Steve Borthwick will name his Six Nations squad on Wednesday as England begin a new World Cup cycle.
The England head coach must decide how many new players to include in the group and who remains from the old guard.
Telegraph Sport’s rugby writers choose the players they want to select. Do you agree with them? Let us know in the comments section.
Forward (20)
Beno Obano (bath)
Fin Baxter (harlequins)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Theo Dan (Saracens)
Curtis Langdon (Saints from Northampton)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
Will Stuart (Bad)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Coles (Saints from Northampton)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Sam Underhill (bath)
Guy Pepper (Newcastle Falcons)
Ben Curry (sale sharks)
Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)
Alfie Barbeary (Bad)
Zach Mercer (Gloucester)
Backs (16)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
Ben Spencer (Bad)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
George Ford (sale sharks)
Fin Smith (Saints from Northampton)
Marcus Smith (harlequins)
Ollie Lawrence (Bad)
Henry Slade (Exeter chefs)
Tommy Freeman (Saints from Northampton)
Olly Hartley (Saracens)
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
George Furbank (Saints from Northampton)
Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Roebuck (sale sharks)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Chiefs of Exeter)
I tried to reward the form as much as possible, while keeping some experienced options. Uncapped players like Tom Roebuck, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Greg Fisilau would have a real chance of starting England’s opening match against Italy.
Perhaps the biggest mistake of the Eddie Jones era was the lack of new blood after the 2019 World Cup, when the team became stale and festering. This selection would function as a new chapter. Even taking the various absences into account, this would feel like a good World Cup refresh, with a new back row and back three combinations where the competition is wide open.
I also fully expected the likes of Asher Opoku-Fordjour, the precocious Sale Sharks tighthead, to come into the mix over the course of this World Cup cycle, but at the moment his education is better served in the Premier League. I changed my mind about 29 times about my back row combination and was reluctant to leave out Tom Pearson. If Ellis Genge and Joe Marler both have injuries, only one will make it.
Forward (20)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Fin Baxter (harlequins)
Joe Marler (harlequins)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Theo Dan (Saracens)
Curtis Langdon (Saints from Northampton)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Will Stuart (Bad)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Moon (Saints from Northampton)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Tom Pearson (Saints from Northampton)
Alfie Barbeary (Bad)
Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs)
Sam Underhill (bath)
Ben Curry (sale sharks)
Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)
Backs (16)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Ben Spencer (Bad)
Fin Smith (Saints from Northampton)
Marcus Smith (harlequins)
George Ford (sale sharks)
Henry Slade (Exeter chefs)
Ollie Lawrence (Bad)
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Fraser Dingwall (Saints from Northampton)
George Furbank (Saints from Northampton)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Tommy Freeman (Saints from Northampton)
Will Muir (Bad)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Chiefs of Exeter)
Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers)
I’ll come clean. I didn’t know Ethan Roots, through his father, qualified to represent England before Steve Borthwick mentioned the New Zealander at the England head coach’s press session at Twickenham last week. But having been impressed with Roots’ efforts for Exeter Chiefs since the start of the season, I can see the 24-year-old entering camp and staking a claim. England don’t have as many resourceful, combative flankers as Roots and they need to replace Courtney Lawes somehow. Naturally, Borthwick will consider fielding Maro Itoje, George Martin and Ollie Chessum together.
My most notable omission is probably Kyle Sinckler, who was better against Sale Sharks on Friday. However, Joe Heyes deserves a chance. Assuming Lewis Ludlam isn’t ready, Alfie Barbeary is an abrasive addition to the base of the scrum while Tom Willis is injured. Alex Dombrandt was in good form, but just missed the ball.
This group, which assumes Ellis Genge, Joe Marler and Anthony Watson have recovered from their respective ailments, includes a few newcomers and quite a bit of experience. Fraser Dingwall is a stylish center who could fill the problematic number 12 jersey. There are plenty more tyros and domestic artists I’d like to see in the mix for England A; Phil Brantingham, Tarek Haffar, Gabriel Oghre, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Josh Caulfield, Joe Batley, Sam Graham, Zach Mercer, Guy Pepper, Sam Bedlow, Ollie Hartley, Dan Kelly, Ollie Sleightholme and Tom Roebuck to name a few .
Forward (20)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Joe Marler (harlequins)
Phil Brantingham (Newcastle Falcons)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Theo Dan (Saracens)
Curtis Langdon (Saints from Northampton)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)
Asher Opoku-Fordjour (sharks sale)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Coles (Saints from Northampton)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Tom Pearson (Saints from Northampton)
Guy Pepper (Newcastle Falcons)
Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)
Sam Underhill (bath)
Alfie Barbeary (Bad)
Ben Curry (sale sharks)
Backs (16)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Ben Spencer (Bad)
Fin Smith (Saints from Northampton)
Marcus Smith (harlequins)
George Ford (sale sharks)
Henry Slade (Exeter chefs)
Ollie Lawrence (Bad)
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Olly Hartley (Saracens)
George Furbank (Saints from Northampton)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Will Muir (Bad)
Tommy Freeman (Saints from Northampton)
Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints)
Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers)
This squad, according to Borthwick’s criteria, is based on Premiership form and combines wise owls such as Joe Marler, Dan Cole and Danny Care with young players such as Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Guy Pepper and Olly Hartley. The Saints trio will be rewarded for their imperious club form – with George Furbank and Ollie Sleightholme in particular improving – while Greg Fisilau and the returning Henry Slade represent fellow Premier League high-flyers Exeter.
All four selected second rows feature blindsides, giving the rear row a wealth of options. That said, if I were to pick a starting team today, I would include all three of Ollie Chessum, George Martin and Maro Itoje – perhaps with the latter on the blind side. Hartley, the 21-year-old inside centre, has produced some eye-catching displays for Saracens in an impoverished area for England. With Slade and Ollie Lawrence the likely starting combination, Hartley’s experience in camp could be invaluable going forward, while he has already shown glimpses of his powerful running game for his club this season.
Apologies in advance to the hipsters or those driving the hype train, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is a prodigious talent, but I’m not convinced he’s quite ready yet.
Forward (20)
Beno Obano (bath)
Tarek Haffar (Saints from Northampton)
Fin Baxter (harlequins)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Theo Dan (Saracens)
Jack Walker (harlequins)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Will Stuart (Bad)
Asher Opoku-Fordjour (sharks sale)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Jonny Hill (sale sharks)
Lewis Ludlam (Saints from Northampton)
Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Tom Pearson (Saints from Northampton)
Alfie Barbeary (Bad)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)
Backs (16)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
George Furbank (Saints from Northampton)
Tommy Freeman (Saints from Northampton)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Chiefs of Exeter)
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Joe Cokanasiga (bath)
Henry Slade (Exeter chefs)
Ollie Lawrence (Bad)
Will Joseph (harlequins)
Fraser Dingwall (Saints from Northampton)
George Ford (sale sharks)
Marcus Smith (harlequins)
Fin Smith (Saints from Northampton)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Ben Spencer (Bad)
At the start of a new World Cup cycle, it’s out with the old and in with the new. No prizes for guessing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Exeter’s speed and strength doctor, gets his first call-up to the England squad. Given their streetwise performances in the Premier League, George Furbank and Henry Slade are welcomed back into the international fold.
With Tom Pearson, the ex-London Irish opener having gained ground for Northampton all season, along with Exeter youngster Ethan Roots, there are reasons to be optimistic that the large Courtney Lawes-sized hole can be filled. However, Hooker’s discreet lack of cover extends into 2024 – the returning Luke Cowan-Dickie remains too cooked for the Test rugby oven – so Theo Dan and Jack Walker sneak in. Alex Dombrandt has been revived by his World Cup omission.
The hope, of course, is that Ellis Genge (hamstring) and Joe Marler (arm) will return to full fitness, but a number of new faces have the chance to prove themselves amid a front-row shortage. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Finn Baxter and Tarek Haffar have been fireballs of energy for their respective clubs and will benefit immensely from dealing with some wise old heads.