Brighter days may be coming for English rugby. There is a healthy crop of young talent, a sensible age profile and another 15 months to fine-tune before the 2027 World Cup in Australia, where a kind draw could open the door. But before any of that, Steve Borthwick's squad must first survive a tightrope of a summer.
Key takeaways
- Jamie George, 35, is handed the England captaincy again as Maro Itoje is rested.
- England face three Tests on three continents in three weeks — South Africa, Fiji and Argentina — on a four-match losing run.
- Five uncapped players are named in the 36-man squad, though Janse van Rensburg can't face his native South Africa.
- Fin Smith admits he ran on empty late in the season, having to "fake it" to get up for games.
The inaugural leg of the Nations Championship asks England to play three Tests on three continents in three successive weeks — without their regular captain and while riding a four-match losing run. It is, to put it mildly, not the gentle warm-up the fixture list might have offered.
A "safe pair of hands"
The clearest sign that the management is bracing for turbulence is the decision to hand the captaincy back to 35-year-old Jamie George, with Maro Itoje — quite reasonably — given time to recharge. As with Joe Root and English cricket, "a safe pair of hands" can double as code for "what if it all goes wrong?"
There was a bolder option available. Leicester's Ollie Chessum, a certain starter and a leader visibly on the up, could have been promoted, with George and other senior heads offering support — a chance to draw a line under the recent past and signal a fresh start. Instead, the recall of George, like Root's, reads as much as an acknowledgement of England's current struggles as anything else.
It is worth remembering that George was abruptly stripped of the captaincy before last year's Six Nations as Borthwick sought a change of mood. No one doubts his enormous contribution over the years — but the limp defeat for an England XV in Vannes last Friday hinted that the promised shift towards bolder rugby still has some way to travel.
Five new faces in a 36-man party
There is genuine upside elsewhere. Five uncapped players have been named in the 36-strong squad to face South Africa, Fiji and Argentina: Noah Caluori, Greg Fisilau, Benhard Janse van Rensburg, George Kloska and Vilikesa Sela. Janse van Rensburg, though, cannot face South Africa — the country of his birth — as his residency qualification only completes the following week.
The recall of Bath centre Max Ojomoh is another welcome touch, though there is no spot for promising Northampton scrum-half Archie McParland, injured in Saturday's Premiership final.
"I am sure that by preparing well and continuing to demand the highest standards from one another every day, we will be well placed to meet the challenge."
— Steve Borthwick, England head coach
Borthwick was flagging the gruelling travel and shifting climates. Chessum may yet be trusted with the on-field captaincy at some point across the tour.
Fin Smith: "I had to fake it"
The harsh reality is that even England's brightest young players are running on fumes. Fly-half Fin Smith, fresh from Northampton's Premiership final triumph, admitted he had to dig deep mentally after a draining British & Irish Lions tour.
"It's been a tough season. I probably lost a bit of confidence and had to really try to get myself up for games at times — I was feeling like I had to fake it a little bit. But that's the job of being a sportsman: the highs and the lows. I won't dwell on it. I'll be pretty happy looking back now with the trophy and the medal."
— Fin Smith, England fly-half
Before Northampton's six representatives — Fraser Dingwall and George Hendy miss out — board the plane, there are a few celebrations to shake off. Smith, determined to savour the title fully this time, promised to "put on a brave hungover face" when he links up with the squad. Whether that is ideal preparation for the world champions is another question entirely — but, in rugby's weary mantra, it is what it is.
