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Steve Borthwick handed boost amid England back row injury crisis

Zach Mercer of England looks for space during a training session at Pennyhill Park on June 12, 2023 in Bagshot, England. (Photo by Dan Mullan - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Of the back row that started for England in the World Cup semi-final against South Africa in October, Courtney Lawes has since retired from international rugby, Tom Curry has a season-ending hip injury and Ben Earl is still nursing a knee injury.

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To make matters worse for England head coach Steve Borthwick, Saracens confirmed this week that No8 Tom Willis is likely to miss the Six Nations after having minor surgery on his knee this week.

Though England have a wealth of options in the back row currently, they are teetering on having a mini injury crisis. Borthwick was handed a major boost today though with the return of Zach Mercer.

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    The Gloucester No8 underwent ankle surgery at the beginning of November and it was believed he would be out of action for an extended period, casting his participation in the Six Nations into doubt. However, he has made a swift return, and is set to start at the back of the scrum tomorrow night against ASM Clermont Auvergne at Kingsholm in the Challenge Cup.

    This is a major boost for both England ahead of the Six Nations and Gloucester for the rest of the season. The Cherry and Whites arrested a six match losing streak with a win over Georgia’s Black Lion last Saturday, but it is safe to say that the 26-year-old has been sorely missed this past month after a barnstorming start to the season with Gloucester.

    The former Montpellier star put the disappointment of missing out on Borthwick’s World Cup squad behind him with a great start to life at Kingsholm before his injury. But if he is able to regain that form, he will undoubtedly be in contention to make the Six Nations for England.

    Mercer is not the only person to make a rapid return to action, as Saracens revealed this week that Earl too is set to return ahead of schedule before the end of the year.

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    Gloucester XV
    15. Louis Rees-Zammit*
    14. Jony May*
    13. Chris Harris
    12. Max Llewellyn
    11. Ollie Thorley*
    10. Santi Carreras
    9. Stephen Varney*
    1. Harry Elrington
    2. Santi Socino
    3. Fraser Balmain
    4. Freddie Clarke*
    5. Matias Alemanno
    6. Jack Clement*
    7. Lewis Ludlow* (C)
    8. Zach Mercer

    Replacements
    16. George McGuigan
    17. Jamal Ford-Robinson
    18. Kirill Gotovtsev
    19. Cam Jordan*
    20. Ben Donnell
    21. Charlie Chapman*
    22. Seb Atkinson*
    23. Lloyd Evans*

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    Comments

    14 Comments
    B
    B 589 days ago

    For an overall England squad I would chose:

    1. Genge (C)

    2. Rodd

    3. Marler

    4. Obano

    5. Sinkler

    6. Heyes

    7. Dan

    8. George

    9. Cowan-Dickie

    10. Itoje

    11. Chessum

    12. Chessum

    13. Martin

    14. Underhill

    15. Curry

    16. Curry

    17. Earl (VC)

    18. Barberry

    19. Ludlum

    20. Dombrant

    21. JVP

    22. Mitchell

    23. Smith

    24. Ford

    25. Lawrence

    26. Freeman

    27. Tuilangi

    28. Daly

    29. Hassell-Collins

    30. Steward

    31. Radwan

    32. Randall


    This brings some experience but also some new to the international stage, how would be trying to make a mark.

    B
    B 589 days ago

    I’d like to see a slightly younger team for England this Six Nations, so we can start building for the for coming future.

    If they were all fit, I would choose:

    1. Genge (C)

    2. Dan

    3. Sinkler

    4. Itoje

    5. Martin

    6. Curry

    7. Earl (VC)

    8. Barberry

    9. JVP

    10. (Marcus) Smith

    11. Daly

    12. Lawrence

    13. Freeman

    14. Hassell-Collins

    15. Steward


    I’d have both Curry’s and Chessum’s in my larger squad. Would be nice to see Ben and Lewis on the international stage with their prospective brothers. Daly and Freeman could interchange between centre and back three, and Lawrence could move to 13 if possible. Smith is younger than Ford and brings a bit more pace to the game.

    S
    SH 588 days ago

    I know you caveat it by saying if all were fit, but Tom Curry is out for the season.

    f
    fl 589 days ago

    I hope Mercer gets a shot, but he’s going to need to work really hard to play himself into contention. Dombrandt has never hit great form for England but he is a solid international player that could offer much needed experience given the current injury/retirement/moving to France crisis we have in the back row. Thinking more longterm Barbeary, and Cunningham-South and Fisilau are looking like they could be the future at the back of the scrum. Moreover Barbeary looks increasinly like a young Billy V; Fisilau is a sort of 7.5 type player; and Cunningham-South can also perform well as a “Big 6”, which are three archetypes that we know Borthwick has an affinity for.


    If I was picking the six nations squad I’d have Ludlam, Underhill, and Dombrandt as shoe-ins, leaving 3 slots for some combination of Mercer, Barbeary, Cunningham-South, Ben Curry, Pearson, Dugdale, and Christie.

    S
    SH 588 days ago

    Fisilau played on both flanks for the U20s I believe, even if he’s broken through at 8. Think Martin’s bulk is too important for the scrum for him to move from lock, but I can see Borthwick picking Chessum at 6. Personally think you need a big bopping blindside to play if Underhill/Curry and Earl are your 7 and 8, ideally Ted Hill if he could stay fit.

    M
    MT 589 days ago

    For the Six Nations I would like to see 7. Underhill, 8. Earl and a big unit at 6. George Martin might fit the bill there, is he injured? Haven’t seen him since the South Africa game.


    1. Marler 2. George 3. Heyes 4. Itoje 5. Chessum 6. Martin 7. Underhill 8. Earl


    Genge, Dan, Cole, Launchbury, Barbeary for replacements.


    Good mix of youth and experience in there.

    b
    bit of a flanker 589 days ago

    Christie is a Scotland international

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