England could hardly have asked for a better second game of their Nations Championship campaign after cruising to a 73-8 victory over Fiji.
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The emphatic win has given Steve Borthwick plenty to be pleased about, but a much sterner challenge awaits against Argentina this weekend. With tougher opposition on the horizon, the England head coach has several key selection decisions to make.
15 Marcus Smith
After an impressive cameo at scrum-half against Fiji, Smith should return to full-back, a role he has filled regularly for England.
It may not be his preferred position, but he offers a genuine attacking threat from deep while remaining dependable under the high ball. With George Furbank unavailable through injury, he is England’s strongest option in the position.
14 Tommy Freeman
Freeman had a relatively quiet outing against Fiji, but that should not overshadow his quality. He has earned the opportunity to build consistency in the side.
Noah Caluori impressed from the bench on his debut, but Freeman deserves to keep the starting shirt.
13 Henry Slade
Slade delivered a strong performance against Fiji and formed an encouraging partnership with Seb Atkinson in midfield. His playmaking ability, experience and all-round skill set make him well suited to Test rugby.
England have regularly changed their centre combination, but Slade and Atkinson look to complement each other and should be given an extended run together.
12 Seb Atkinson
Atkinson combined effectively with Slade and produced another assured display. He brings balance to the midfield with his running game, distribution and defensive work. His performances merit another start.
11 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
There is little debate over Feyi-Waboso’s place in the side. He is a dynamic winger with all the qualities needed to thrive at international level.
10 Fin Smith
Fin Smith has established himself as England’s leading fly-half option. He combines composure with intensity and controls games with confidence, making him difficult for opponents to contain.
9 Jack van Poortvliet
With Alex Mitchell sidelined, the competition is between Ben Spencer, Jack van Poortvliet and the recently called up Raffi Quirke.
Van Poortvliet appears to be Steve Borthwick’s preferred choice, making him the likely starter. While there is room for improvement and some criticism of his kicking game has been justified, he remains a reliable option.
