Winners and losers from England’s 2023 Rugby World Cup training squad

Colin Newboult
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Danny Care, Steve Borthwick and Zach Mercer in England training.

Danny Care, Steve Borthwick and Zach Mercer in England training.

Following the announcement of Steve Borthwick’s 41-man England training squad for the Rugby World Cup, Planet Rugby picks out the winners and losers.

Winners

Pure power

With England struggling up front during the latter stages of Eddie Jones’ tenure, Borthwick has sought to rectify the fundamentals of their game. Set-piece has taken a step forward and they have been slightly better at the breakdown, but there are still a few issues with the team in the tighter exchanges. Cue the head coach bringing in – and sticking with – some big, big men.

His intentions were signalled by keeping Billy Vunipola in the squad, despite the number eight’s injury and his previous omission from the Six Nations group. It also explains Tom Willis’ inclusion and why George Martin and Tom Pearson (more on them later) get in, even though they are callow at the highest level. There is still plenty of athleticism in there but Borthwick is looking to get more bulk in to try and dominate closer to the ruck.

Experience at scrum-half

Ben Youngs was always going to be included but Danny Care also gets the nod and could well have already booked his place, given that only three scrum-halves have been selected in the 41. Care was handed a lifeline last year by Jones, only to be unceremoniously dumped following the Australia tour.

Credit must go to the 36-year-old, however, who has continued to perform week after week for Harlequins. He may have lost a bit of pace but the playmaker is still excellent around the fringes and can control a game better than his younger counterparts. Given England’s issues at scrum-half at the moment, anyone could take that slot, so why not Care?

Youth in the back five

Well, not totally, with Courtney Lawes, Maro Itoje and Tom Curry providing plenty of experience, but we’re thinking about what chances Martin, Pearson and Tom Willis have in making the 33 and then the 23. They excelled for their clubs – Leicester, London Irish and Wasps/Bordeaux respectively – last season and look suited for Test rugby.

They are all huge units but with the athleticism to get around the field and have skill sets which Borthwick will like. Martin especially is in contention for a spot at either lock or in the back-row. Lawes, if fit, will take his place on the blindside, but the Tigers man could play there if required. However, he could well fill the gap left by Ollie Chessum in the second-row as he hits hard, carries superbly well and altogether adds plenty of grunt to the XV.

The task will be a bit harder for Pearson, considering the plethora of opensides England have at their disposal, but he has the physicality to play at six if necessary and has the qualities which can get him ahead of Sam Underhill and Ben Earl in the pecking order. The former Exile definitely suits what Borthwick is looking for.

As for Tom Willis, with Vunipola still on the sidelines, Zach Mercer a surprise omission and Alex Dombrandt not exactly pulling up trees in a white shirt, there is every chance he could be England’s number eight come the World Cup. He has the power but also some deft footwork to evade would-be tacklers, allowing him to make it over gain line. Jack’s brother could well be a breakout star in France.

Sam Underhill sneaks in

A player that has gone under the radar after an injury-hit time of it, but a favourite of all coaches when available. Underhill didn’t feature in the first half of the campaign for Bath, but returned around Christmas time and was a part of their improvement in 2023.

The openside was a star at the last World Cup in Japan, but we do question whether he has done enough to really force his way into the 33 in what is a competitive position. At his best, Underhill would be an asset, especially with his ability to force attackers back behind the gain line, and he has an opportunity to prove his worth to the coaches over the next month.

Dan the man

Saracens youngster Theo Dan is the one real bolter in the squad. The 22-year-old only started 40 per cent of games last season but his impact when he took the field was often impressive. That was demonstrated in the Premiership final when he came on for the injured Jamie George after 10 minutes and never looked overawed.

The concern surrounding a young hooker is always the basics – lineout and scrum – but Dan does those very proficiently. When you add that to his sheer dynamism in the loose then England have an exciting front-rower on their hands. With that bench spot up for grabs, don’t be surprised if the Sarries man takes it and becomes a key part of England’s 23 during the World Cup.

Losers

Jaws dropped over Zach Mercer omission

We had to double check when reviewing the squad to just make sure that the ex-Montpellier star had indeed been left out of the 41-man group. The whole point of Mercer signing for Gloucester was to make him available for the World Cup and, while that doesn’t automatically get you in the team, we felt he was nailed on for the final 33 on performances alone.

His efforts in the exceedingly physical Top 14 over the past two seasons have been exceptional and those across the Channel must be scratching their heads as to why he hasn’t been selected. We are fans of Tom Willis, so that call is a smart one from Borthwick, but Mercer is certainly playing better rugby than Dombrandt. The number eight has once again been treated pretty brutally by English rugby.

Injury denies Luke Cowan-Dickie

The talented hooker will miss the global tournament due to a troublesome shoulder/neck issue which has been hampering him for a while. It leaves England rather short of experience in the hooker position, particularly should Jamie George also go down.

When fit, Cowan-Dickie is one of the best around so this is a significant blow for the Red Rose, as well as being incredibly galling for the 30-year-old on a personal level. Hopefully he can overcome his injury problems and be playing Test rugby in 2024.

No change of pace at half-back

While Care challenges the fringe defence on occasion, Borthwick has ultimately gone for control and kicking accuracy over the up tempo options, such as Raffi Quirke and Alex Mitchell. The latter’s omission is a big surprise, with the Northampton Saint making a positive impression during the Six Nations, but his absence just reinforces what the head coach is trying to do.

There is some youth there in the form of Jack van Poortvliet, but the Leicester Tigers man is not the livewire of Quirke or Mitchell. He instead favours sound decision-making and box-kicking accuracy over 50-metre breaks, something which puts him in the good books of his national team head coach.

Bath and Saints

A few individuals have made the squad but generally these two clubs bore the brunt of Thursday’s culling as players from the Premiership finalists, Saracens and Sale Sharks, were added. Tom Dunn, Charlie Ewels and Ted Hill, three Bath forwards, were released, while Northampton backs Fraser Dingwall, Tommy Freeman, Fin Smith and the aforementioned Mitchell also failed to make it.

Certainly in the case of Northampton, their style does not suit what the coaches are trying to implement, but some may come into consideration following the World Cup. Freeman is highly rated by both Jones and Borthwick, but his kick-chase game is not currently at the level of the others, while Smith is a young fly-half still making his way in the game and who should get his shot in the next four-year cycle.

READ MORE: England announce official Rugby World Cup training squad with Zach Mercer omitted

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