Ranked: England forwards depth chart ahead of Nations Championship as Steve Borthwick faces ‘interesting’ choices up front
Steve Borthwick (left) faces some big calls in the pack this summer
With July’s Nations Championship Tests against the Springboks, Fiji and Argentina on the horizon, Planet Rugby looks at the full England depth chart. Next up, it’s the pack.
The pack is in somewhat of an interesting position heading into the summer Tests. The bulk of England’s injury concerns, both short and long-term, come in the forward unit, with Ben Curry, Bevan Rodd, Will Stuart, Trevor Davison and Fin Baxter all expected to miss the campaign. Still, the pack was arguably the shining light from the Six Nations campaign and in particular the scrum.
But, those injury concerns will lead to some major calls for the tour, be it to draft in in-form men or fast-tracking some promising youngsters.
Here’s our take on the current depth chart across the forwards unit.
Number eight
The continued unavailability of Tom Willis means Borthwick will have to look elsewhere, but it seems Ben Earl is once again at the top of the list. The Saracens man has seamlessly slotted into this role again in the past year, starting all but two of England’s Tests since November with eight on his back and arguably being the standout performer in the team.
His carrying in broken field and ability to shift out to midfield will give England’s attack a real edge, something which they tapped into during their much-improved display against France. He is also their lead battering ram in the tight and will likely play a key role this summer.
Greg Fisilau is a potential injury doubt after picking up a facial injury against Leicester, but if he is good to go in July, he will likely sit second in the depth chart. The Exeter Chiefs man is pretty much the perfect replacement for Willis at the back of the scrum, playing in an eerily similar way and posting similar stats to him as well.
With Borthwick now using his back-row as a more fluid unit than this time last year, Henry Pollock could also be an option to don the eight shirt. It’s a role he has done in the past for both England and Northampton, and he does seem to relish the increased freedom he gets to carry when shifted over, which the England boss could tap into.
Alex Dombrandt has worked his way back into contention, recently making the extended alignment camp, while Chandler Cunningham-South has also been used at eight in recent Tests and could also be an option here for the summer.
While they both missed out on the recent training squad, Alfie Barbeary and Callum Chick have enjoyed fine seasons with Bath and Northampton, respectively, and could be in the mix.
7. Callum Chick
6. Alfie Barbeary
5. Chandler Cunningham-South
4. Alex Dombrandt
3. Henry Pollock
2. Greg Fisilau
1. Ben Earl
Flankers
This is another interesting area for Borthwick, with several things at play. The head coach has previously selected three traditional ‘number sevens’ in his squad, think back to Curry-squared and Earl back in 2025, but they have also looked far stronger with a big bopper deployed at blindside flank as well.
It seems the latter is the most likely option looking towards the Nations Championship, and particularly against the Springboks and Pieter-Steph du Toit, which could see Ollie Chessum shift over to the back-row and head up the depth chart. The Leicester man arguably had one of his best Test outings against France in that Six Nations finale, and that came with six on his back.
He seemed to have just a little bit more freedom to inject himself into the game when a chance organically presented itself in this spot, on either side of the ball, and crucially, he gave England another lineout option in the process.
In the here and now, Pollock is potentially the number two flanker in the chart and the probable starter at openside. The Saints man is enjoying a proper purple patch right now and is playing with real confidence and swagger, which is when you get the best out of him. This feels like a big summer for him at Test level too, as he could nail down his starting shirt for the long-term.
Guy Pepper, Sam Underhill and Tom Curry will also likely be right in the discussion for a starting role, and with England expected to deploy a 6:2 bench once again, could very easily form the ‘Pom Squad’ once again, while Chandler Cunningham-South is also an option. Earl is certainly more likely to feature at number eight this summer, but he can also shift over to the flank if needed.
Elsewhere, Ted Hill and Ethan Roots have been in good form for Bath and Exeter and could be options come July.
9. Ethan Roots
8. Ted Hill
7. Ben Earl
6. Chandler Cunningham-South
5. Tom Curry
4. Sam Underhill
3. Guy Pepper
2. Henry Pollock
1. Ollie Chessum
Locks
Second-row pretty much depends on what Borthwick does at flanker, but if you take Chessum at blindside, that opens the door for Maro Itoje and George Martin to sit at the top of the depth chart. There is speculation around whether Itoje will be rested this summer, but he is the current captain and arguably the best player in the wider squad, while Martin has made a stellar return from injury and will bring proper grunt and intensity to England’s efforts in the tight.
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This partnership, which will be Saracens’ lock pairing next season, has excelled at Test level in the past, and they bring a real balance to the pack as a result.
Alex Coles is certainly going to be in the mix, too, following his return to fitness with Northampton. The Saints man quickly became a regular feature in the 23-man squad across the past year, and even pushed into the starting group during the Six Nations, and will be right in the mix come the summer as well. His work in the lineout is also a huge weapon for the Test side, which will only help boost their set-piece work.
Again, while Chessum could be set for a run in the back-row, he is an excellent lock in his own right and is very much an option here too. Arthur Clark’s recent inclusion in the alignment camp suggests he is right in the mix to add to his one Test cap this summer, and he is also bang in form for Gloucester, too.
Once more, Cunningham-South’s versatility makes him an option at lock, with Borthwick often choosing him in that number 19 role. Nick Isiekwe is also pushing himself back into the picture after making a return to the alignment camp, while Charlie Ewels and the aforementioned Hill could also come in at lock if re-called.
9. Ted Hill
8. Charlie Ewels
7. Nick Isiekwe
6. Chandler Cunningham-South
5. Arthur Clark
4. Ollie Chessum
3. Alex Coles
2. George Martin
1. Maro Itoje
Tighthead prop
Borthwick has not had a lot of luck at tighthead this season, with both Will Stuart and Trevor Davison ruled out of the Nations Championship, but Joe Heyes is a locked-in starter this summer. The Leicester prop was probably England’s best player in the Six Nations, excelling both in the scrum and around the park, and has carried that form over to the Tigers as well. His scrummaging is also not quite the traditional ‘anchor’ tighthead, but rather a proper attacking option to turn it into a real weapon for England.
Asher Opoku-Fordjour could be set for an extended run in the 23-man squad at tighthead, even if he has been playing loosehead a lot in recent weeks. The Sale man also really suits the way England scrummage, with him another attack-minded tighthead.
The aforementioned injuries to Stuart and Davison also allow Borthwick to extend the depth chart a touch, too, with Vilikesa Sela, Afo Fasogbon and George Kloska in the mix. All three men have been involved with the Test side in recent campaigns, and are at the right age to come in and become part of the squad more long-term as well.
5. George Kloska
4. Afolabi Fasogbon
3. Vilikesa Sela
2. Asher Opoku-Fordjour
1. Joe Heyes
Hooker
England could be set to use this summer to future-proof their hooker spot, with Jamie George retiring in a year’s time. The Saracens man likely sits at the top of the charts right now, though, given his experience and quality, but there is a spot open underneath him.
In the here and now, Jamie Blamire potentially sits in that number two space, given his recent return to the senior squad and form for Leicester. His game just seems to have really gone to a new level this season, across the board, and would bring some proper steel to England’s pack as a result.
Elsewhere, Theo Dan and Kepu Tuipulotu will also likely be in the mix following their inclusion in the wider 42-man alignment camp, and again are very much able to cement a spot for the future should they perform.
4. Kepu Tuipulotu
3. Theo Dan
2. Jamie Blamire
1. Jamie George
Loosehead prop
The calf injury Ellis Genge suffered in Bristol’s win over Bath is somewhat of a concern, but should he be fit, he is very much the leading loosehead option. While Heyes certainly played his part in the scrummaging efforts during the Six Nations, it felt like Genge was the real driving factor behind it, holding his shape and leading the snap to turn it into a proper weapon. He also boasts real experience at Test level, which will be invaluable this summer.
Around him, Beno Obano and Emmanuel Iyogun are also in the mix after their recent call-up to the alignment camp, with Obano potentially sitting at number two and Iyogun number three. However, they are both in good touch at the moment and could both feature across the three Tests.
Opoku-Fordjour is also an option to play loosehead this summer, given he has shifted over there in place of the injured Bevan Rodd. He excelled for the England U20s side here, too, and his attack-minded scrummaging is exactly what Tom Harrison wants from his looseheads as well.
4. Asher Opoku-Fordjour
3. Emmanuel Iyogun
2. Beno Obano
1. Ellis Genge
Injuries: Fin Baxter (foot), Bevan Rodd (shoulder), Will Stuart (Achilles), Trevor Davison (knee)
Rehab: Luke Cowan-Dickie (arm)