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Four England A players Steve Borthwick should consider for Japan
By Josh Raisey
England head coach Steve Borthwick has a choice to make ahead of this Sunday against Japan: stick or twist. Stick with the same core group and try and register a much-needed win, or twist with a new group who have had limited game time.
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So far this November, Borthwick has been reluctant to tinker with his starting XV, only making two tactical changes – replacing Ben Spencer and George Furbank for Jack van Poortvliet and Freddie Steward – across three matches, and a further two forced changes.
Of his original 36-player squad that was named for the Autumn Nations Series, only a handful of players have been deprived any minutes in white over the past three weeks, and could therefore be options should the England boss opt to twist against Eddie Jones’ side.
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But England A provided Borthwick with plenty of food for thought on Sunday with their 38-17 victory over Australia A at Twickenham Stoop.
For a side that did not feature a single player who was originally in England’s autumn squad (Asher Opoku-Fordjour was called up to replace the retired Joe Marler), they certainly acquitted themselves well.
Who knows what Borthwick’s plans for this Japan originally were? Maybe he was going to stick with the same group? Maybe he was going to blood in a few of the fringe squad members? Maybe he was indeed going to try out a few of the A players after an audition the week before?
One thing is clear- it’s unlikely that three losses on the bounce were ever part of his plans. It may be unorthodox, but if he does choose to throw away the rulebook and call up some from the England A squadron, here are four he should consider:
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Gabriel Ibitoye
Part of a high-flying Bristol Bears backline this season, Gabriel Ibitoye arrived at the Stoop in a rich vein of form. The 26-year-old looked every part a player who had just been crowned October’s Gallagher Premiership player of the month, making three breaks and carrying for over 114 metres. If there are any English players performing better than Ibitoye currently, they are few and far between.
This one is contingent on Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s fitness. The World Rugby breakthrough player of the year nominee missed the South Africa match due to a head knock, and, should he be available again, deserves to start in light of what he has done for England this year.
If unavailable though, Ollie Sleightholme will probably start on the wing again alongside Tommy Freeman, but there will be a place on the bench. Tom Roebuck was the next cab off the rank to fill the outside back spot on the pine against the Springboks, but many in England would be curious to see what Ibitoye could do in a 20-minute cameo in what would be a well-deserved first cap.
Tom Willis
One of the surprise omissions from Steve Borthwick’s 36-man squad, No 8 Tom Willis played like a player with a point to prove. He led the match for carries, 23, and defenders beaten, six, popping up all over the field. In the tight, he showed his upper-body strength to swat away would-be tacklers; in wider channels, he looked equally dangerous.
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The benefit for the one-cap Willis is that there is conceivably a place for him on Sunday regardless of whether Borthwick opts for wholesale changes or not. Mass rotation would obviously open the door for the 25-year-old, but there could be an opening on the bench if England opt for minimal changes to their starting XV.
England’s bench has been ineffective at best this autumn and a momentum-destroying hindrance at worst. That is not to say they are bad players individually, but perhaps Borthwick has overvalued their role as impact subs, or, as his predecessor would describe them to much criticism (but now increasing appreciation), finishers. With England’s bench ailing, it is an area that urgently needs addressing and there is no time like the present to do so.
If one player could have pipped Ibitoye of the player of the month award, it was the Saracen, and he will surely be part of Borthwick’s Six Nations plans at the very least if his form continues.
Oscar Beard
Chopping and changing centres is seldom a good option in rugby, with a settled midfield duo often being a barometer of a team’s success. England have not looked settled this November, and, as expected, neither has their centre combination of Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade in truth. It is understandable if the coaching staff were loath to wield the axe, but in hindsight, this may have been wise.
Now Exeter’s Slade was severely short of game time heading into England’s first Test against the All Blacks, but, due to England’s dearth of established international centres, was parachuted back into the No 13 jersey. A lack of form and fitness may have hampered the 31-year-old in possibly the most physically demanding role in a blitz defence.
Borthwick opted to swap Lawrence and Slade around after the defeat to the All Blacks, but that didn’t really prove to be the stroke of genius he may have been hoping for.
Playing at his home ground, Harlequins’ Oscar Beard made defending in a blitz appear effortless against Australia A. The 22-year-old looked Jesse Kriel-esque at times hitting his opponents way behind the gainline. With some deft touches in attack to complement his firepower in defence, Beard put in a display that would have made Borthwick take note.
Beard’s Quins team-mate Luke Northmore is currently a member of the England squad – albeit without any game time – so it would appear he is ahead in the pecking order. The benefit the uncapped Beard has is that he effectively had an audition playing in England’s system, and passed with flying colours.
Fraser Dingwall would be equally deserving of a call-up with another excellent display. He has already featured for England this year, which may or may not work in his favour as Borthwick may want to experiment with someone new.
Arthur Clark
Not one of the standout names going into the match, Arthur Clark put his hand up to be considered in the future. In a match where the Australians largely dominated the tackle charts, the Gloucester lock still came out on top with 18, as well as ruling the airways at the lineout.
Just a matter of years ago, England had more elite locks than they knew what to do with. Now they look rather thin on the ground. Yes, Maro Itoje and George Martin look like they will pack down together for the foreseeable future, but after that, it’s anyone’s guess.
Ollie Chessum would back up as a lock/ flanker hybrid, but the Leicester Tiger’s injury has left Borthwick scrapping around for a suitable bench option.
That is where Clark may come into the equation as England look to bolster their bench. Bolster is something the 22-year-old would certainly do with a 2.03m and 126kg frame.
This may have seemed very leftfield heading into November, but some of England’s deficiencies have been illuminated over the past month.
Honourable mentions
While only 19 years of age, England A’s player of the match Henry Pollock put himself in the shop window, as did his fellow Northampton Saints flanker Tom Pearson.
But while England may have a lack of depth in the second-row, the back-row is not somewhere they are struggling for options, specifically flankers.
Probably England’s best player against the Springboks, Sam Underhill, was mind-bogglingly playing his first match of the series, and that was only due to a Tom Curry injury. He can hardly be dropped even if Curry is back to full fitness, and Chandler Cunningham-South is growing into that No 6 shirt week by week.
Overall, that probably means the door is closed on the Saints duo. The Six Nations is a different matter though.
I would like to see some other options get a run out but given the team need a win it would not surprise me to see the same 23, in fact it would not surprise me if Marcus Smith was "rested" and on the bench with Ford given a chance.
My main concern though is defence, if we defend like we have been recently Japan will cut us to shreds as they play with pace and accuracy and their handling under pressure has been very good, so a malfunctioning blitz could see us shipping points.
Could not agree more
Be surprised if Ibitoye gets a call from Borthwick this week, which is a shame as he's been excellent for my club Bristol and definitely deserves a shot. I'm just not sure Borthwick needs another wing option given Feyi-Waboso, Sleightholme, Freeman + Roebuck are all in the mix. Plus, with the new kick-chase rules, I've heard Steward could be slotted in on the wing if Furback returns to 15.
For the center's, I think Borthwick definitely needs to explore some additional options. Mentioned on a another thread that Dingwall should be given a run out with Lawrence, but hadn't considered Beard, which sounds like a very viable option.
Willis absolutely has to be given a bench spot. We have some flexibility with Earl and Underhill if they both start, so there's every chance Willis will make an appearance against Japan. His ball carrying and the general chaos he causes should have been used against SA.
Hearing a lot about Clark and think in the absence of Chessum, Borthwick should start thinking about backup options. Not sure if he can, but if Clark can cover 6, then that would boost his chances, but think it might be unlikely he gets the nod against Japan.
For Pollock, think it's a bit too soon and there's plenty of other experienced options. Only other name not listed is Ted Hill.
Given rugby union's complicated history with apartheid, I don't think it would be appropriate to select a player who played for Tel Aviv, so its probably for the best that Borthwick's back 3 selections are pretty settled.
Beard looks like a great player, but he's yet another 13, when what we really need is a 12. I'm also concerned that he's a player who thrives in loose games, when he's given lots of space to run, which is what he'll get against Japan. So if Bortwick picks him he'll probably play really well, but that actually won't tell us anything about whether he's international standard or not. Wales in the 6N might be an even easier game than Japan, but its likely to be more structured, so would give Beard a tougher test.
It probably would be good to see Clark and Willis given a shot. England really need a better number 8 option than Dombrandt, and a solid 4th choice second row - I'm not sure if Clark is that yet, but he's young so good grow into the role. Unfortunately he's never played 6 before, but I don't think that's an issue given that Martin, Itoje, and Chessum all have a lot of game time there.