5. Tom Dunn – DEBUT: England vs Italy 2020 Six Nations
We move one spot along the Bath front row from Beno Obano, and put a focus on hooker Tom Dunn for our fifth and final entry. Cast your mind back to the largely forgettable Covid 19 pandemic, when the 2020 Six Nations were put on pause after the world went into a state of lockdown. Some eight months after the tournament began, the competition was able to continue for the final round in October 2020.
Amidst the lateral flow tests and face-masks, the tournament was finalised as England were crowned champions behind the closed doors of the Stadio Olympico. Bath hooker Tom Dunn was called up for an England debut, yet his appearence lasted all of one minute as he replaced Jamie George in the 34-5 win in Rome. The hooker would remain amongst the England squad for the Autumn Nations Cup, with replacement run-outs against Georgia, and another minute long cameo, this time against Ireland.
One of the most underutilised England talents in recent years, Dunn has not been a playing feature of the national team since that Autumn, yet Borthwick did call-upon the front rower as injury cover for the 2023 Six Nations training squad. In a similar case to Jack Walker, the hooker looks to have fallen down the Premiership’s pecking order in Borthwick’s eyes, with Newcastle Falcons’ man Jamie Blamire given the call to replace Luke Cowan-Dickie for this year’s competition.