Maro Itoje Set to Miss Out Again After Being Sent Home by Borthwick

Borthwick has already suggested some senior players could be rested, and former England scrum-half Ben Youngs believes there is no better opportunity to give Itoje a break following a demanding run with Saracens, England and the British & Irish Lions.

Speaking on the For the Love of Rugby podcast, Youngs argued that resting Itoje would not only benefit the England skipper but also create opportunities for other players to step up.

“You think about the Lions tour and the load that he’s had not only as an England player but also as a Saracen and a Lion,” said Youngs.

“There’ll be a lot of, ‘Oh, you’re losing that experience,’ but one thing it gives other people is an opportunity.

“You’ve got George Martin who’s now fit again and Ollie Chessum, who is doing a great job captaining Leicester Tigers. We’re not far out from a World Cup and if you’re going to rest Maro, this is probably the only window that you can do.”

Former England and Harlequins captain Chris Robshaw agreed, highlighting the added demands that come with leadership.

“I think the other thing people don’t take into account is Maro hasn’t only played for these teams; he has captained them,” Robshaw said.

“He’s always had to be front and centre. Whether that be Lions or England, unfortunately he had the loss of his mother, which would have taken a lot out of him. Then he goes straight back to Saracens.

“When you’re a captain and one of the senior players, coaches expect you to lead from the front straight away. You’ve got to be the energy, and it does drain you.”

Robshaw suggested the decision to rest Itoje may ultimately need to be taken out of the player’s hands as England build towards the Rugby World Cup.

Steve Borthwick’s side appear to have landed on the more favourable half of the draw, raising hopes of another deep run on the sport’s biggest stage.

From the pool phase to a possible final in Australia, here is England’s projected route through the tournament — and the major rivals who could stand in their way.

England have been drawn with Wales, Tonga and Zimbabwe in Pool F at the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Although Wales are likely to strengthen by then, Steve Borthwick’s team will still be firm favourites to top the pool and advance to the round of 16 without major difficulty.

If England top their group, they will meet the Pool B runners-up in the round of 16. Pool B features South Africa, Italy, Georgia and Romania. The Springboks are expected to win the pool, meaning England would avoid the reigning back-to-back world champions, and the remaining teams are unlikely to pose a major threat.

Italy are the most probable candidates for second place. Although they are an improving side and far from a guaranteed victory, England should still be confident of beating them.

Italy’s defeat would set up a quarter-final against a runner-up from either Pool A or Pool E. Pool A includes the All Blacks and hosts Australia, raising the possibility of a rematch of the 2003 final between England and the Wallabies — a tricky prospect given Australia’s home advantage.

The Pool E runner-up is most likely to be Japan, though the USA or Samoa could also feature. Regardless, Australia are expected to progress, potentially paving the way for a thrilling showdown with a traditional rival.

If England can navigate the Wallabies without major setbacks, they should reach the semi-finals — at which point the outcome becomes far harder to predict. Their side of the draw will feature two third-placed teams and two pool winners, and it’s likely that one of those pool winners will progress to the semis.

That would mean facing the winner of either Pool C or Pool D. Argentina are favourites in Pool C, while Pool D could be topped by either Ireland or Scotland. Any of these sides would pose a significant test, but England would still back themselves to compete strongly against each of them.

And if they overcome their semi-final opponents, the most probable finalists waiting on the other side of the draw would be New Zealand or South Africa. Both are powerhouse rugby nations with exceptional squads, though South Africa have had the upper hand in recent years as back-to-back World Cup champions and current Rugby Championship holders.

That sets up the real possibility of a repeat of the 2019 final in Japan, where the Springboks claimed a 32–12 victory.

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