After Steve Borthwick named his first selected squad of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations, he lit a new fire in these five players who he left out. After a thrilling weekend of Heineken Champions Cup matches, here are the five England hopefuls who put their hands up for selection.
#1. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears)
The Bristol Bears scrum half was a pivotal player in his sides 33-19 bonus point victory over Perpignan in the Challenge Cup. Randall brought Bristol’s response to conceding an early try, as winger Ali Crossdale put the visitors ahead after 11 minutes.
Randall provided the ammunition, for Bristol’s bruising forwards to carry hard at close range. The constant drives withered Perpignan’s defensive structure, which Randall capitalised on, sniping round the back of a ruck to score a classic scrum halves try. Randall was electric across the pitch, never a stride behind the play for the 53 minutes he featured.
England vice-captain Ellis Genge scored two tries as Bristol secured a 33-19 bonus-point victory over Perpignan in the European Challenge Cup.
Bristol Live wrote on Randall:
“He came out and played with a real zip and did well to find space to dive over after Perpignan took a shock lead. Then did brilliantly to chase down his own kick and force a turnover to pile the pressure on the visitors.
“The scrum-half then found Semi Radradra in a hole which led to Genge’s try and highlighted what he brings to this side when fit, bringing a real zip to their play.”