England return to action this autumn with Steve Borthwick facing some major selection headaches ahead of the Nations Championship.
The England boss has seen his options hit by a growing injury list, with eight players currently sidelined.
Sam Underhill and Bevan Rodd are already ruled out of the November campaign, while Ellis Genge, Marcus Smith, Fin Baxter, Alex Dombrandt, Ben Curry and Tom Roebuck have all recently been unavailable.
There is hope that several will return in time, but Borthwick will need to make some big calls when he names his squad. England face Australia, Japan and New Zealand in November, with the Nations Championship schedule providing another major test ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
England won two of their three summer Tests, beating Fiji and Argentina before suffering defeat against world champions South Africa at Ellis Park.
With the World Cup now less than a year away, this autumn could go a long way towards deciding who Borthwick trusts when England head to Australia.
Here is the XV we think England should pick this autumn.
15 George Furbank
There have been plenty of calls for Furbank to get his chance, and now that he is at Harlequins, he has a great opportunity to show what he is made of.
While Quins have struggled so far this season, if Furbank is able to showcase his ability then he will do his selection chances no harm.
A natural fullback with all of the main attributes needed for the position, he seems an obvious answer to play here, rather than playing fly-half Marcus Smith at 15.
14 Tommy Freeman
This one requires little explanation. Unless England decide to use Freeman at outside centre, an idea that appears to have stalled, he should start on his preferred right wing.
His form and experience make him one of the easiest selections in the backline.
13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg
There are still plenty of decisions for Borthwick to make in midfield. However, Janse van Rensburg and Seb Atkinson worked well together during the summer, so England should give the partnership another opportunity.
The South African-born centre is a powerful runner and only made his England debut this summer after switching allegiance. He has adapted quickly to Test rugby and looks increasingly comfortable at international level.
His inclusion does depend on the injury he suffered against Northampton Saints at the weekend. He was stretchered off and there has been no update yet, so this selection assumes he is fit.
12 Seb Atkinson
As mentioned, Atkinson and Janse van Rensburg developed a strong understanding during the summer.
Atkinson has been one of the most consistent centres around and has already attracted plenty of interest with his Gloucester contract situation unresolved. Despite that, he has kept his focus and made an excellent start to the season.
A strong runner, reliable defender and capable playmaker, he has all the attributes required at inside centre. Borthwick has shown faith in him recently and has been rewarded with some impressive performances.
There is little reason to change things now.
11 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
There is not much to debate here. Feyi-Waboso remains one of England's most exciting wingers, combining power and pace with an excellent understanding of the game.
Alongside Freeman, he should form England's first-choice wing pairing unless something significant changes.
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10 Fin Smith
Another selection that looks almost certain.
Smith has established himself as England's starting fly-half and has handled the responsibility extremely well. His performances have justified Borthwick's faith in him and there is no obvious reason to make a change.
9 Alex Mitchell
This is one of the more difficult calls, but Mitchell just about keeps the No.9 shirt for now.
Jack van Poortvliet remains firmly in contention, while Archie McParland is continuing to develop and could soon push for a starting role.
The autumn may represent one of Mitchell's final opportunities to establish himself before McParland becomes a genuine option, but for now, the Northampton scrum-half retains his place.Ho
1 Ellis Genge
This one is fairly straightforward.
Genge remains England's standout loosehead option and should start when fit.
2 Jamie George
Much like Mitchell, George could eventually find himself pushed down the pecking order by a younger challenger.
With Kepu Tuipulotu yet to hit top form, however, George remains the safer option. The veteran hooker will retire after the 2027 World Cup and still brings huge experience and quality to the position.
He could lose his place before the World Cup, but for the autumn, George keeps the No.2 shirt.
3 Joe Heyes
Like Genge on the other side of the scrum, Heyes is currently the standout option at tighthead.
Providing he is fit, he should start.
4 Maro Itoje
After being given a much-needed break following the summer, Itoje should return to England duty refreshed and ready to lead the side.
His form was not at its best during 2026, but there were signs that he simply needed some time away from the game. With that rest now behind him, England will expect a much-improved version of their captain this autumn.
There is plenty of competition in the second row, but Itoje remains the leader and keeps his place.
5 Alex Coles
George Martin has looked impressive since returning from injury, but Coles offers more than simply physicality.
The Northampton lock is a powerful player in his own right, while his handling ability and surprising pace make him a more rounded option.
He was one of the unsung heroes of Northampton's title-winning campaign last season and is quickly becoming a player increasingly difficult to leave out.
6 Ollie Chessum
Following his impressive performance against France to round off the Six Nations, Chessum looks like England's first-choice blindside.
His physicality adds some much-needed bulk to the back row, while his versatility gives Borthwick another option if he needs to reshuffle the pack.
Now Leicester Tigers captain, Chessum also brings strong leadership qualities and has become one of the first names on England's teamsheet.
He can cover lock if required, but he is increasingly looking at home in the No.6 shirt.
7 Henry Pollock
Now feels like the right time to give Pollock a sustained run as an England starter.
One of the country's most talented young players, Pollock combines outstanding speed with physicality and has already shown he can make a huge impact at Test level.
His work at the breakdown and mobility make him a natural fit alongside Chessum, whose physical presence can complement Pollock's athleticism.
Pollock has repeatedly impressed when coming off the bench. The next step is to give him a proper run in the starting XV.
8 Ben Earl
The No.8 position remains one of England's biggest questions, with no obvious natural successor currently establishing themselves.
Hoskins Sotutu could eventually fill the role, but he has not yet done enough at Newcastle Red Bulls to force his way into the England side. That leaves Earl as the preferred option.
There may be concerns that a back row containing both Earl and Pollock lacks some size, but both players are far more physical than they are sometimes given credit for.
Earl's ability to carry the ball and link play also makes him an excellent fit for the exciting style of rugby England are trying to develop. For now, he gets the nod at No.8.
