4. Oscar Beard – Harlequins
Harlequins break-out talent Oscar Beard, fits the mould that Borthwick wants to see from his outside backs. Predominantly a wing, Beard also has the physical prowess and playmaking skillset to slot into outside centre. This adaptable and dependable role was held down by Joe Marchant, with Borthwick looking to add depth to his centres with multi-tooled players like Beard and Northampton’s Tommy Freeman.
Beard suffered an injury set-back last weekend, as he failed a HIA in Harlequins Champions Cup win against Ulster. Hopefully Beard’s return to play goes as scheduled, and the promising young talent achieves his dream of playing for England in the Six Nations.
“Oscar, I rang him yesterday. I think the words he used yesterday when he spoke to us, he said it was a dream come true.” Borthwick said. “I think the ability to play multiple positions, that positional flexibility, I’ve spoken about that many times, that’s really important to have in a squad. Young guy, who’s really hungry and ambitious and very, very detailed and organised.
“I’ve had two meetings with him where we’ve talked tactically, and my sense is, he picks information up really fast, very smart. That’s important in test rugby. Because again, we’ve going to have three training sessions before we play against Italy. So being able to pick information up is really important.”
A versatile Quins talent across the centres and wings, Beard’s ability to play in multiple positions gave him an advantage over some of the Premiership’s top centres. Borthwick discussed the shortlisted centres, who narrowly missed out on a space in the Six Nations squad.
“Max Ojomah was close to the squad, Lennox Anyanwu was close to this squad, I met with all those players. And what I needed was ultimately, those English players playing regularly. And so I said, there’s a common (theme), Tommy Freeman’s ability to play at 13. I’m sensing that growth in our depth at centre, which was a position I’d identified as being one that we were pretty thin.”
5. Ethan Roots – Exeter Chiefs
The first of two Exeter players to make their way into their first England squad, Ethan Roots has been on Borthwick’s radar since the back-row was starring for the Ospreys. The 26-year-old talent began his playing career in New Zealand, as he came through the ranks with North Harbour and the Crusaders in Super Rugby. Roots is a hard-hitting back-row that is best suited to the blindside flank, with an exciting future ahead Borthwick re-called how he first heard of the Chiefs talent.
“So Ethan, I remember coaching against the Ospreys, in Europe, and seeing this player, he’s a good player. He’s a really good player. But effectively then thought nothing too much more of it. Then we’re in La Touquet, and walking through the dining room, and Richard Hill, he’s at his computer, and he’s watching the Premiership Rugby Cup games and he pulls me over, come and watch this and choose watch this player for the next two minutes.
“I watched him with ‘Hilly’, and he was outstanding. His work rake and the physicality he brought to it. ‘Hilly’ said to me there and then he said, ‘track this guy, track him.’ And if Richard Hill tells me to watch a back row forward I’m listening. He’s got some brain and understand that he’s in England selection now.”
“Ethan is physical, his work rate is excellent and he’s really excited to be a part of this England squad.”