England squad: Winners and losers as PREM returner’s move ‘pays off’ while Steve Borthwick forced into ‘contingency plan’ following Tom Willis exit
Henry Arundell is named in England head coach Steve Borthwick's squad.
Following England confirming a 36-man squad to take part in a three-day minicamp ahead of the Autumn Nations Series, here are our key winners and losers.
Winners
Henry Arundell
His return to the PREM was always to get him back in the Test picture, and his inclusion in this squad suggests it’s paid off.
He has also begun the season in pretty decent form. After the first three rounds, he sat fourth in the league for metres (235) and third for linebreaks (8), and has also tallied three tries in the process.
Yes, there still remain questions about his aerial ability, which is a skill-set Steve Borthwick values in his wingers, but there is no doubting his talent and game-breaking ability. Arundell is a premier attacking threat ball-in-hand, and his raw speed is something England could utilise.
He has also already impressed in very limited Test outings, too, and this is a chance for him to earn a spot in the 23 again.
Nick Isiekwe
The Saracens lock has been dipped in and out of the England squad for a good while now, but this is a chance to again lock his spot down in this wider group.
He also offers the option of covering the back-row, which is a big tick in his box right now. Ted Hill missed out on selection through injury, and while other lock/flanker cover Chandler Cunningham-South has been named in the initial squad and not listed for rehab, his knock against Exeter didn’t look comfortable.
England are likely to deploy a 6/2 split once again this year, so this feels like a good chance for Isiekwe to nail his place down and become a consistent member of the side.
Emeka Ilione
His rise up the ranks in the past six months has been pretty extraordinary, and he caps that off with a spot in the initial training camp ahead of the autumn.
Ilione is arguably the fastest-developing back-rower in the English game right now, impressing at both flanker and number eight. One thing that is very pleasing to see is how he adapts his game to suit the position he’s in.
With seven on his back, he becomes a serious jackal threat at the breakdown and throws himself into tackles, while at eight, he becomes that sort of relentless ball-carrier Borthwick is after.
He is also bang in form right now, and given Tom Willis’ omission, there is an opening in the back-row. Could he be the one to fill it?
Theo Dan
It’s not been easy going for the Saracens hooker, who recently lost his enhanced EPS contract, but his form warrants a call-up into the squad.
Dan has been in great touch for the North Londoners this year, with his speed and power becoming a key part of their attack this year.
He seems to be being used slightly differently this year compared to previous years, often finding himself as the wide forward in open play. Similarly to how Ireland use Dan Sheehan, it just allows him to use that raw power to get consistent go-forward, but his speed also means he can make the most of it.
England haven’t yet tried him in this role, but it could work wonders for both parties.
Raffi Quirke
He’s getting a nice block of minutes together now after yet more injury issues, and having some time in the England set-up while fit could be just the thing he needs to get back into the Test picture.
Quirke would potentially be a staple in the England side by now had injuries not had an unrelenting grip hold of him, but when fit he is a player that suits this system to a T. He just offers something slightly different to the rest of the scrum-half contingent at Borthwick’s disposal, while still possessing all the skills that you need to succeed at Test level.
The key for him will still be to work his way up to full match fitness, but this is a good way to speed that process up while also allowing Borthwick to get a proper look at him.
Adam Radwan
It’s been a long time coming, but it’s potentially the most deserving call-up of the lot.
Radwan has been nothing short of exceptional since his move to Mattioli Woods Welford Road partway through last season. His all-round game has come on leaps and bounds, but he’s still kept that devastating speed and mazy running to boot.
Something that has really stood out, though, is his ability to be in the right place at the right time, either to score or just make something happen for his side. He always seems to pop up just when Leicester need a bit of stardust, and he brings it in bucketfuls.
There is a lot of competition out wide, but Radwan will certainly be out to prove a point at this camp after a long time away from the Test set-up.
Henry Slade
A confident Henry Slade is a dangerous Henry Slade, and that’s what we’re starting to see again.
The Exeter back has grown really nicely as the season’s progressed thus far, backing up a decent performance with a better one the week after.
While he would have been disappointed with last season and, in particular, the way his summer tour ended, this pre-season has probably been the break he needed to take stock and hone his game once more.
We’re starting to see all those delightful flicks, tricks and kicks that helped him become a staple in the England side for so many years again, and when they come off they are delightful.
Noah Caluori
Life comes at you very, very fast in professional rugby.
Three weeks ago, he made his PREM debut. Last week, he played for Ampthill in the Champ. And now, after possibly one of the best individual performances in recent history he’s been invited to train with the England senior squad.
This is such a good move by Borthwick, and one that will greatly benefit both parties.
Caluori will only improve from this upcoming block. He comes into the mix at a great time, given the volume of high-quality outside backs in the group, but having all these different voices and skill-sets will only help him develop and take things to add to his own game.
For Borthwick, it’s a chance to get a youngster in and take a proper look at him in the environment. That is the only way he will get a true gauge of where Caluori is at right now, as well as identifying key metrics to help him reach his full potential.
And who knows, he might even work his way into the main squad next week as well. Stranger things have happened.
Losers
Injured players
While England still have a pretty strong squad, there are a whole host of key men out of action. As many as 13 players were listed as unavailable for selection this time around, all of whom would have likely been involved had they been fit.
Tom Willis
It was always going to be the big talking point from this squad selection, given his impending exit to the Top 14, but it’s a huge blow for Borthwick.
Willis was establishing himself as the go-to number eight for England, notably shining in the 2-0 series win over Los Pumas in the summer, but now the head coach will have to find a contingency plan.
Callum Chick
With Willis now out of the picture, this could have been a great opportunity to bring in-form Callum Chick into the squad.
The number eight has been in terrific form since heading to Northampton Saints, quickly establishing himself as a key leader and a core part of their pack in the process.
He has been one of the most consistent performers in the PREM thus far, and he’s showing those sort of nuts and bolts that fit the style Borthwick wants from his number eights, too. Chick is the Saints’ main carrier up-front, and again just has that consistent desire to truck through contact. This could have been a good chance to bring him back into the environment.
Ollie Hassell-Collins
England are blessed with wingers right now, with seven in this training squad alone, but Ollie Hassell-Collins has again been in great form for Leicester and can feel a touch upset to miss out on selection.
The two-capped back has been one of the best attacking threats in the PREM, but he’s also improved on a lot of areas from last season too. He seems to have put on a bit more bulk, helping him through the contact, but he’s kept his speed and eye for space, which is a potent mix for a winger. Around that, his aerial work continues to get better and better, a skill Borthwick values in his wide men.
It’s probably just him falling victim to the depth chart rather than anything else, but he can still feel hard done by.
Joe Carpenter
This could be through injury, given he missed Saturday’s defeat at Saracens entirely, but the fact that he wasn’t listed in the rehab or not considered for selection lists suggests he was just omitted from the squad.
The Sale full-back has had to be patient at Test level, being dipped in and out of training squads before making his debut in the summer, but now it seems he has to bide his time again.
He’s not really done much wrong to miss out, either. Carpenter has been a standout for Sale in the early part of the season, becoming a big part of their attacking shape in the process. He’s also been solid under the high ball, too.
England again have some good depth at 15, with Freddie Steward, Marcus Smith and Arundell all able to slot in, and he’s probably just found himself outside of that group.
