England Nations Championship Squad reaction

Published on 22 June 2026 at 17:19

Loosehead prop

Ellis Genge, Beno Obano, Asher Opoku-Fordjour

Fin Baxter and Bevan Rodd have struggled with their fitness all season, leaving a a couple of spots open at loosehead prop. Beno Obano was a natural replacement but the likes of Haffar and Iyogun will be very disappointed to miss out. Asher Opoku-Fordjour is predominantly a tighthead prop, but looks to have been swtiched to the other side for this squad, and has also played at loosehead before. It's has previously been suggested that England view him as a loosehead prop rather than a tighthead prop but he's unlikely to switch at club level due to Nicky Smith joining Bevan Rodd in that position at Sale Sharks. Genge will be in the team but the second spot is up for grabs.

Hooker

Luke Cowan-Dickie, Theo Dan, Jamie George(C)

In a slightly surprising move, Steve Borthwick has opted to stick with the same trio of hookers that he always does. Blamire and Langdon are both unlucky to miss out but clearly aren't Borthwick's type at the position. Tuipulotu also misses out, despite becoming more prominent for Bath, after he was selected for an England camp earlier in the season. Maro Itoje has been rested this summer so Jamie George will reprise his role as captain for the next 3 games.

Tighthead prop

Joe Heyes, George Kloska, Vilikesa Sela

Will Stuart is injured, and Opoku-Fordjour is playing at loosehead prop, which left Borthwick with some big decisions. He has left out Fasogbon and Davison, instead relying on players who lack international experience. Kloska has played once for England A whilst Sela also has minimal experience. This is Borthwick's last chance to bed in some new player but whoever is selected against South Africa will be facing a baptism of fire.

Lock

Ollie Chessum, Arthur Clark, Alex Coles, Charlie Ewels, George Martin

As stated above, Maro Itoje is being rested for these 3 games. George Martin's return will be very welcome news to England and frees up Borthwick to pick Chessum in the back row. Alex Coles has earned his role as a regular in the squad whilst Clark and Ewels will likely on get game-time against Fiji. It's highly likely that Martin, Coles and Chessum will all be in the starting XV to take on South Africa.

Back row

Tom Curry, Ben Earl, Greg Fisilau, Ted Hill, Guy Pepper, Henry Pollock

Despite pleas from Alex Sanderson, Tom Curry hasn't been rested for this tour. Curry, Pollock, Pepper and Earl are similar players who can all play across the back row. Ted Hill has been brought back into the team ahead of Ethan Roots whilst Fisilau will be the only specialist no.8. Pollock has shown at Northampton that he can be consistently excellent for 80 minutes and has surely earned a proper chance to start for his country.

Scrum half

Alex Mitchell, Ben Spencer, Jack van Poortvliet

Alex Mitchell's return is welcome with Spencer and van Poortvliet returning to add some experience to the group. McFarland, Bracken and Friday are all exciting youngsters who may now have to wait until after the World Cup to take the spots of the men currently in the squad. Mitchell has started consistently for England but Spencer is a better starter than finisher so we might see Mitchell used as an impact player from the bench.

Fly half

George Ford, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith

Fin Smith now looks like the clear starter at this position and should be given the role through to the end of the World Cup. Marcus Smith can't even get a start at fly half in an uncapped game so he is just a bench player to Borthwick. George Ford has fallen behind Fin Smith and may now be relegated to a leadership role within the group rather than leading the team in big games.

Centre

Seb Atkinson, Bernhard Janse van Rensburg, Max Ojomoh, Henry Slade

Steve Borthwick has chopped and changed at centre once again with Dingwall and Lawrence missing out and Bernhard Janse van Rensburg and Max Ojomoh selected instead. Henry Slade is also back after his excellent form for Exeter in recent weeks. Tommy Freeman is one of 4 wingers in the squad but has also played at outside centre for England. However, England have 5 centres in the squad so Freeman does appear to have been chosen as a winger.

Back 3

Noah Caluori, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank, Cadan Murley, Freddie Steward

Furbank and Steward will resume their battle for the starting job at fullback whilst Freeman and Feyi-Waboso look set to start on the wings. Caluori and Murley provide depth behind them.

My England starting XV and bench to play South Africa

1.Ellis Genge 2.Jamie George(C) 3.Joe Heyes 4.Alex Coles 5.George Martin

6.Ollie Chessum 7.Tom Curry 8.Ben Earl 9.Ben Spencer 10.Fin Smith

11.Immanuel Feyi-Waboso 12.Seb Atkinson 13.Henry Slade 14.Tommy Freeman 15.Freddie Steward