England squad: Winners and losers as Steve Borthwick’s ‘wealth of riches’ emphasised by ‘tremendous’ talent snubbed
From left to right: Steve Borthwick, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Adam Radwan
Following Steve Borthwick’s England squad announcement ahead of the summer tour to the Americas, here are our key winners and losers.
Winners
Uncapped players
This was always going to be a time for Steve Borthwick to blood in new faces, given 13 of his players are headed down under with the British and Irish Lions squad next month, and he’s done exactly that with the 14 uncapped players.
Within that group, though, a lot of them have come through the new-look England pathways. Joe Carpenter, Richard Capstick, Tobias Elliott, Charlie Atkinson, Afolabi Fasogbon, Jack Kenningham, Oscar Beard, Rekeiti Ma’asi-White and Luke Northmore have all impressed on England A duty in the past year, while Emeka Ilione has risen through the U20 ranks.
It’s also a testament to the quality of the Premiership at the minute too, with their form very much being rewarded in this capacity. Joe Batley, in particular, has impressed for Bristol of late.
They now also have the chance to properly show what they can do in this environment, and could even become long-term members of the squad if they impress.
Raffi Quirke
Think back to 2022. A young Raffi Quirke races under the sticks to help England secure a famous win over the reigning World Cup champions, South Africa; did you think it would take him this long to be back in the mix?
The Sale Sharks scrum-half, who is still only 23-years-old, has had a truly torrid time with injuries since making his last Test appearance, but now he’s back fully operational, he could finally don the white jersey again.
When he’s at his best, Quirke is such an electric talent, possessing that rare blend of power, speed and game understanding, and he seems to be back to the levels he was at before his injury woes began. It’s really pleasing to see him back in the England mix after such a horrible spell with injuries.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
He’s back! After all the drama over his shoulder injury and later the delays in surgery, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is back in the England side. The Exeter winger has not featured in any capacity since December, which saw his Lions hopes dashed, but his return to fitness will be welcome news to Borthwick.
Feyi-Waboso became a mainstay in the England squad in 2024, bursting onto the scene during that year’s Six Nations and later starting five consecutive Tests, and his raw athleticism, pace and power will give England’s attack another edge.
Borthwick’s new attack that we saw against Italy and Wales at the end of this year’s Championship will likely fit him down to a tee, giving him that extra time on the ball and importantly in space too.
Henry Slade
Was rather unceremoniously axed from the England match-day squad during the Six Nations, but he has been handed another chance to prove his worth this summer. There is no doubt Slade is a quality operator, but the constant shifting of positions this year for both England and Exeter has seen his form drop off a touch, but if he gets a concentrated run in his preferred 13 he could get back to the form that saw him named Premiership Player of the Season last time out.
His experience could be a valuable asset to this young squad too, given he has been involved with the senior leadership group in the past.
Alex Dombrandt
Harlequins captain Alex Dombrandt is back in the England mix after missing the Six Nations through injury.
He has changed his game a touch this season, focusing more on the stuff in the tight rather than those flashy breaks we’ve seen him make, but that sort of gritty, physical edge is something that Borthwick wants to see out of his number eights.
He also brings valuable Test experience to what is a particularly fresh-faced group, which is always a bonus.
Nick Isiekwe
Saracens lock Nick Isiekwe has hit a good run of form at just the right time to get back into the England squad. The towering lock is still yet to fully reach his Test potential after falling behind the likes of Ollie Chessum, George Martin and Maro Itoje in the pecking order, but this again feels like a good chance for him to get an extended run in the starting side with those players either injured or away with the Lions.
He has been involved with England squads like this, as he made his Test debut in that 2017 tour to Argentina, but now he’s the seasoned pro that will be expected to help the new guys in the team, and that could be a great new role for him.
Steve Borthwick
Despite not having any of the European finalists or British and Irish Lions available to him, this still feels like a very strong team. There is still a good core of players left over from the Six Nations campaign, especially key leaders George Ford and Jamie George, but he also gets to test out some new things without too much risk.
The uncapped cohort have all impressed at various levels this past year, and now he will get a chance to see them within his environment and see if they can fit into his gameplan. This will only be a good thing moving into the summer Test season and possibly beyond.
Being able to call up 14 uncapped players to fill the void left by the Lions squad selection shows the wealth of riches available to him still, which again can only help the national side.
Losers
Leicester Tigers wingers
Wing is a hotly contested spot, as we’ll no doubt discuss a bit later as well, but Adam Radwan and Ollie Hassell-Collins can both feel hard done by to miss out on selection. Looking at Radwan first, he has been in tremendous form since making the move from Newcastle, scoring nine tries in as many games for the Tigers and has been one of the best attacking wingers in the Premiership in that time too.
Partner-in-crime Hassell-Collins has also had a remarkable upturn in form this season, notably getting back into Test contention with England A. He has shown his own scoring form with 18 tries in 24 appearances in all competitions, including England A, and in recent weeks has also shown some marked improvements in his defence as well.
Competition is fierce out wide, but these two were a surprise exclusion.
Paul Brown-Bampoe
The dream dies.
Exeter’s Paul Brown-Bampoe has been a bright spark in a sorry season for the Devonians, and was looking a genuine possibility to make the tour this summer. While still a really raw talent, he has been by far one of the Chiefs’ best players this year, and his try record of 20 tries in 22 games in all competitions is quite something too.
Playing-wise, his desire to hunt for high balls and pure speed and power in the carry do seem to fit with Borthwick’s style too.
He will no doubt get a call-up in the future, but for now, he has to bide his time.
Ethan Roots
Despite the wealth of talent available in the back-row, England could still do with a player like Ethan Roots in the side. The Exeter man relishes the tight exchanges, be it with a powerful carry, a bone-shattering tackle, or just being a nuisance in the ruck, and that would add some proper balance to this back-row contingent.
Aside from his playing style, he has also hit top form again after returning from a hamstring injury, and has also begun to shift to number eight as well. This not only adds another string to his bow, but could have been a good thing for England too.
Fitz Harding
Bristol Bears skipper Fitz Harding flies under the radar a bit in his team, but he’s also quietly having a brilliant season and could have been a great shout for this England squad. He has developed a really nice scoring touch throughout this campaign, and also shown serious skills that fit the mould of what Borthwick wants from an eight with his powerful, direct carrying.
While he’s not got any Test experience yet, he would also act as another leader in this squad, given his role with the Bears.
Will Evans
It feels like we might never see Will Evans in an England shirt, despite his form for Quins.
The back-rower has yet again been one of the best jackalers in the Premiership this season, partnering with fellow flanker Jack Kenningham to form a deadly double-act, but again he seems himself outside of the Test side.
He’s probably a victim of the depth available to Borthwick, with Ben Curry and Kenningham ahead of him, while Richard Capstick is also an option to slot in at lock.
Joe Woodward
Leicester Tigers centre Joe Woodward has seen his stock rise this year, but he just misses out on selection.
The midfield was always going to be a tough pick for Borthwick, given Henry Slade, Oscar Beard, Luke Northmore, Seb Atkinson and Rekeiti Ma’asi-White are all out-and-out options while Charlie Atkinson can also shift into 12 too, and it seems the Leicester man just misses the cut.
Again, Test rugby does seem in his future, but he just has to be patient.
Newcastle Falcons
While things have taken an upward turn for Newcastle Falcons, results-wise, they yet again find themselves without a single player in Borthwick’s 33-man squad.
Current Falcons players Callum Chick and Jamie Blamire, who are both leaving at the end of the season, are two players who would have certainly been in the mix this summer considering they have both won Test caps and have impressed again this season, but the performances of Sammy Arnold or Max Clark have also left an impression with regard to this squad.
READ MORE: England: Steve Borthwick names 14 uncapped players in 33-man squad
