England team: Winners and losers as ‘prime’ Smith out in the cold and ‘major’ reshuffle takes place
England team: Winners and losers as 'prime' Smith dropped and backline takes 'major' reshuffle
Steve Borthwick has chosen his match day squad for England’s opening Autumn Nations Series Test, as the men in white take on their old rivals, Australia.
Here are the winners and losers from the selection.
Winners
George Ford
He’s faced plenty of competition over the past few years, initially competing with Owen Farrell for the number 10 shirt, but more recently, Marcus Smith and now Fin Smith. But with age comes experience, and that seems to be what former Leicester boss Borthwick values the most. He’s in the form of his life for Sale Sharks, so he will expect to continue this at international level and repeat his exploits against Argentina back in the summer.
Guy Pepper
Guy Pepper is one of the most exciting English talents around and has arguably been one of the standout stars in Prem rugby over the past year. His performances in the semi-final and final of Bath’s 2024/25 Prem win cannot be understated, and his immense form this campaign has not been ignored. He was another standout star in England’s summer tour, and despite the Lions that have returned, Pepper has been allowed to keep his spot.
Freddie Steward
Despite being England’s first-choice number 15 for many years, Steward has rather unceremoniously fallen out of favour in recent times, but his patience has been rewarded with a rare starting appearance this coming weekend. A giant under the high ball, Steward will want to show the selectors just how much he has also improved his attacking game.
Joe Heyes
Another favourite of Borthwick’s at Leicester, he continues his impressive time in an England shirt with his third start in a row. Only in his mid-20s, Heyes could be a major part of England’s next World Cup campaign and possibly the one thereafter.
Tom Roebuck
One of England’s deadliest aerial threats, Roebuck has done well to break into an England squad filled to the brim with wing talent. The Sale Sharks man has had to fight off stiff competition from the likes of Henry Arundell, Cadan Murley and even Noah Caluori to secure this wing spot.
Fraser Dingwall
England have long searched for an inside centre capable of binding their dynamic outside backs together, and this is Dingwall’s opportunity to show he fits the role. He’s a tough tackler and a strong runner with soft hands, perfect for making the best of those around him as England gear up for a major reshuffle.
Sam Underhill
Recently described by Fin Smith as the hardest hitter he’s ever faced, Underhill was overlooked by the Lions this summer, but has been given full trust by England despite the overwhelming competition in the back-row. Players such as Chandler Cunningham-South, Henry Pollock and many others sit by the wayside while Underhill takes his place in the starting team.
Losers
Marcus Smith
As one of the most promising and impressive talents of the past generation, it seems almost unthinkable that Marcus Smith, now in his prime, cannot make the matchday 23. His ability is there to see, but how he fits into Borthwick’s game plan is not. It’s no secret that Marcus can make things happen in a heartbeat, but his coach prefers more of a structured game plan. Although we expect the Quin to make appearances over the next month, his lack of inclusion in the first match could be a very real indication of how sparingly he may be used.
Ollie Lawrence
The best guess at Lawrence’s exclusion would be that Borthwick is aiming to test Tommy Freeman out at outside centre, and giving him the starting berth to do so is the best way to exercise his talents. Lawrence is returning from injury following a summer out, which saw him miss the Lions tour, so he will surely be frustrated by his lack of Test match appearances.
Henry Slade
The Rolls-Royce of centres may soon find his international career coming to an end. Once one of the first names on the England team sheet and the instigator of many incredible team performances, Slade’s impact has minimised alongside his age. He’s still a cult hero at Exeter, but the smooth centre may not be in international contention for long.
Theo Dan
As the clear and obvious successor to Jamie George, Dan will be disappointed not to have made the matchday 23. With the ageing George and Luke Cowan-Dickie being preferred instead, expect Dan to feature later on in the series as Borthwick prepares for a future without the elder two.
Henry Pollock
Arguably the hottest property in English rugby, alongside possibly Arundell and Noah Caluori, Pollock toured with the Lions this summer, so he may have expected to play a bigger role in the opening England Test. It is, however, worth noting that at still 20 years of age, one bench appearance isn’t a disaster. In fact, if he’s able to make an impact when appearing on the field, then that will make selection very difficult for Borthwick moving forward.
Henry Arundell
His time in Paris wasn’t the most fruitful, but he’s not lost any of the fizz that made him so special. If he stayed in England, he could quite possibly be England’s number one winger by this point, but as it is, he doesn’t make the Test match 23. Disappointing for one of the most in-form wingers in the Prem.
Chandler Cunningham-South
The big man has failed to make the matchday 23, with Pollock, Tom Curry and Alex Coles preferred. Previously in his England career, he has often been used as an impact player, so don’t be surprised to see him on the bench in future matches in the series.