The England squad that faces Japan and New Zealand this summer will be named by Steve Borthwick on Monday, after this weekend’s Premier League final.
Telegraph Sport’s experts pick the players they would like to see take flight as part of a 36-strong traveling party.
Do you agree or disagree with our writers? Let us know in the comments below.
‘Barbeary, Randall and Ewels unhappy’
Props: Joe Marler, Fin Baxter, Bevan Rodd, Dan Cole, Trevor Davison, Will Stuart
Whores: Jamie George, Theo Dan, Curtis Langdon
Locks: Maro Itoje, George Martin, Alex Coles, Rusi Tuima
Back row: Sam Underhill, Ben Earl, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ted Hill, Tom Willis, Tom Curry, Ethan Roots
Scrum halves: Alex Mitchell, Jack van Poortvliet, Ben Spencer
Fly halves: George Ford, Marcus Smith, Fin Smith
Centers: Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Luke Northmore, Fraser Dingwall
Back three: Tommy Freeman, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tom Roebuck, Ollie Sleightholme, George Furbank, Freddie Steward
Putting all these names together highlights England’s need to build depth and be bold, as Steve Borthwick has both veterans and newcomers, without too much in between. My tougher decisions are probably Bevan Rood over Beno Obano, Tom Willis over Alfie Barbeary and Alex Dombrandt, Jack van Poortvliet over Harry Randall and Freddie Steward over Max Malins. Charlie Ewels is also unlucky.
I would also have liked to have included Greg Fisilau, Raffi Quirke, Max Ojomoh and Joe Carpenter and it is encouraging that Borthwick has taken a closer look at those players in camp. As for Tom Curry, I’m not sure how much more there is to gain by releasing him all summer, and he’s ahead of his brother. A split of 20 forwards and 16 backs is helped by the versatility of Marcus Smith, Luke Northmore and Tommy Freeman. That way I can also bring Rusi Tuima, who could be a bit of a wildcard.
‘Questions about George’s form’
Props: Joe Marler, Beno Obano, Fin Baxter, Dan Cole, Will Stuart, Trevor Davison
Whores: Theo Dan, Curtis Langdon, Jamie George
Locks: George Martin, Maro Itoje, Alex Coles, Rusi Tuima
Back row: Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl, Ethan Roots, Chandler Cunningham-South, Alfie Barbeary, Tom Willis
Scrum halves: Alex Mitchell, Jack van Poortvliet, Ben Spencer
Fly halves: George Ford, Marcus Smith, Fin Smith
Centers: Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Fraser Dingwall, Luke Northmore
Back three: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman, Ollie Sleightholme, Tom Roebuck, George Furbank, Freddie Steward
The whores choose themselves, although there are questions about George’s form. The bravery of Marler, Obano and Baxter sees Rodd narrowly miss out and, by the same logic, Davison is put on the list. With Ollie Chessum injured, Tuima comes into the final conversation, while Barbeary and Willis are two new faces in the back row, to give England some spice against No. 8. And as I wrote this week, I’d take Tom Curry back straight away – unfortunately in place of his brother – as he has not played all season.
Behind the pack, the three selected scrum halves form the competition’s form trio; the same can be said for fly halves, the easiest choice of the bunch. England’s center depth is a concern, but Dingwall is in a great position for Saints, while Northmore has the potential to be Test grade. If the Quins center can recapture some of the 2022 form before injury struck, he will be well worth his place in the squad. The two full-backs choose themselves, but without Elliot Daly on the wing an opportunity arises for the Premier League’s man of the moment, Sleightholme. The Saint competing with teammate Freeman and Feyi-Waboso for two wing spots is box office. Roebuck’s air power shouldn’t be left out either.
‘Where are the heads?’
Props: Joe Marler, Fin Baxter, Bevan Rodd, Dan Cole, Trevor Davison, Will Stuart
Whores: Jamie George, Theo Dan, Curtis Langdon
Locks: Maro Itoje, George Martin, Alex Coles
Back row: Sam Underhill, Ben Earl, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ted Hill, Tom Willis, Ben Curry, Alex Dombrandt
Scrum halves: Alex Mitchell, Ben Spencer, Jack van Poortvliet
Fly halves: George Ford, Marcus Smith, Fin Smith
Centers: Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Fraser Dingwall
Back three: Tommy Freeman, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tom Roebuck, George Furbank, Freddie Steward, Joe Carpenter, Ollie Sleighthome.
Where are the tight heads? Dan Cole being asked to tour again and close out England’s scrum sheds light on the dearth of front-row options for the England head coach. Archie Griffin has spoken out for Wales this year, while the likes of Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Billy Sela need more game time.
It is the only position of concern ahead of a tour in which Borthwick should look to add depth to a side that has finished the Six Nations with flying colours. Joe Carpenter and Tom Roebuck have set their Premiership campaigns on fire, as has Ben Curry, while brother Tom has only just returned to action and could benefit from a summer at home.
‘Mercer is my wildcard’
Props: Joe Marler, Fin Baxter, Beno Obano, Dan Cole, Trevor Davison, Will Stuart
Whores: Jamie George, Theo Dan, Curtis Langdon
Locks: Alex Coles, George Martin, Rusi Tuima, Nick Isiekwe
Back row: Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Ben Curry, Ted Hill, Zach Mercer, Tom Pearson
Scrum half: Alex Mitchell, Jack Van Poortvliet, Ben Spencer
Fly-half: Marcus Smith, George Ford, Fin Smith
Centers: Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Fraser Dingwall, Luke Nothmore
Back three: George Furbank, Freddie Steward, Tommy Freeman, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tom Roebuck, Ollie Sleightholme
First of all, there is no Maro Itoje or Tom Curry. Itoje was only able to play one full match on tour before exceeding the player welfare limit, while Curry has played just 30 minutes since the World Cup. Will their absence hurt England? Yes, but it’s more important that they have a summer to rest after a World Cup season heading into a Lions year.
There are so many positions where I found myself indecisively floppy flipping, such as between Bevan Rodd and Beno Obano at loosehead or Tom Pearson and Ethan Roots, which highlights the depth Steve Borthwick has to choose from, although the second row options are a little thin due to their absence of Itoje and the injured Ollie Chessum. My only wild card would be Zach Mercer, who for whatever reason wasn’t included in Borthwick’s original roster. While England are far from short of options in the back row, he is one of those unique players that I would love to see in a Test arena.
‘Obano outperformed Rodd in semi-final’
Props: Joe Marler, Fin Baxter, Beno Obano, Dan Cole, Trevor Davison, Will Stuart
Whores: Jamie George, Theo Dan, Curtis Langdon
Locks: Maro Itoje, George Martin, Alex Coles, Rusi Tuima
Back row: Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ted Hill, Tom Willis, Ethan Roots
Scrum halves: Alex Mitchell, Jack van Poortvliet, Ben Spencer
Fly halves: George Ford, Marcus Smith, Fin Smith
Centers: Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Fraser Dingwall
Back three: Tommy Freeman, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tom Roebuck, Ollie Sleightholme, George Furbank, Joe Carpenter, Freddie Steward
You’ll notice there are only three centers – that’s because Freeman can play at thirteen (nine starts there for Northampton this season, including in the Champions Cup semi-final) and his size and speed in that channel need to be explored at test level . . Obano outperformed Bevan Rodd in the semi-finals and makes the cut. Otherwise largely as expected, with Sale’s Carpenter the beneficiary of Freeman’s confidence to fill in in midfield, meaning the 20-year-old full-back makes the group.
Luke Northmore could have been an option and if that had been the case then Steward might have dropped out altogether for two reasons; England know what they have there, and he is no longer an automatic selection having not played in the last three games of the Six Nations. The most intriguing players from the above group? Baxter, Langdon, Tuima, Sleightholme. All in warm form, and they all need an outlet. It’s hard to think of a more agreeable potential selection than Ted Hill, who continues to play the entire match.