by Steve Borthwick will name his Six Nations squad on Wednesday as England begin a new World Cup cycle.
The England head coach has to decide how many new players will be brought into the fold and which of the old guard will remain.
Telegraph Sport rugby writers pick the players they want to pick. Do you agree with them? Let us know in the comments section.
Next (20)
Beno Obano (Bath)
Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Theo Dan (Saracens)
Curtis Langdon (St Northampton)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
Will Stuart (Bath)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Coles (St Northampton)
Ben Earl (Sarahens)
Sam Underhill (Bath)
Guy Pepper (Newcastle Falcons)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)
Alfie Barbeary (Bath)
Zach Mercer (Gloucester)
Backs (16)
Alex Mitchell (St Northampton)
Ben Spencer (Bath)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
George Ford (Selling Sharks)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath)
Henry Slade (Exeter Elders)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
Olly Hartley (Saracens)
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
George Furbank (St Northampton)
Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
I have tried to reward the form as much as possible while keeping a turnip of experienced options. Uncapped players such as Tom Roebuck, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Greg Fisilau would have a real chance to start England’s opening game against Italy.
Perhaps the biggest mistake of the Eddie Jones era was the lack of new blood after the 2019 World Cup, where the team and the spotlight grew. This selection would act as a new chapter. Even with various absences taken into account, this would feel like a proper refresher from the World Cup, with a new back and back three combination where the competition is wide open.
I also fully expected players like Asher Opoku-Fordjour, the precocious leader of Sale Sharks, to come into the mix during this World Cup cycle but at the moment his education is best in the Premiership. I changed my mind on my back row combination about 29 times and was reluctant to leave Tom Pearson out. If Ellis Genge and Joe Marler are carrying injuries, only one makes the cut.
Next (20)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Theo Dan (Saracens)
Curtis Langdon (St Northampton)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Will Stuart (Bath)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Moon (St Northampton)
Ben Earl (Sarahens)
Tom Pearson (St Northampton)
Alfie Barbeary (Bath)
Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs)
Sam Underhill (Bath)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)
Backs (16)
Alex Mitchell (St Northampton)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Ben Spencer (Bath)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
George Ford (Selling Sharks)
Henry Slade (Exeter Elders)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath)
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
George Furbank (St Northampton)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
Will Muir (Bath)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers)
I will come clean. I didn’t realize that Ethan Roots was qualified, through his father, to represent England before Steve Borthwick mentioned the New Zealander last week at the England head coach’s press session at Twickenham. But now, having been impressed by Roots’ efforts for Exeter Chiefs since the start of the season, I can see the 24-year-old going into camp and making a claim. England don’t have too many resourceful, combative blindsiders like Roots and they have to replace Courtney Lawes somehow. Naturally, Borthwick will look to combine Maro Itoje, George Martin and Ollie Chessum.
Probably my biggest miss is Kyle Sinckler, who was excellent against Sale Sharks on Friday. Joe Heyes deserves a shot, though. Assuming Lewis Ludlam is not ready, Alfie Barbeary is a scrappy addition at the bottom of the scrum with Tom Willis injured. Alex Dombrandt was in decent form, but he just missed it.
This group, which thinks that Ellis Genge, Joe Marler and Anthony Watson have recovered from their respective illnesses, has a large number of rookies and a lot of experience. Fraser Dingwall is an excellent center who could replace the problematic No. 1 jersey. 12 to fill. There are plenty of other tyros and homegrown performers 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.
Next (20)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Phil Brantingham (Newcastle Falcons)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Theo Dan (Saracens)
Curtis Langdon (St Northampton)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)
Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Coles (St Northampton)
Ben Earl (Sarahens)
Tom Pearson (St Northampton)
Guy Pepper (Newcastle Falcons)
Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)
Sam Underhill (Bath)
Alfie Barbeary (Bath)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
Backs (16)
Alex Mitchell (St Northampton)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Ben Spencer (Bath)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
George Ford (Selling Sharks)
Henry Slade (Exeter Elders)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath)
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Olly Hartley (Saracens)
George Furbank (St Northampton)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Will Muir (Bath)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
Ollie Sleighholme (St Northampton)
Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers)
This squad, according to Borthwick’s stated criteria, is based on Premiership form as they mix wise owls like Joe Marler, Dan Cole and Danny Care with new prospects like Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Guy Pepper and Olly Hartley. The Saints’ back three are rewarded for their imperial club form – with George Furbank and Ollie Sleightholme, in particular, pictured above – while the returning Greg Fisilau and Henry Slade represent the Capital’s other top flight, Exeter.
The four sets of seconds selected are capable blinds, giving the rear a wealth of options. That said, if I were picking a starting line-up today, I’d include the trio of Ollie Chessum, George Martin and Maro Itoje – perhaps with the latter on the blind side. Hartley, the 21-year-old inside center, produced some impressive displays for Saracens in a reduced area for England. With Slade and Ollie Lawrence as the likely starting combination, Hartley’s experience in the camp could be invaluable going forward, although he has already shown glimpses of his powerful current form with his club this season.
Apologies in advance to the hipsters or those driving the hype train, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is a great talent but I’m not sure he’s ready enough – yet.
Next (20)
Beno Obano (Bath)
Tarek Haffar (St Northampton)
Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Theo Dan (Saracens)
Jack Walker (Harlequins)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Will Stuart (Bath)
Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale Sharks)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Jonny Hill (Selling Sharks)
Lewis Ludlam (St Northampton)
Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs)
Ben Earl (Sarahens)
Tom Pearson (St Northampton)
Alfie Barbeary (Bath)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)
Backs (16)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
George Furbank (St Northampton)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Joe Cokanasiga (Bath)
Henry Slade (Exeter Elders)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath)
Will Joseph (Harlequins)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
George Ford (Selling Sharks)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Alex Mitchell (St Northampton)
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Ben Spencer (Bath)
At the start of a new World Cup cycle, it’s out with the old and the new. No prizes for guessing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Exeter’s speed and strength doctor, will get his first call-up to the England squad. In light of their Premier League street displays, George Furbank and Henry Slade are welcomed back into the international fold.
In Tom Pearson, the former London Irish player who has been making ground like a truck for Northampton all season, along with Exeter youngster Ethan Roots, there are reasons to be optimistic that the big Courtney Lawes hole can be filled. However, there is a discreet lack of cover at the wicket going into 2024 – the returning Luke Cowan-Dickie is still too undercooked for the Test rugby oven – so Theo Dan and Jack Walker slide in. Alex Dombrandt has been reinstated due to his World Cup absence.
The hope, of course, is that Ellis Genge (hamstring) and Joe Marler (hand) make it back to full fitness, but a number of new faces have a chance to prove themselves amid a lack of a starting line-up. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Fin Baxter and Tarek Haffar have been fireballs for their respective clubs and will benefit greatly from mixing with wise old bosses.
