Steve Borthwick is set to unveil his England squad for the upcoming Six Nations on Friday, and while the specific details of his selections remain unknown, there is much we can deduce about his approach. It would be entertaining to visualize Borthwick arriving at Twickenham in a stylish navy suit paired with pristine white trainers, concealing some surprising player choices within his briefcase. However, it's clear that the England head coach will not be emulating Fabien Galthié's unconventional methods.
Galthié's choice to exclude significant players like Damian Penaud, Grégory Alldritt, and Gaël Fickou has generated considerable debate, marking a bold departure from traditional selection norms. In contrast, Borthwick's squad appears notably stable when compared to England's main competitors for the Six Nations title. While he does face a couple of injury concerns—something that is typical at this time in the rugby calendar—he is likely to acknowledge the impressive recent performances of uncapped player Greg Fisilau by including him in the lineup. What stands out most, however, is the predictability of Borthwick's selections, which speak to a cohesive strategy rather than a series of shocking surprises.
This predictability should not be misconstrued as a lack of boldness on Borthwick's part. Rather, it reflects a thoughtful approach. Over the past two years, the teams he has assembled have demonstrated that he is far from being a conservative or uninspired selector. In fact, one might argue that when the squad list is revealed on Friday—complete with details on which players are sidelined due to injury and who is attending camp for rehabilitation—it’s plausible that many names mentioned will also feature prominently in England’s squad for the 2027 World Cup.
What is particularly intriguing is how Borthwick has arrived at this advantageous position. A key factor is his distinction from Eddie Jones, his predecessor. On days like this, Borthwick lacks the mischievous glint that characterized Jones—a trait that often led to surprising selections aimed at shaking things up. Unlike Jones, who sometimes excluded veterans to assert control or provoke reactions, Borthwick fosters an environment where players are not perpetually on edge. For instance, during the 2019 World Cup cycle, Jones included 18 players in his Six Nations squad who ultimately did not make the trip to Japan. This was partly due to injuries but also because Jones thrived on creating headlines. Players like Lewis Boyce were selected yet continued to wait for their first international cap, while Gary Graham's brief stint with England ended abruptly as he aligned himself with Scotland.
In Borthwick's case, however, his depth chart is distinctly clearer. This clarity became even more pronounced following a summer tour to Argentina and the US, where numerous players were engaged with the British & Irish Lions. Moreover, the revival of the England A team means that Borthwick has fewer opportunities to make surprise selections. Despite the challenges, Borthwick finds himself at a disadvantage when compared to Jones during such pivotal moments. The excitement surrounding squad announcements is not as palpable as it once was under Jones, who was recognized for his audacity and brilliance during his peak coaching years. Ironically, Borthwick’s most daring choice last autumn was to call up 19-year-old Noah Caluori, who had just made waves scoring five tries on his first start in the Premiership—a move that Jones might have avoided to prevent inflating expectations.
Borthwick's current selection process benefits from the fact that he is working from a position of strength, with England riding a remarkable winning streak of 11 consecutive matches. While he faces challenges in the tighthead prop position, Joe Heyes has shown significant improvement over the autumn months. Additionally, he must manage a number of injured players, such as Fin Smith, Tom Roebuck, and Fin Baxter, who he hopes can contribute to the championship. Although there are some decisions to make regarding backup positions, importantly, he does not have a significant number of aging players to phase out before the 2027 World Cup. In contrast, Jones faced this dilemma in 2018 with veterans like Chris Robshaw, James Haskell, Mike Brown, and Dylan Hartley, a task that nearly jeopardized his position as head coach due to the difficulty of timing their transitions out of the squad.
Switching gears, the Welsh Rugby Union has identified Y11, the ownership group of the Ospreys, as its preferred bidder to take over Cardiff. Should this deal be finalized, Y11 would take ownership of both clubs while allowing them to operate independently. The WRU has been in search of a buyer for Cardiff since it assumed control after the club’s administration in April 2025. The involved parties will now enter a 60-day exclusivity period to finalize the agreement and conduct due diligence. A WRU statement emphasized their commitment to supporting both teams and providing updates throughout the process.
In a positive turn of events, the Welsh Rugby Players Association expressed satisfaction with this update, indicating it was enough to avert any immediate player action ahead of the Six Nations match between England and Wales. This development provides reassurance for players regarding their futures for at least the next year, adding a sense of security as they approach the critical February 6 deadline.
Returning to Galthié, and more significantly to France, it’s worth noting that while the aftermath of the 2023 World Cup was painful for England, Borthwick has not had the same challenge of phasing out players mid-cycle. Many prominent players have opted to move to France of their own accord, sparing Borthwick the task of ending the illustrious careers of the Vunipola brothers, Manu Tuilagi, Kyle Sinckler, Courtney Lawes, or Jonny May. Interestingly, Owen Farrell's decision to join them has simplified Borthwick's situation even further. While Dan Cole and Joe Marler have continued to play, their presence was always seen as a temporary solution until a new wave of young talent emerged in the prop positions, thus clarifying Borthwick's path toward the 2027 World Cup.
Consequently, announcements like the one on Friday may not generate the same level of excitement, which is somewhat disappointing considering rugby could benefit from more fanfare. Jones was always attuned to this dynamic; however, he also had players whose names resonated beyond the sport itself, like Danny Cipriani, and was often skeptical of their potential. Borthwick's steadiness in his selections is another reason why Friday’s announcement may feel somewhat mundane. Yet, it is important to recognize that his consistent approach has positioned him in a way that rivals will undoubtedly envy.
