How is England Rugby World Cup 2023 squad taking shape
Jack Willis is a certain starter but problems remain in midfield and at No 8: After a DISMAL Six Nations threw up more questions than answers, how is Steve Borthwick’s England squad taking shape for a World Cup that starts in just over FIVE MONTHS?
- England endured a miserable Six Nations, winning just two of their five matches
- New head coach Steve Borthwick now turns his attention to the World Cup
- Sportsmail assesses Borthwick’s options for his 33-man squad in September
Steve Borthwick’s first Six Nations campaign as head coach was a disappointment as England lost three matches in the Championship for the third year in a row.
Borthwick’s reign got off to the worst possible start with a home defeat by Scotland and while losses were expected against No 1 and 2 ranked Ireland and France, the manner of England’s Twickenham capitulation against Les Bleus was a cause for alarm in World Cup year. Even the wins over Wales and Italy came with problems as England struggled to click into gear under their new coach.
The good news for Borthwick and England is that the Six Nations is not the main event this year, but the bad news is the World Cup starts in just over five months and they look well behind the pace set by the top teams on the planet.
Borthwick did use the Championship to try out new players and different combinations, however, and he should have a clearer picture in his mind of who he wishes to take to France in his 33-man squad – up from 31 in 2019 – in September.
Here, Sportsmail runs through every position and assesses Borthwick’s options, highlighting those who look certain picks, probable picks and outside chances – provided the players in question are fit come selection time at the end of August.
England head coach Steve Borthwick will pick his 33-man squad for the World Cup in August
Jack Willis was a standout performer for England despite their poor Six Nations campaign
FULL-BACK
Definite pick: Freddie Steward
Outside chance: George Furbank
One of the few positives for England in the last couple of years has been the emergence of Steward at full-back. Rock solid under the high ball and with a handy knack of scoring tries, the 22-year-old Leicester Tiger remains a certain starter in France if fit despite his harsh red card against Ireland.
The versatility of England’s wing options means Borthwick doesn’t need to select another out-and-out full-back, but if he wants to then the creative Furbank is the next in line and offers something different to Steward.
WING
Definite picks: Anthony Watson, Henry Arundell
Probable picks: Max Malins, Ollie Hassell-Collins
Outside chance: Tommy Freeman, Jack Nowell, Cadan Murley, Joe Cokanasiga, Jonny May
After injury initially ruled him out of England’s Six Nations squad, Watson finished the campaign as Borthwick’s first-choice wing. His experience and the fact Borthwick signed him for Leicester mean he’s a certain pick if fit, while London Irish prodigy Arundell will definitely be in the squad even if if he’s not a starter.
Hassell-Collins and Malins started the Six Nations as Borthwick’s wings before getting injured and being dropped, but if they maintain their fine club form they should stay ahead of the long queue of wings waiting behind them.
CENTRE
Definite picks: Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade
Probable picks: Manu Tuilagi, Elliot Daly
Outside chance: Dan Kelly, Joe Marchant
To say Borthwick’s selection at centre has been muddled would be an understatement. Having been surprisingly left out of Borthwick’s initial squad, Lawrence emerged to form the new coach’s preferred pairing with Slade before the France debacle. Both should have enough credit in the bank though to make the World Cup, but Marchant – selected for the Scotland defeat before being discarded until a bench role in the final round – has work to do.
Daly and Kelly – another of Borthwick’s former Tigers – were tipped to start the Six Nations together before injury struck and both will be determined to make amends for their clubs at the back end of the season. Tuilagi’s performance against Ireland – having been called-up, dropped, banned, then selected to start – probably has him ahead of Kelly at the moment, while Daly’s versatility would be an asset.
FLY-HALF
Definite pick: Owen Farrell
Probable picks: Marcus Smith, George Ford
Outside chance: Fin Smith
England’s selection problems at centre and fly-half were intertwined during the Six Nations as Borthwick struggled to find the right midfield balance. Farrell is now back in possession of the No 10 shirt after a solid performance against Ireland, which only served to highlight how much his leadership skills were missed against France.
Smith’s X-factor talent and contrasting style to Farrell means his place in the squad is firmly pencilled in, though with larger squads at this year’s World Cup Borthwick may be tempted to pick a third fly-half in Ford – another of his Leicester title-winners – knowing that Farrell can also cover at inside centre.
England lost both matches that Marcus Smith started at fly-half during the Six Nations
Manu Tuilagi was called in from the cold for England’s final Six Nations match against Ireland
SCRUM-HALF
Definite picks: Jack van Poortvleit, Alex Mitchell
Probable pick: Ben Youngs
Outside chance: Raffi Quirke, Harry Randall
While he has frustrated at times with his inconsistency, 21-year-old Leicester star Van Poortvleit has done enough to make Borthwick’s squad if fit. Northampton’s Mitchell, only 25 himself, caught the eye during the Six Nations off the bench and will push his rival for a start.
122-cap veteran Youngs was reduced to an unfamiliar reserve role during the Six Nations, and Borthwick may wish to keep his experience in the squad to help the youngsters around him, though Quirke and Randall are knocking on the door.
HOOKER
Definite pick: Jamie George, Luke Cowan-Dickie
Probable pick: Jack Walker
Outside chance: Nic Dolly, George McGuigan
Another rare positive from England’s Six Nations campaign, George is a shoo-in for Borthwick’s squad and should be joined by his long-time rival for a starting spot if Cowan-Dickie recovers from an ankle injury that has kept him out since January.
Harlequins hooker Walker did not disgrace himself during the Six Nations and is now the established third-choice, though his position could come under threat if 23-year-old Dolly returns from a horror knee injury before the end of the season for Leicester.
LOOSEHEAD PROP
Definite pick: Ellis Genge
Probable picks: Mako Vunipola, Bevan Rodd
Outside chance: Joe Marler, Val Rapava-Ruskin
Having been behind Vunipola and Marler in the pecking order for years, Genge is now firmly established in England’s No 1 jersey and enjoyed a decent Six Nations, despite being captain for the mauling by France.
Behind him, Borthwick is likely to pick two understudies, with Saracens veteran Vunipola having operated from the bench in the Six Nations and young Sale prospect Rodd itching for more minutes. 82-cap Marler could force himself back into the reckoning with a strong finish to the season with Harlequins.
TIGHTHEAD PROP
Definite pick: Kyle Sinckler
Probable pick: Dan Cole, Will Stuart
Outside chance: Joe Heyes
Like his Bristol team-mate, Sinckler is well-established as a starting prop for England and is a certainty for Borthwick’s World Cup squad after a solid Six Nations.
With the re-emergence of Cole as an international force and the return from injury of Bath’s Stuart, England suddenly look well stocked in a former problem position and both should make the squad, with Cole’s Leicester team-mates Heyes waiting in the wings should injuries strike.
SECOND ROW
Definite picks: Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, Ollie Chessum
Probable pick: David Ribbans
Outside chance: Nick Isiekwe, Jonny Hill, Joe Launchbury
In a traditional position of strength for England, and one in which he played, Borthwick has no shortage of options though will be hoping his undisputed first-choice Itoje regains his world class form after a poor Six Nations. Lawes’ injury problems haunted him again during the Championship but his experience and ability to play blindside make him a certain pick, while another of Borthwick’s former Leicester players Chessum enjoyed an impressive breakthrough campaign and looks certain of a squad place if he recovers from a dislocated ankle in time.
The fourth lock position is up for grabs. Isiekwe’s game-time was limited during the Six Nations despite an impressive season for Saracens, while Eddie Jones favourite Hill has fallen out of favour. That left the door open for Northampton’s Ribbans to start against Ireland and he impressed, though the experienced Launchbury’s return from Japan to Harlequins in the summer may interest Borthwick.
Courtney Lawes has been riddled with injuries but remains a key player for England when fit
FLANKER
Definite picks: Tom Curry, Lewis Ludlam, Jack Willis
Outside chance: Ben Earl, Ben Curry, Sam Underhill
Willis was arguably England’s best player during the Six Nations and has not just booked his World Cup spot, but a starting place too. Ludlam’s all-action displays and versatility mean he is a certain squad member though Tom Curry’s presence was sorely missed through injury and he’ll be straight back in to the side when fit.
With locks capable of playing blindside and with specialist front row and half-back positions needing extra cover, Borthwick may settle with those three. Like Jones, he doesn’t seem taken by Saracens’ Earl despite his brilliant club form, and while Ben Curry didn’t let himself down during the Six Nations, his best hope of World Cup selection is if his twin brother remains unavailable. Underhill was overlooked for the Six Nations squad but has World Cup experience and could force his way in.
No 8
Probable picks: Alex Dombrandt, Sam Simmonds
Outside chances: Billy Vunipola, Zach Mercer
A problem position for England since Vunipola’s form began to dip a few years ago. Dombrandt started every match of the Six Nations, deservedly so having been the form No 8 in the Premiership for the past couple of seasons, though he hardly set the world alight. Simmonds, for so long overlooked by Jones despite his blistering club form with Exeter, made Borthwick’s squad but didn’t play a minute, however his ability to play flanker too make him a good squad option.
If Borthwick is unconvinced by Dombrandt and Simmonds, he does have two strong options. Recalling Vunipola before he heads to Japan is one, particularly if he finishes the season strongly with Saracens, while turning to 25-year-old Mercer – who is joining Gloucester from Montpellier after two successful years in France – is the other.
POSSIBLE ENGLAND WORLD CUP SQUAD
FULL BACK: Freddie Steward
WING: Henry Arundell, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Max Malins, Anthony Watson
CENTRE: Elliot Daly, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi
FLY-HALF: Owen Farrell, George Ford, Marcus Smith
SCRUM-HALF: Alex Mitchell, Jack van Poortvleit, Ben Youngs
HOOKER: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jamie George, Jack Walker
LOOSEHEAD PROP: Ellis Genge, Bevan Rodd, Mako Vunipola
TIGHTHEAD PROP: Dan Cole, Kyle Sinckler, Will Stuart
SECOND ROW: Ollie Chessum, Maro Itoje, Courtney Lawes, David Ribbans
FLANKER: Tom Curry, Lewis Ludlam, Jack Willis
No 8: Alex Dombrandt, Sam Simmonds
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