3. Kieran Brookes
They wrote: “The 25-year-old former Newcastle tighthead prop has 15 caps to his name but the vast majority (14) of them as a replacement. This is the season for him to challenge Dan Cole for the status of England’s No 1 tighthead. The summer switch to Northampton has given him greater prominence.”
Where he is now: Continued to be on the bench under Jones before poor form saw him dropped from the squad altogether. He’s since joined Wasps in a bid to rediscover his best form but has struggled with injuries.
4. Joe Simpson
They wrote: “He may have won one cap back in 2011 but has been very much on the periphery since. There is little doubt that he is the quickest scrum-half in England, and therefore the most dangerous, but it is a question of whether his game management can stand the highest pressure.”
Where he is now: A frustrated figure at Wasps, stuck behind Dan Robson in the pecking order. He since left the Ricoh for Gloucester and has impressed thus far. However, so far he has never been close to a recall.