Front Row

Loosehead Prop

Players under consideration:

Ellis Genge

Fin Baxter

Bevan Rodd

Beno Obano

Loosehead prop is a position with fewer players vying for a place in the squad but the four realistic candidates are all high quality players. Ellis Genge is a guaranteed starter at this point. Fin Baxter has shown promise already in an England shirt and so will be the second loosehead prop taken. The interesting battle here is between Rodd and Obano for the third spot. Bevan Rodd has done well in limited international opportunities up to this point; he is a talented player with good ball skills but doesn't have quite as much power as his competitors for this spot. He is still young for a prop and has time to develop. Beno Obano is not quite as polished with ball-in-hand but brings great power to the pack. He has struggled with injuries in the past few years but has been healthy for a while now and has been putting in strong performances for Bath this season. I like Rodd a lot as a player but I place a very high value on raw power at this position which gives Obano a slight edge to make it into my squad.

Selected: Ellis Genge, Fin Baxter, Beno Obano

Honourable mention: Bevan Rodd

Hooker

Players under consideration:

Jamie George

Theo Dan 

Luke Cowan-Dickie

Curtis Langdon

Gabriel Oghre

Jack Walker

Jamie George is the England captain and guaranteed starter. The positions behind him are massively up for grabs. Luke Cowan-Dickie and Theo Dan have been holding onto the two other spots. Luke Cowan-DIckie brings a solidity and physicality from the bench that keeps things safe and consistent at set pieces in the closing stages which is a valuable trait. Theo Dan is perhaps less consistent in that area but makes a massive impact with his ball carrying in the final stages against tired players. The same can be said for Gabriel Oghre who hasn't played for England but has been, alongside Curtis Langdon, the in-form English hooker in recent times. Langdon has been on the periphery of the squad for a while and is certainly deserving of a call-up. Jack Walker has been in previous squads when Cowan-DIckie was injured and is another solid option.

Selected: Jamie George, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Gabriel Oghre

Honourable mention: Curtis Langdon

Tighthead Prop

Players under consideration:

Will Stuart

Dan Cole

Trevor Davison

Asher Opoku-Fudjour 

Afolabi Fasgbon

Ehrun Painter

Will Stuart really took ownership of the #3 shirt in the autumn. Dan Cole is still going and is still a strong scrummager. Trevor Davison has been a solid player for Northampton and has the ability to perform at the international season. Erhun Painter brings a unique size to the position and a good carrying ability. He has consistently been on the edges of the squad. Asher Opoku-Fudjour has just made his England debut and looked good, he has a very bright future and probably a long one in an England shirt. Afolabi Fasogbon has made a name for himself this season at the scrum i  match ups against top players including Ellis Genge. He has had one or two injuries this season but is certainly a player for the near future if he doesn't make this squad.

Selected: Will Stuart, Dan Cole, Asher Opoku-Fudjour

Honourable mention: Afolabi Fasogbon