England predicted team v USA: Steve Borthwick to roll the dice with uncapped players galore
From left to right: Steve Borthwick, Max Ojomoh and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
While England’s main focus this summer will be on the two-Test series against Argentina, they also have the small matter of a Test against the USA to contend with.
England have enjoyed plenty of success against their friendly rivals across the Pond, most recently in 2021 at Twickenham, and it has been a fixture where players have established themselves on the Test stage.
Harry Randall, Trevor Davison and Ben Curry are among the current crop of players in Borthwick’s 36-man group that debuted in that game four years ago, while Marcus Smith also made his long-awaited international bow that day as well.
This year’s game will be no different, with the England boss likely to rotate his squad around for the fixture to help fast-track some players’ progress.
But, how will his 23-man squad shape up? Well, here is our take on a possible side for the USA Test next month.
15 Joe Carpenter
Possibly unlucky to miss out on our predicted team to face Argentina, but Joe Carpenter will almost certainly make his debut against the USA. The Sale Sharks back has really improved this year following his involvement with the England training squad, and made a good impression for both England A and England XV as well, so this feels like the right time to blood him in at full Test level. He’s slightly different to the other full-back options Borthwick has at his disposal, too, which could provide an interesting dynamic.
14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
It’s the big one, but Immanuel Feyi-Waboso should mark his full Test return against the USA once his ban has lifted. The Exeter Chiefs winger has waited a long time to return to action after dislocating his shoulder in December, and while he was busy in his shift against a France XV, his red card stole the headlines; so this game against the USA will be his proper return to rugby. He is such a unique attacking threat and adds so much to this England side, and the fact Borthwick has still brought him along despite his ban proves how highly thought of he is in this squad.
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13 Oscar Beard
We’ve already got him on the bench in our predicted team to face Argentina, but you’d think Oscar Beard will get a proper start against the USA. Like Carpenter in the backfield, Beard provides a completely different threat to what England have had at 13 for a while, with his wicked step and genuine power making him a handful for any defender, but he blends that with pace to burn as well. Something that often goes amiss with Beard is his top-notch defensive output, too.
12 Max Ojomoh
Again, felt harsh omitting him from our Argentina prediction, but if he does miss out, then Max Ojomoh will certainly get the nod to play the USA. Ojomoh’s desire to carry the ball and break the gainline will only benefit this different England system, but crucially, he will look to do it slightly wider than your traditional 12, which should also allow Beard to go about his business as well. This seems a really nice partnership.
11 Will Muir
‘The Horse’ has had to be really patient to make his Test debut, but he should finally get that chance against the USA. He has been one of the form wingers in the Prem this campaign, both with his work in the air and ball-in-hand, and that mix should allow him to seamlessly fit into this England system too.
10 Charlie Atkinson
While tour co-captain George Ford is ahead of him in the pecking order, Gloucester ace Charlie Atkinson could make his full England debut from the off against the USA. Atkinson has long been seen as a Test hopeful, and has impressed on England A duty in the past year as well, so like many in this XV, this feels a good shot to blood him in. He also likes to play at tempo and into space, which a game against the USA calls for.
9 Harry Randall
Ben Spencer and Jack van Poortvliet might take the spotlight when it comes to English nines at the moment, but Randall is our man for this USA Test. The Bristol Bears ace is such an electric talent and his skillset should really suit a game like this, with his desire to play at pace and offer a threat around the ruck exactly what could break the game open. He’s not had the best time of it in a white jersey over the past few outings, but this should be the ticket to free him up.
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8 Alex Dombrandt
In keeping with that theme, Alex Dombrandt should feed off that desire from the half-backs and have a really good crack at it against the USA. He has always been a player who thrives in chaos, but hasn’t quite been given that freedom at Test level, but this game is a great opportunity to do that. Dombrandt has evolved his game to act more like a traditional number eight who carries in the tight as well, so he should bring a whole-court game to this side. Given his captaincy experience with Harlequins, he could actually lead this team out as well.
7 Ben Curry
Another we’ve got on the bench for Los Pumas, but Curry will likely come back into the starting side against the USA. His desire to attack the breakdown and really compete for the ball should add a different edge to this back-row, but he is also bang in-form too so will be keen to prove a point.
6 Guy Pepper
Another back-rower in great form, Guy Pepper will likely make his debut in this USA Test. The Bath man, like many in this 36-man squad, has had to wait for his shot after what seemed like a fast-tracking to Test rugby last year, but he is probably a better player for it. His performance in the Premiership final also proved he can put on a show in big games, which will please Borthwick.
5 Nick Isiekwe
Saracens lock Nick Isiekwe has seen his Test stock drop slightly this past year, but this USA Test is a good chance to play his way back up the order. He is one of those lock-flanker hybrids that Borthwick likes in his sides, but he should also give them a decent platform at the lineout.
4 Arthur Clark
Gloucester’s Arthur Clark has enjoyed a rather rapid rise into this England side, and that should come to a head against the USA. He is clearly earmarked as one for the future, earning a surprise call-up into the wider Six Nations squad, and that experience has clearly made him a better player. This feels a good opportunity to give him a go at Test level.
3 Trevor Davison
The injury to Emmanuel Iyogun could lead to a reshuffle for this USA pick, which pushes Trevor Davison into the starting side, but it’s by no means a sympathy start. The Northampton Saints star has quietly been one of the best scrumagers in the domestic game this season, helping the Saints lock this department down for large chunks of the campaign. He also gave a really good account of himself against France XV, which should be fresh in Borthwick’s mind.
2 Theo Dan
Co-captain Jamie George might be seen as the starting hooker for this tour, but Theo Dan might get a go from the off against the USA. He has often found himself behind his Saracens teammate for England, but this is yet another great chance to step out of the limelight and perform. Dan has also shone in the starting line-up, notably against Argentina in the World Cup, so there’s no reason he wouldn’t impress again.
1 Bevan Rodd
Joining his Sale comrade in the front-row should be Bevan Rodd, who is also a premier scrummaging option. The prop pairing have really found a nice synergy with one another, with both liking to go for the jugular in the scrum. Rodd is another of this side in decent form heading into the summer tour, which should serve him well come the USA Test.
Bench: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 18 Afolabi Fasogbon, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Jack van Poortvliet, 22 George Ford, 23 Luke Northmore
Borthwick will also likely hand out a couple more debuts from the bench, with Afolabi Fasogbon and Luke Northmore set to feature in this capacity. Elsewhere, Curtis Langdon should mark his return to the Test stage against the team he debuted against in 2021.
An interesting choice is Asher Opoku-Fordjour in the number 17 shirt – acting as a loosehead. The Sale prop starred for the England U20s in this position, alongside Fasogbon at tighthead, and is still fancied as a possible long-term option in this department too. He is still probably better at tighthead than loosehead, but this will only serve as another chance to get him on the pitch in a white jersey, and you never know, this could be the start of a fine partnership with Fasogbon at senior level.
Alex Coles, Chandler Cunningham-South, Van Poortvliet and Ford should round off the 23.