Billy Vunipola is among the notable players removed from Steve Borthwick’s England Six Nations team, along with Jonny May and Jack Nowell. Vunipola, May, and Nowell have a combined 185 caps. Yet they were not included in Borthwick’s first selection as head coach.
Fin Smith, the Northampton fly-half, and fellow uncapped players Ollie Hassell-Collins, Cadan Murley, Jack Walker, and George McGuigan are among the more notable additions; George Ford is out due to an Achilles injury and has not yet healed.
Dan Cole, Ben Earl, and Elliot Daly, who all fell out of favor with Eddie Jones, are all welcomed back. Along with Leicester’s Dan Kelly and Sale’s Ben Curry, whom each has only one cap.
Smith, 20, came to Northampton in October after Worcester’s downfall, and he has since impressed for the Saints. In addition to Marcus Smith, who made his return from injury on Saturday. And Owen Farrell, Borthwick has also selected him.
The Rugby Football Union cleared the path for Borthwick to choose Farrell without worry that his suspension would be amended as a consequence.
Given his form for Saracens this season and the fact that he fought his way back into the England team after being dropped by Jones at the start of the 2021-22 season, Vunipola’s absence seems unexpected. He excelled during England’s summer tour of Australia but suffered in the fall. As No. 8s, Sam Simmonds and Alex Dombrandt have been favored.
Joe Cokanasiga, Alex Coles, and Guy Porter are among the players utilized by Jones in the fall who are not in Borthwick’s team. May also play in the fall after battling back from a string of ailments, as did Nowell. But both players have been judged superfluous by the head coach.
Billy Vunipola, May, and Nowell not selected for Six Nations
Borthwick has selected seven players from Leicester Tigers, the side he led to the Premiership victory last season. With Cole making his first appearance since the 2019 World Cup. Ollie Chessum is also back after missing the fall, while Kelly’s selection suggests a change in midfield strategy.
Borthwick was restricted in the number of changes he could make to his larger squad by an agreement between the clubs and the Rugby Football Union, although his selections tended to reward Premiership form more than those of Jones. Curry’s inclusion and Daly’s comeback, who scored a hat-trick for Saracens on Saturday, both point in that direction, even though Curry may be dropped from the team once his brother Tom recovers from injury. The same is true with Earl.
Borthwick stated, “This is an interesting group, with a blend of Six Nations experience and youthful talent. Also Premiership players in terrific form.” “We are all looking forward to the challenges presented by the Six Nations. And we will approach this magnificent tournament with courage and entire dedication.
I am certain that the players cannot wait to return to Twickenham. And deliver a performance that will make our fans proud. The difficult preparation for the Scotland match begins today.”
