For much of the last decade, England’s scrum has been viewed more as a concern than a calling card. It was rarely catastrophic, but it was seldom dominant, particularly at prop, where England often appeared to be managing rather than imposing themselves. That narrative is now changing.
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The current injury situation at tighthead underlines how far things have come. Will Stuart and Asher Opoku-Fordjour would both have been firmly in the Six Nations conversation, and in previous cycles their absence might have sparked genuine anxiety. Instead, England have been able to bring in Trevor Davison and Vilikesa Sela with a degree of confidence.
Davison, 33, has spent years in the Prem and offers resilience and reliability. Sela, just 20, arrives with limited senior experience but a reputation that is quickly building. Alongside them sits Joe Heyes, whose development over the past year has turned him from a squad option into an established Test tighthead.
That sense of continuity has been central to Steve Borthwick’s vision. When he joined, the front row was quickly identified as an area that required long-term thinking rather than short-term fixes.
“Billy Sela is probably a case in point. Three years ago when I came back in to rejoin the team, clearly the front row we discussed at length, myself and Conor O’Shea and Tom Harrison, about what we needed to do and where the front rows are,” Borthwick explained.
The emphasis has been on alignment across the pathway, ensuring that promising props are recognised early and developed with the senior game in mind.
“Now Billy Sela, three years ago when I came in, I had been informed by Conor and Mark Mapletoft, in terms of discussing the depth chart, about Billy Sela and what an incredibly talented rugby layer we have coming through the system,” Borthwick said. “From a talent ID, it shows the joined up nature, we have been aware of Billy coming through.”
Former England prop Nathan Catt has played a key role in turning that awareness into tangible progress. Working within the pathway and closely with Bath, Catt has helped shape young front rowers technically and mentally. Borthwick recalled a moment that has since become part of Sela’s story.
“There is a story, I don’t know how true these are. Nathan Catt being at a Bath academy session… And Billy Sela going over with the back five because that’s where he was at that moment time… And Nathan Catt said, no, no, no, you are over there, you’re over with the front row.”
Running parallel to that work has been the influence of scrum coach Tom Harrison, appointed before the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Harrison’s detail-driven approach helped stabilise England’s set piece during a tournament that ended with a narrow semi-final defeat to South Africa. Borthwick is clear about his value.
“I think Tom knows about every prop in England to level seven. He has them all documented, all the scrum profiles measured and understood, just in case.”
That preparation explains why England have not been caught off guard by injuries. “Do we want these injuries in the front row? No. Did we know who was next in? Absolutely,” Borthwick said, noting that Davison and Sela were already on individual development plans well before being called into camp.
Selection decisions now reflect depth rather than desperation. “Right now this isn’t about selection of the 23 against Wales. We’ve got a blend of strengths there, a blend of experience,” Borthwick said, pointing to Heyes’ rise since his A team appearance against Australia A in 2024 and Davison’s longevity in the Prem.
England’s scrum may not yet be the defining force of the side, but it is no longer an Achilles heel. Built through joined-up thinking and sustained coaching, it has become an area of confidence rather than doubt.
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