Steve Borthwick is set to name his first 36-man Six Nations squad on Tuesday and the England manager has found himself spinning a lot of wheels in terms of his selection plans due to various distractions.
As always, there were complications and setbacks. The national team will be missing at least three players who have the potential to become members of the starting XV. George Furbank, Emmanuel Fay-Waboso, Sam Underhill. Furbank, who was the country’s standout full-back for most of last year, is likely to be available again during the Championship after recovering from a broken arm, but the other two absent players are not expected to take part in the entire tournament.
Underhill’s Test career has been regularly interrupted by medical issues and this latest deal comes after he was overlooked in one of the initial tranches of 17 enhanced EPS contracts awarded to key members of the team by Borthwick.
These significant administrative developments, which come as part of the new club and country Professional Gaming Partnership (PGP) deal, are likely to influence Borthwick’s decision-making. This is because Borthwick tends to prefer contracted players over whom he has more control. In 50-50 deliberation.
Next week England will relocate to Girona for a warm-weather training camp ahead of their Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin on February 1. Borthwick and his assistants face the urgent task of putting together a productive, revamped line-up with some players at their peak. But many others are striving for better shape or sharpness. It is important work that is done on time.
In last year’s Six Nations, England advanced with a thrilling last-kick win over Ireland, but suffered dramatic defeats the rest of the way, beating an underwhelming Japan just twice in their remaining six games. Here we pick the 36-man squad that will return England to Six Nations contention.
Steve Borthwick is expected to name his provisional 36-man squad for the Six Nations on Thursday.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is one of several stars who will miss out due to injury.
The team is looking forward to a better Six Nations than last year, where they finished third.
hundred 3
Furbank will sit out at least the first two games – away to Ireland and home to France.
His absence will likely see Marcus Smith reassigned to full-back despite the outstanding performances of Leicester’s number 15 specialist Freddie Steward, with Borthwick keen to consider the surging Tiger on the wing. It might be tempting.
Tommy Freeman and fellow Saint Ollie Sleightholme are team certainties and likely starters, while Sale’s Tom Roebuck has valuable aerial ability while clamping down on escorting runners.
Sadly Bristol flyer Gabriel Ibitoye is out injured so Cadan Murley is the next wing challenger while Elliot Daly is experienced, in form and offers utility value.
My recommendations: Daly (69 caps), Freeman (16 caps), Murley (uncapped), Roebuck (3 caps), Sleightholme (5 caps) and Steward (35 caps).
Marcus Smith is likely to play full-back in George Furbank’s initial absence.
midfielder
This is where the problem lies and needs to be checked. A move away from the Blitz defense could change Borthwick’s thinking regarding his centre, and set him up against Exeter veteran Henry Slade, who has often struggled to convert his abundant talent into his best Test displays.
Alex Lozowski is in his 13th form for the country and Paris-based Joe Marchant is sorely missed.
Ollie Lawrence needs to keep his place and there is a strong, time-saving case for pairing him with Bath assistant Max Ojomoh. Max Ojomoh is playing well and is worth a try ahead of Quins pair Luke Northmore and Oscar Beard and the lighter Saints. Faithful Fraser Dingwall.
My recommendations: Lawrence (31 games), Lozowski (5 games), Northmore (uncapped), Ojomo (uncapped) and Slade (69).
Henry Slade joined my team but struggled to make it on the big stage with England
Alex Lozowski deserves a call from Borthwick. He is the 13th best-skilled player in the country.
Luke Northmore is one of four uncapped stars who make up my provisional 36-man squad.
medium
Here’s some good news. Alex Mitchell returns in time to return as starting scrum-half after missing the November series. At 9 o’clock the only question is who should represent?
Ben Spencer could miss out after starting the autumn as first choice given the return of Sale’s electric Raffi Quirke, who has proven more effective at Test level than Bristol’s sparkling but diminutive Harry Randall. Jack van Poortvliet has started England’s last two Tests and should also be included in the squad.
All three contracted fly-halves will be included, with Finn Smith (10), Marcus Smith (full-back) and George Ford all close to returning from injury and closing in on 100 games.
My recommendations: Ford (98 caps), Mitchell (18 caps), Quirke (2 caps), F Smith (6 caps), M Smith (39 caps) and Van Poortvliet (16 caps).
Alex Mitchell has returned from injury and is set to become England’s first-choice scrum-half.
front row
It’s a huge shame that Gloucester’s massive England Under-20 prop Afolabi Fasogbon has picked up an injury. Because he did enough to justify a call-up. His fellow Junior World Cup winner Asher ‘Ash Beast’ Opoku-Fordjour could be included primarily as a tighthead, while Leicester’s Joe Heyes is also pushing for a return ahead of Trevor Davison.
Ellis Genge is an excellent loose head and Fin Baxter needs time to regroup after being targeted in a scrum this season, so Bevan Rodd could come in.
At Hooker, captain Jamie George is under intense pressure from Saracens team-mate Theo Dan and Sale’s energetic Lion Luke Cowan-Dickie.
My recommendations: Cowan-Dickie (44 caps), Dan (16 caps), Genge (66 caps), George (97 caps), Heyes (7 caps), Opoku-Fordjour (1 cap), Rodd (5 caps), Stuart (45 caps) ) ).
Captain Jamie George faces competition for hooker from Theo Dan and Luke Cowan-Dickie.
second row
This is arguably the area of ​​least interest. Maro Itoje is a stereotypical player, while George Martin has the prohibitive physical presence and brute edge to serve as an ideal partner in the engine room.
The choice for undergraduates is more complex, in part because there aren’t as many new competitors making a strong case. Not while Junior Kpoku is out of Racing 92, anyway.
Charlie Ewels and Alex Coles are solid squad men to varying degrees, but Nick Isiekwe has done more to earn his place and is still operational at six, and Jonny Hill was a worthy reminder of last month’s international class for sale. Another shot.
My recommendations: Hill (13 games), Isiekwe (15 games), Itoje (88 games), Martin (19 games).
Maro Itoje and George Martin are expected to join England’s second row.
back row
England have surprising depth here despite the loss of Underhill. Ollie Chessum will be available, which is a huge boost for Borthwick. Because the Leicester player is the ideal choice for the blindside.
Tom Willis should be included as he is a homegrown form player and is considered a starting eight if he can replace Ben Earl, who features in the squad alongside the Curry twins Ben and Tom.
Ethan Roots played better for Exeter than Chandler Cunningham-South did for Harlequins, but the latter is contracted with a higher ‘ceiling’ and could make the cut.
Alex Dombrandt could be usurped by Willis, while Northampton’s Henry Pollock is a new sensation who should be fast tracked.
My recommendations: Chessum (23 caps), Cunningham-South (11 caps), B Curry (6 caps), T Curry (56 caps), Earl (37 caps), Pollock (uncap), T Willis (1 cap).
Saracens’ Tom Willis should be considered an opportunity to further develop his number eight cap.
However, he will have to replace 27-year-old Ben Earl, the leading man in the squad.
My England XV Against Ireland in Dublin on February 1: M Smith; Freeman, Lawrence, Slade, Slateholm; F Smith, Mitchell; Genji, George (Captain), Stuart; Itoje, Martin; Chesum, Earl and T Currie.
Last words – It looks like the RFU are trying to make a laughing stock of themselves. Rugby’s governing body in England is not acting in the best interests of the game here.
Thursday evening’s events confirmed as much as the union splits its hair and tries to find spurious grounds to reject a letter from more than 150 clubs calling for a special general meeting and a vote of no confidence in chief executive Bill Sweeney.
Rather than playing against the music, the RFU is scrambling to find loopholes, techniques and detailed delay tactics. An institution with such status is completely out of place. Sports in this country are an embarrassment. Stop avoiding and moving forward.
The day of reckoning is approaching, so don’t hide and walk towards it. It doesn’t matter whether it leads to root and branch upheaval. The point is that vast swaths of the British game demand real accountability and real scrutiny, and it must happen. Enough of the petty nonsense.
The union must represent the sport and the sport is raging with executive pay and poor management, so for better or worse, this issue must be addressed and dealt with. This ugly period of civil war is so destructive that it must end properly.
