Other guys - Marcus Smith, Ben Spencer - have been good.
‘You need a battering ram’
Simon Keegan: Are we really convinced about the centres? Personally I would love to see Freeman at 13 and a proper 12. Wonder if this is why our attack is misfiring?
With Lawrence out, you could have Dingwall and Slade. You do need a bit of a battering ram in there. Slade and Freeman might be interesting. I’m not sure who the next cab of the rank would be. Oscar Beard is in the squad but Wales away would be a big ask.
‘Ruthlessness is making the right decisions’
Chine Meniek: If the World Cup was next week, can this squad bring it home?
No, I don’t think so. They are moving in the right direction, very competitive. They could one day build into that side but I don’t see a consistent level of ruthlessness, particularly in that last 20 minutes. Ruthlessness is not just throwing the ball around, it is choosing when to offload, making the right decisions. You put people to the sword by getting that balance right. When you get your tails up, forcing things can become a bit of an issue.
‘He has that stockiness’
Chris Amstrong: I think Genge would make a brilliant hooker. Thoughts? (And does a hooker have to throw in to the lineout or could it be?)
I could see why you might think that. I’m not sure he would want to be, but he could be if wanted to. I’m not sure what his throwing is like. But he has that build, that stockiness, to be a dynamic hooker.
‘Finn Russell is a brilliant player’
Tim Wood: How do you think England would have gone with Finn Russell at 10? Better, worse or the same?
I don’t know, I think Fin Smith is doing a pretty good job. Finn Russell is a brilliant player. It would take time to adjust around him, how he wants to play and what he brings. It takes time to build that rapport. He would only add to the team, but I don’t think it would be a miracle that would suddenly change everything.
‘Law changes have made things worse’
Paul Walker: Do you think that the law changes in the last 30 years have improved or detracted from the game?
They have made the game worse. It is more complicated, harder to understand, hasn’t helped the game. I don’t think it needed fiddling with.
‘Ollie Lawrence was a shoo-in’
Charlie Atkinson: How many England players would Andy Farrell select for the Lions tour this Summer? Not very many I suspect.
Maro would be a certainty. Guys in the front row, Ellis Genge and Will Stuart. Jamie George, he was a potential pick at the start but I think he could be in there. Back row wise, Ben Earl potentially, Tom and Ben Curry have been playing very well but there is a lot of competition. Fin Smith is playing well. Ollie Lawrence was a shoo-in but is now injured, Tommy Freeman is scoring tries. Many are in the conversation.
‘God Save The King is very English’
Myles Beresford: Is it time England had their own National anthem, a song we can own and sing with the pride that the other home nations have in theirs? I would suggest a really good candidate already exists, Jerusalem.
I would not have Jerusalem. I used to love the artistry of Flower of Scotland, Ireland’s Call, the pomp and circumstance of La Marseillaise. But when you look at God Save The King, it is very English. We are here, respect the king, no nonsense. Everyone is flamboyant but we’re coming for you, and I just quite like it. No frills, not a lot of style or pazzazz, but very English. Cross us at your peril.
‘As I fan I just want to see the best spectacle
Emily Horsman: Who is your fave player from each country and how well has each player from the six countries played out of a scale from 1 to 10?
Dupont is incredible, Ardie Savea too. I like Andrew Kellaway from Australia. Caelan Doris for Ireland. Finn for Scotland. Jac Morgan is brilliant for Wales. I’m not particularly nationalistic since I stopped playing. As a fan I just want to see the best spectacle. I don’t get irrationally depressed if England lose any more.
‘If you sneeze it can be a red card’
Peter Bailey: What is the value of a “red card” now? Surely fairer would be off for the rest of the match and severity dealt with by the disciplinary people after. Accidental one-match ban or dangerous so three or more?
It still carries a lot of weight, but it doesn’t ruin the game. The game can keep flowing. If you sneeze on someone now you get a red card, so it has to be that way.
Telegraph Sport has teamed up with rugby podcast The Good, The Bad and The Rugby and the show’s sponsors Continental Tyres for the duration of this year’s Six Nations. To submit a question for next week’s Q&A, see here.
