Not so long ago, Steve Borthwick’s squad for the 2027 World Cup was taking shape nicely. He picked a largely predictable 36-man group for the Six Nations and the same can be said of his matchday 23 to face Wales in England’s championship opener. Borthwick is a loyal coach who relies heavily on depth charts and the exodus of so many players to France after the last World Cup made a number of difficult decisions for him much easier. Just how tailored his squad is to the 2027 tournament is demonstrated by his refusal to pick the Bordeaux-bound Tom Willis on the basis he will not be available despite being awarded an enhanced contract last summer.
Suddenly, on the back of two heavy defeats and shocking performances, things are not nearly as settled. Comparisons have been made with the 2018 Six Nations in which England also bombed. Eddie Jones reacted by deciding that a clutch of senior players such as Chris Robshaw, James Haskell, Mike Brown and Dylan Hartley would not keep going to the 2019 World Cup. There are also similarities with the 2023 World Cup warm-up matches when a number of players played their way out of Borthwick’s thinking. Here we take a look at which stalwarts are now under pressure, those in the maybe pile, who has advanced their case and who may emerge from left field.
Bankers
Despite his clear drop-off in form, it is inconceivable Maro Itoje will not captain England at the 2027 World Cup. He will need to be managed shrewdly between now and then but he remains the heartbeat of this side while next to him in the second row Ollie Chessum is among the few players with credit in the bank from the three rounds of matches so far. The back row is misfiring but Ben Earl’s work rate guarantees him Borthwick’s favour while Henry Pollock’s verve is already highly valued by the management and his teammates. The manner of the defeats by Scotland and Ireland significantly improve the stock of those absent through injury and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso now looks like one of England’s most important players. The scrum has performed well but Will Stuart will be welcomed back with open arms when fit again while Alex Mitchell could be cemented even further as the first-choice scrum-half if his replacement against Italy and France does not shine. Ellis Genge has made some glaring errors and is perhaps another suffering from a British & Irish Lions hangover but his leadership value ensures he will make the squad. Tommy Freeman is not free of blame for England’s woes but he has not been helped by switching positions and has enormous credit in the bank.
Probables
If England are to turn things around in their final two matches you suspect Fin Smith will be at the heart of it. He endured a chastening first Lions experience but was in the box seat 12 months ago and is considered by Borthwick as the future of this side. As a result, George Ford’s place will come under increasing pressure in the coming weeks but his role in the squad as an auxiliary coach should not be underestimated. Along with Chessum, Joe Heyes has been England’s best performer in the championship so far and his emergence as a reliable Test tighthead is a huge fillip for Borthwick. Alex Coles has been quietly impressive at lock since last year’s Six Nations, ensuring a position in which England are not blessed with depth has not become a major problem while Tom Roebuck picked a good week to miss out against Ireland and while he was poor against Scotland, he can reassert his place in the pecking order against Italy and France. Tom Curry has not reached his usual standards, either as an impact sub or from the start, but provided his body is up to it, it is hard to see Borthwick leaving him out. Until the Scotland match, Guy Pepper had seamlessly taken to the international stage. He has a bright future but back-row is hugely competitive and he is not firing at the moment. Luke Cowan-Dickie would be under more threat if the competition was there while Fin Baxter and, in particular, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, due to his ability to play both sides of the scrum, will come back into the reckoning when fit. There aren’t many frills to Bevan Rodd but he seems pretty safe as the third choice loosehead.
Maybes
Given England’s travails, George Martin and Ben Curry would walk into the matchday squad if fit but that is a big if. Martin is troubled by a long-term nerve problem in his shoulder while Curry is plagued by hamstring injuries. Ollie Lawrence looked leggy against Ireland and has been the fall guy for Freeman’s move to centre but offers punch that is absent from the team elsewhere. Staying in midfield, Fraser Dingwall has regressed of late. George Furbank has not played for England since late 2024 but a promising showing for Northampton against Saracens on Saturday may be enough to prise the No 15 jersey from Freddie Steward who endured a torrid afternoon against Ireland. Is there room for both Furbank and Marcus Smith in a World Cup squad given Furbank’s ability to cover fly-half? Smith has not done a lot wrong in this Six Nations but the days when he was afforded the keys to England’s attack are long gone. A couple of bad performances should not end Steward’s England career but when his super strength turns into a weakness, he becomes a lot harder to pick. Not long ago Sam Underhill seemed like the first name on the teamsheet but his horror show at Murrayfield was perhaps a reminder why he got nowhere near the initial 2023 World Cup squad. Borthwick turned to three opensides against Ireland but that didn’t work either so, while Chandler Cunningham-South has hardly been pulling up trees for Harlequins, he may get a chance against Italy. Jack van Poortvliet and Ben Spencer are jockeying behind Mitchell and one is likely to start in Rome. Neither fill you with supreme confidence, however. Then there is Jamie George, who will retire after the next World Cup. He has abundant leadership qualities and Borthwick doesn’t have many options at hooker but after the past two weeks, the 2027 tournament suddenly feels a bit further away for George.
Long shots
The manner in which Borthwick praised Roebuck’s efforts in training this week does not bode particularly well for Henry Arundell. He has explosive raw attributes but England seem incapable of utilising them properly. Henry Slade and Elliot Daly fit into a similar category – either their days are numbered or Borthwick already knows what they are capable of in a World Cup squad. Raffi Quirke needs to put his injury problems behind him to move up the scrum-half pecking order while Theo Dan has not kicked on sufficiently since the last World Cup, even if a chance to set that straight may await in Rome. England have doubts about Max Ojomoh defensively – though he could hardly perform worse than those who wore the jersey against Ireland – and that is likely to count against him despite his supreme talents with ball in hand. Seb Atkinson is highly rated and has all the qualities you’d want from an inside-centre but time is running out if he is to establish himself.
Outside looking in
Trevor Davison and Immanuel Iyogun are in the current squad as injury cover and it is hard to see them making the plane unless ranks are depleted. This tournament is likely to come too soon for Billy Sela and if Borthwick really saw Test players in Arthur Clark, Greg Fisilau and Cadan Murley, they would surely have been given their shots by now. Adam Radwan, Oscar Beard and Curtis Langdon don’t appear to fit into Borthwick’s plans either. Charlie Ewels may be the unluckiest player in England if he just misses out again.
Bolters
Now that opponents have caught up with England’s aerial supremacy, Borthwick has a decision to make: change tack or double down. If it’s the latter then Noah Caluori should be fast-tracked. Borthwick frequently laments the absence of power athletes, to the extent that Benhard Janse van Rensburg – eligible in November – is likely to be called into camp at the first opportunity. Hoskins Sotutu is, in theory, already eligible and fits the Rugby Football Union’s criteria when he joins Newcastle next season. Expect the former All Blacks No 8 to make his England debut in the summer. Borthwick thinks highly of Joe Marchant and he will come back into the equation next season after joining Sale while Kepu Tuipulotu is only 20 but will win plenty of caps at hooker, the only question is when. Last but not least, Owen Farrell is now settled back at Saracens. He disappeared from view during England’s 12-match winning run but how they could now do with someone who demands the sort of standards he does.
