5. Adam Radwan
Another winger who was not in Borthwick’s plans this time around, Adam Radwan has been lighting up the pitch for Newcastle Falcons this season. Considered to be one of the leagues fastest players, when Radwan gets going, he is very difficult to stop.
Radwan’s pace nears an Olympic standard, and he has a recorded running of 100m in just 10.85 seconds, at an England camp. Radwan has gained the eleventh highest meters made, out of all of the Premiership’s players this season, with 530m with ball in hand. His talents have also taken him to score three times in the league for Falcons, in this campaign.
The 25-year-old has two England caps, and certainly made his mark upon his debut. The winger scored a hat-trick against Canada, in the 70-14 thrashing in the Summer of 2021. The selected England squad does not feature a single player from the North Eastern club, who can strive to build on their current eighth placed spot in the Premiership.
6. Ollie Lawrence
A line-breaking midfielder, with the technical prowess to distribute the ball, Ollie Lawrence is an all-round centre who has just failed to make the grade for Steve Borthwick’s opening England squad. A stand out performer in Worcester’s sinking ship, the 23-year-old left the Warriors after their financial collapse, and quickly found a new home in Bath.
Lawrence’s England experience has been a short but sharp journey so far. Making his debut at 21-years-old, Lawrence impressed Eddie Jones, who awarded him a total of seven caps. A try against the United States, in the North American tour of 2021, was Lawrence’s last cap for his country so far, in what wrapped up a whirlwind of international exposure.
The Bath centre has since grown, and is tipped to be the natural heir to Manu Tuilagi’s bruising carries in the centre of the park. The move to Sale Sharks has re-invigorated Tuilangi, who will hope to avoid any injuries ahead of what could be his last chance at winning the Rugby World Cup. Yet if history repeats itself and Tuilagi is once again out through injury, then an England opportunity may present itself to Lawrence, once again.
