Boringly, it seems none of Steve Borthwick’s Six Nations squad are planning an imminent switch to American football. That said, Borthwick’s new England patriots – small p – still delivered several interesting headlines. A fresh captain in Jamie George alongside an uncapped posse of names, including Manny Feyi-Waboso, Chandler Cunningham-South and Ethan Roots, has done a good job of sprinkling some genuine intrigue across Twickenham’s frozen tundra.
With just 17 survivors from the Rugby World Cup the list of absentees is, at first glance, the most eye-catching. Remove, among others, Owen Farrell, Courtney Lawes, Jonny May, Ben Youngs, the Vunipola brothers and Kyle Sinckler, plus the recuperating Manu Tuilagi and Tom Curry, and the weight of missing caps is considerable. Add in a few other French-based exiles – Henry Arundell, Jack Willis, David Ribbans, Sam Simmonds – and Borthwick has been required to plug a good few holes.
