"Suddenly, on the back of two heavy defeats and shocking performances, things are not nearly as settled. Comparisons have been made with the 2018 Six Nations in which England also bombed. Eddie Jones reacted by deciding that a clutch of senior players such as Chris Robshaw, James Haskell, Mike Brown and Dylan Hartley would not keep going to the 2019 World Cup."
"Despite his clear drop-off in form, it is inconceivable Maro Itoje will not captain England at the 2027 World Cup. He will need to be managed shrewdly between now and then but he remains the heartbeat of this side while next to him in the second row Ollie Chessum is among the few players with credit in the bank from the three rounds of matches so far."
"Borthwick is a loyal coach who relies heavily on depth charts and the exodus of so many players to France after the last World Cup made a number of difficult decisions for him much easier. Just how tailored his squad is to the 2027 tournament is demonstrated by his refusal to pick the Bordeaux-bound Tom Willis on the basis he will not be available."
Steve Borthwick built his 2027 World Cup squad methodically, excluding players like Tom Willis who would be unavailable due to moves abroad. However, two heavy defeats in the Six Nations have disrupted this careful planning. Comparisons emerge to Eddie Jones's 2018 response, when senior players were dropped before the 2019 World Cup. Borthwick now faces difficult decisions about which established players remain essential and which newcomers have strengthened their cases. Key players like Maro Itoje retain their positions despite form dips, while others including Ollie Chessum, Ben Earl, and Henry Pollock maintain credit. Injuries to certain players paradoxically improve their World Cup prospects by keeping them fresh.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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