England's Six Nations squad announcement is looming, and the pressure is on Coach Steve Borthwick to make the right calls, especially with a crucial World Cup cycle underway!
The Champions Cup, a prestigious club competition, has generally been a boon for most Six Nations head coaches, offering a glimpse of their players' current form and team cohesion. Take Gregor Townsend, the Scotland coach, for instance. He'd surely love his national squad to mirror the sheer purpose and passion currently on display from the Glasgow Warriors, and he'll be aiming to instill that same spirit in his team.
Similarly, for France, Head Coach Fabien Galthié faces some tantalizing selection dilemmas. With Romain Ntamack sidelined due to injury for the coming weeks, overlooking the electrifying form of fly-half Matthieu Jalibert would be a puzzling decision. One can only imagine his trademark thick-rimmed glasses misting up if he doesn't pick Jalibert to partner the likes of Louis Bielle-Biarrey and Damian Penaud, a trio that demonstrates such brilliant synergy at club level. It begs the question: why wouldn't he want that magic on the international stage?
Even Wales, despite facing defeat, would have found some cautious optimism in the Scarlets' performance against Northampton. And while Ireland is grappling with injury concerns ahead of their squad reveal, at least Leinster has secured back-to-back victories against Top 14 opposition, a promising sign as they gear up for their opening Six Nations clash against France in Paris on February 5th.
But here's where it gets complex for England. While seven English clubs have advanced to the Champions Cup's last 16, with two more in the Challenge Cup, and only Gloucester (who don't boast a large contingent of England regulars) failing to make the knockout stages, the picture isn't entirely rosy.
Digging a little deeper reveals a more nuanced reality. Saracens, despite a notable victory over Toulouse in challenging conditions, were subsequently thrashed by a dominant Glasgow side. Northampton conceded a staggering 50 points in Bordeaux, and a depleted Sale suffered a massive 77-7 defeat in Toulouse, a stark reminder of the enduring class of players like Antoine Dupont. And this is the part most people miss: While Harlequins secured a significant win against La Rochelle with Marcus Smith shining, this success, in some ways, only adds to the complexity of selection decisions for England. Meanwhile, Bath has surged into the last 16, but their most impactful England-qualified forward in recent weeks, Alfie Barbeary, has yet to convince Head Coach Steve Borthwick that he's a better option than, for example, Exeter's Greg Fisilau or Leicester's Emeka Ilione.
Ironically, another Bath player, Joe Cokanasiga, displayed a glimpse of his world-beating potential against Edinburgh, appearing fitter and more penetrative than he has in some time. However, given Borthwick's emphasis on aerial dominance, there are several other agile contenders who might be favored over 'Big Joe' in that specific aspect of the game.
This situation perfectly illustrates the intricate nature of national squad selection. Ultimately, the choice of No. 8 or any back-row player might become secondary if England struggles to field fit props and secure front-foot possession. With key players like Will Stuart and Asher Opoku-Fordjour out for months, and Fin Baxter likely to miss the opening round, Borthwick will be acutely aware of the need to avoid further significant losses in the coming fortnight.
The tight-head prop options are currently Joe Heyes, Trevor Davison, and either Vilikesa Sela or Afolabi Fasogbon (aged 20 and 21 respectively). For loose-head, Ellis Genge, Beno Obano, and Bevan Rodd are available. Despite Borthwick's preference for impactful substitutions, he may need to consider alternative strategies given these constraints.
Borthwick certainly isn't short on talent, but the choices are tough. For instance, anyone witnessing Max Ojomoh's performance at the Rec on Friday would have been convinced of his potential as a top-tier international center. This presents a difficult situation for the unselfish Fraser Dingwall, who contributed to England's November victory over the All Blacks, and Gloucester's Seb Atkinson, both of whom have performed admirably at inside center for England in the past nine months.
Furthermore, if Dingwall isn't selected to start, it complicates the inclusion of his Northampton teammate Tommy Freeman at outside center, at least for the time being. This, in turn, could lead to Freeman occupying a wing spot, with Manny Feyi-Waboso on the other, and consequently reducing the opportunities for a host of other talented wingers like Tom Roebuck (recently sidelined), Henry Arundell, Adam Radwan, Noah Caluori, Ollie Sleightholme, Cadan Murley, Will Muir, George Hendy, and the aforementioned Cokanasiga.
So many decisions! England boasts an impressive 11-Test unbeaten run, indicating strength in depth. However, this period is also a critical stepping stone towards next year's World Cup. Looking back to a similar juncture in 2022, Eddie Jones selected a 36-man squad for that year's Six Nations, yet remarkably, half of that group did not make it into the 2023 World Cup squad ultimately overseen by Borthwick. While injuries and current form are always factors, consistency in selection and performance is paramount.
Therefore, don't anticipate a flood of new, uncapped players. At some point, one imagines Borthwick will want to assess uncapped scrum-half prospects like Archie McParland and Charlie Bracken, along with a promising young hooker or two. For now, however, the focus is on deciding whether stalwarts like Jamie George, Elliot Daly, and Henry Slade can realistically target the 2027 World Cup. If not, it's an opportunity to blood others. Will Ojomoh, Arundell, Henry Pollock as a starter, Fisilau, or Barbeary be the energizing 'wildcards' brought into the training camp? It's about backing instincts that may or may not prove to be the winning bet.
This selection process is far from an exact science. Of the six uncapped players named in that initial 2022 Six Nations squad by Jones, only Ollie Chessum and Tommy Freeman have truly progressed. The others – Barbeary, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Luke Northmore, and Orlando Bailey – have largely had to bide their time.
However, Borthwick is acutely aware of the ticking clock. With the primary objective of winning the Nations Championship away games in South Africa and Argentina this July, a home fixture against a struggling Wales presents the last significant opportunity for experimentation. Yet, he will also aim to take more than 50% of the squad selected for Friday's announcement to Australia next year.
What are your thoughts on England's selection challenges? Do you agree with the potential emphasis on aerial prowess, or should flair and current form take precedence? Let us know in the comments below!
