"Borthwick got it wrong" - Four England hopefuls who impressed this weekend

Across the league, several England hopefuls delivered performances that suggested they may have been unlucky to miss out – or, at the very least, forced the national head coach to sit up and take notice.

Here are four players who made a compelling case that Borthwick may have got it wrong.

In an emotionally charged week at Saracens, Noah Caluori once again offered a tantalising glimpse into the future – both for his club and potentially for England.

Amid a rebuild and heightened scrutiny, the young back delivered a statement performance that will not have gone unnoticed by Steve Borthwick.

Caluori’s omission from England’s Six Nations squad was a high-profile one, particularly given his breakout season. Yet rather than sulk, the Saracens starlet responded in emphatic fashion, crossing for four tries in a thumping 73–14 victory.

His movement, finishing and confidence screamed international quality, and his ability to exploit space with clinical efficiency highlighted a player very much ready for the next step. Should injuries strike during the championship, Caluori has made it abundantly clear that he is ready and waiting.

With England camp looming, Seb Atkinson continues to do everything within his power to make himself impossible to ignore.

Gloucester’s vice-captain was bang in form once again on Friday night, delivering a commanding performance despite his side falling narrowly short.

Lined up against Bath’s Ojomoh at inside centre, Atkinson was head and shoulders above his opposite number. He carried with real venom, consistently bending the defensive line and winning collisions in midfield. Across the park, his physicality, work rate and composure stood out, underlining his readiness to compete at the very top level.

Although Gloucester were beaten 30–26 by Bath at Kingsholm in Round 10 of the 2025/26 Gallagher Premiership, Atkinson’s display was a shining positive. In a match of fine margins, he showed he has both the temperament and the tools to shine among England’s elite.

If there were any doubts about Freddie Steward’s form or confidence, they were quickly put to bed at Welford Road. Harlequins made a concerted effort to test him under the high ball, chasing kicks aggressively and attempting to disrupt Leicester’s backfield. Steward, however, was largely unruffled.

While the aerial contest was competitive, it was Steward’s attacking contribution that stood out most. The England full-back repeatedly joined the line with power and intent, giving Leicester vital front-foot ball and consistent gainline success. He was proactive in contact too, looking to free his arms and offload rather than simply recycle.

The defining moment came when Steward sliced through the Quins defence on a hard line off the scrum-half, accelerating away to score Leicester’s third try and effectively seal the contest.

It was a reminder of his underrated ability as a strike runner, not just a defensive safety net. Leicester ran out convincing 34–7 winners, with Steward at the heart of their dominance.

Jack van Poortvliet’s performance against Quins was full of intent, edge and enterprise – even if it came with a late sting in the tail for England watchers.

The Leicester scrum-half initially thought he had picked the perfect pass to put Hassell-Collins over for the opening try, only for it to be ruled forward.

Undeterred, van Poortvliet decided to take matters into his own hands. For Leicester’s second try, he chased his own kick, regathered, stepped beautifully and raced in from 50 metres out.

Beyond the highlights, his game management impressed. He played with good tempo, kept Leicester ticking over nicely and made sound decisions throughout.

However, his night ended on a worrying note as he hobbled off with 10 minutes remaining – a moment that will concern Steve Borthwick as much as it frustrated him.