England latest: Winners and losers as Steve Borthwick’s game plan ‘comes together’ as stars showcase Test ‘nuts and bolts’
Tom Roebuck (left) and Tom Willis (centre) will have both impressed England head coach Steve Borthwick (right) this weekend.
Following the conclusion of the first round of the 2025/26 PREM season, here are our key winners and losers from an England perspective ahead of the Autumn Nations Series.
Winners
George Ford
He ended last year in absolutely remarkable form, and he seems to have taken another step up this offseason if Thursday is anything to go by. Ford was once again the star of the show for his side, driving everything forward and just controlling the game like a puppet master.
His kicking helped get star wing Tom Roebuck flying, and backed that up with some lovely distribution to send the likes of Joe Carpenter and Rekeiti Ma’asi-White powering through spaces.
Tom Roebuck
Wing is an increasingly competitive area for England, but Tom Roebuck does seem to be poking his nose above the rest at the moment.
His work both in the air and on the ground were a major cornerstone to Sale’s comfortable win on Thursday night, and it again showed all the nuts and bolts of a Borthwick-style winger.
He emerged from the summer tour as a key man, and if this performance is anything to go by, he is continuing to get better. His tally of seven defenders beaten also topped the charts across the game.
Joe Carpenter
His time with England this summer seems to have left its mark on the Sale full-back, who was again in inspired attacking form on Thursday night.
He topped the metres-chart across the game with 102 to his name from a team-high 17 carries, which allowed the Sharks to march through the Gloucester defence and get on the front foot.
His ability to find himself in the right place at the right time was a key part of his success, and it seems he has been given the freedom to come into the attack wherever he sees fit. It’s a role he looks to be flourishing in.
Tom Willis
If his performance on Friday night was anything to go by, Borthwick’s game plan will come together perfectly.
He was incredibly industrious on both sides of the ball, leading the stats for tackles (13), carries (16), metres (73) and defenders beaten (9), yet again proving why Borthwick is starting to view him as his go-to number eight.
Willis is an absolute master in the tight, and one of those rare players who really thrives in doing the nitty-gritty stuff.
Theo Dan
It’s been a tough few months for Theo Dan, as far as England involvement is concerned, with the summer tour not quite going to plan and later losing his EPS contract, but he seems to have put that behind him pretty quickly.
He nailed almost every aspect of his game on Friday night at Kingston Park, hitting double digits for both tackles and carries while aiding Saracens’ near-perfect lineout as well. It was refreshing to see him back to this level of performance.
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Ollie Lawrence
Having him back ahead of schedule was already a positive from an England point of view, but he backed that up with a seriously strong display.
He charged around the Twickenham Stoop like an angry freight train, be it carries in the close quarters or his customary breaks on the outside, but it was his consistent desire to get stuck into the game that would have pleased Borthwick the most.
It could have been really easy for him just to get the minutes under his belt and stick to his role, but he was so willing to get involved and seemed hungry to make a difference.
Will Evans
He faces so much competition to get into the England back-row debate, but this was another reminder of his Test match potential.
His hat-trick showed serious finisher’s mentality, finding himself in exactly the right place at the right time to finish off a move, but he backed that up with yet more impressive defence.
Evans notched a whopping 20 tackles across his shift on Friday night, and always looked to get stuck into a breakdown too. Could this finally be the year he makes the squad?
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
This is the Immanuel Feyi-Waboso that Borthwick has been longing to see, as the Exeter winger was at his destructive best on the wing.
His explosive carrying was a major factor in Exeter’s inspired comeback, be it by running through defenders or around them, and he consistently managed to find his way into space. He’s such a special talent, and if he’s playing like this, he walks into the England starting XV.
Losers
Ben Curry
He was incredibly impressive throughout his shift on Thursday night, but came off with what seemed like a leg knock. Hopefully, it was nothing more than a little niggle, and he can get back out on the pitch next weekend, but either way, it is a concern.
Trevor Davison
Summer tourist Trevor Davison also saw his first PREM game of the year cut short, after he was taken off with a head knock and did not return to the field. The Saints scrum also lost some of its dominance in his absence, which shows just how good he is in that department.
Injured Bears
Bristol paid a heavy price for their victory over Leicester Tigers, and from an England perspective, Borthwick would not have been too happy to see Gabriel Ibitoye and Harry Randall come off injured.
The pair will surely be in his mind ahead of the Autumn Nations Series, and before their respective departures from the pitch, looked in good touch yet again in front of the on-looking England boss.
Lions absentees
While a lot of them will likely be guaranteed a place in Borthwick’s Test XV, the warning signs fired out from England hopefuls across the league will worry them ahead of the Autumn.
Right across the depth chart, there are a number of PREM stars really pushing their case to be included in the 23 and even the wider squad, and these players missing out on a chance to impress have allowed others to make a case to crack the side.
This is more a reflection of the depth England now have at their disposal, where even Lions tourists are not fully secure within the squad.
