Five outside picks that Steve Borthwick may select for England's Six Nations squad

Whether through timely form, injuries in key positions or sheer persistence, these five players represent outside shots who could yet force their way into England’s plans.

If form counts for anything, Billy Searle is making himself impossible to ignore. Fly-half remains one of England’s most competitive positions, but his recent Champions Cup and Prem performances are forcing him into the conversation.

Against Bayonne last week, Searle was outstanding. He created the opening two tries with near-identical long passes before switching roles himself, racing clear to complete a second-half hat-trick. Playing with clarity, confidence and an emerging swagger, he controlled the contest with authority.

England’s depth at ten is formidable, but performances of this quality make it increasingly difficult to overlook him.

Since returning to England with Harlequins after a spell in France, Harry Williams may find opportunity knocking. With Will Stuart and Asher Opoku-Fordjour both sidelined, two tighthead slots are suddenly up for grabs, and Williams’ experience could count heavily in his favour.

Capped 19 times between 2017 and 2021, he offers far more Test exposure than rivals such as Trevor Davison or Afolabi Fasogbon. If Steve Borthwick opts for reliability over youth, Williams could edge out the younger contenders.

England have previously turned to experience in times of injury disruption, most notably in 2017 when Eddie Jones handed debuts to 17 players during the Lions tour absences. Williams may yet benefit from a similar situation.

While not a complete outsider, Noah Caluori would still represent a bold call if he earns Six Nations minutes. Involved during the autumn, his rapid rise has been well documented, and his aerial ability already sets him apart.

Initially brought into the senior squad in a developmental role, Caluori was named in England’s 36-man squad for the 2025 Autumn Nations Series before featuring for England A, where he scored his first try against Spain. An injury to Tom Roebuck later saw him recalled to the senior training group ahead of the Argentina fixture.

With Roebuck potentially unavailable for the Six Nations, the door may open again. Even if opportunities are limited this year, it feels more a question of when, not if, Caluori becomes a regular at international level.

Alex Dombrandt remains one of England’s most debated selections. He regularly dominates at club level, only to find his international performances subjected to intense scrutiny before falling out of favour again.

For Harlequins, however, he continues to underline his quality. His blend of size, power and attacking intelligence was again on show against La Rochelle, reinforcing why his name never quite disappears from England discussions.

The back row is fiercely competitive, making a recall unlikely, but Borthwick may yet be tempted to roll the dice. Dombrandt’s England journey has been stop-start: a Barbarians debut in 2019, his first Test cap in 2021 against Canada, and a recall to the training squad during the 2025 Six Nations following strong domestic form. Few players divide opinion quite like him.

On current evidence, Gabriel Oghre has a compelling case. Statistically, he is the Prem's standout hooker this season, and with Theo Dan struggling for form, a recall looks increasingly realistic.

Oghre’s England pathway has been steady rather than spectacular. He trained with the senior squad as early as 2021, toured New Zealand in 2024, and impressed for England A later that year. His breakthrough came in the summer of 2025, when he earned his first Test cap against the United States and marked it with a try.

His numbers speak volumes: the highest try involvements per 80 minutes, the best gainline success from carries, and superior lineout accuracy when compared to Luke Cowan-Dickie, Theo Dan and Jamie Blamire. On form alone, he looks ready for another opportunity.