England squad: Steve Borthwick’s selection hint after dropping and adding two players for Fiji
Tommy Freeman and an inset of England head coach Steve Borthwick.
Steve Borthwick has confirmed a 36-man England squad to prepare for the clash against Fiji at Allianz Stadium on Saturday, 8 November.
There are no real injury concerns following the 27-5 victory over Australia on Saturday, with Freddie Steward cleared despite a suspected hand issue.
However, Borthwick has still made some changes in preparation to take on the Fijians, with Noah Caluori and Max Ojomoh released back to Saracens and Bath, respectively.
Two call-ups
Bath loosehead prop Beno Obano has been called up and could earn his first cap since the 2024 Six Nations. He is joined by uncapped Northampton Saints’ lock Tom Lockett, who featured for England A last year.
Harlequins flanker Jack Kenningham is the other uncapped player in the side, while the likes of Elliot Daly, George Martin, and Jack van Poortvliet will continue their rehabilitations with the squad.
Who should fill the number 13 jersey has been hotly debated, with many feeling that Ojomoh should get an opportunity this November. However, his omission from the squad suggests that Tommy Freeman will likely retain the position if not against Fiji, then against the All Blacks in a fortnight’s time.
Borthwick could also turn to Ollie Lawrence, who was a surprising exclusion from the matchday squad to face Australia, as is Henry Slade.
However, he hinted that Freeman could retain the role alongside Fraser Dingwall for the meeting against Fiji.
“It’s one of the options that we have,” the head coach said when asked if Freeman is viewed as a long-term selection at outside centre after the win over the Wallabies.
“Tommy Freeman’s a world-class player, and he gives that versatility… potentially in attack today, we were probably a little overeager and the combinations just not quite trained together enough or played to get enough, which is why some of those line breaks didn’t quite finish the way we wanted them to.
“I think this is an important week for training for us, so that we develop that cohesion amongst the players, develop that understanding amongst the players, so hopefully we step forward.”
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On the overall performance against Australia, he added, “What pleased me was the resilience and composure of the players out there.
“There were a number of line breaks we had that we didn’t quite convert. So we didn’t get the scoreboard pressure on, which meant there was a period where the game was tight in very difficult conditions against an Australian side that are tough and really well drilled.
“But as I watched our team, I thought it was really composed, really composed and knew what to do next. I think the players were really clear on what they were attempting to do.”
Following the clash with Fiji, Borthwick’s charge will tackle New Zealand before finishing the year against Argentina on November 23.
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England squad
Forwards: Fin Baxter, Ollie Chessum, Alex Coles, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Chandler Cunningham-South, Tom Curry, Theo Dan, Ben Earl, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Maro Itoje, Nick Isiekwe, Jack Kenningham, Tom Lockett, Beno Obano, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Guy Pepper, Henry Pollock, Will Stuart, Sam Underhill
Backs: Henry Arundell, Fraser Dingwall, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, George Ford, Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Alex Mitchell, Cadan Murley, Raffi Quirke, Tom Roebuck, Henry Slade, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Ben Spencer, Freddie Steward
Rehabilitation: Elliot Daly, George Martin, Jack van Poortvliet
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