"Debut Coming Soon" - 5 Uncapped players selected by Steve Borthwick

The uncapped England stars have four matches to impress Borthwick, before the squad makes the short trip across the channel ahead of their Rugby World Cup campaign. England's opening match of the competition is a Pool D clash with Argentina, kicking off their competition in Marseille on Saturday 9th September.

However, this Summer sees England play in four Rugby World Cup warm-up matches, to ease out any cracks before the pinnacle competition commences. Borthwick's side have back-to-back matches against Wales, both in Cardiff and Twickenham, before heading to Dublin for a run-in with Ireland.

After England battle it out with the reigning Six Nations Grand Slam champions, they face a Fijian sized roadblock to finalise their preparations. The uncapped Northampton Saints duo of Fin Smith and Fraser Dingwall have since been released from the England squad, yet these five bolters may well receive their debut this Summer, and shake any first-time nerves ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Lets meet the new faces.

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Joining his brother Jack in the England squad, back-rower Tom Willis is an exciting inclusion in Steve Borthwick's plans. Soon to be heading back to the Premiership after agreeing a deal with Saracens, Willis returns to the top flight of English rugby after the financial collapse of Wasps last October.

The hard-hitting no-nonsense eight man commandeers the back of the pack, and formed a formidable back-row duo with his flanking brother at Wasps. Following their redundancy in Coventry, the Willis brothers both found new homes in the French Top 14, as Jack signed for 2023 champions Toulouse, and Tom joined Bordeaux-Begles.

Willis made 19 appearances for Bordeaux during the 2022/23 season, and quickly nailed his name to the number eight jersey. The 24-year-old scored three tries for the Southwestern France side, dotting down twice in the league and also once in the Heineken Champions Cup.

Thought by many pundits and fans alike to be Saracens' forthcoming replacement to Billy Vunipola, Willis will be battling for his shirt as the Saracen now seems to be staying put at the StoneX Stadium for next season. Vunipola planted the seeds for a departure, after statements surrounding his uncertain future went viral from Jim Hamilton's 'Big Jim Show' podcast.

The recent retirement of certifiable club legend Jackson Wray opens up big boots to fill on the Sarries blindside flank, with Head Coach Mark McCall potentially eyeing up Willis' versatility across the back-row for this role. Regardless of whether Willis wears the black six or eight shirt next season, he is a top-class addition to the Premiership champions squad.

He will be gaining valuable experience playing with his new teammates in the England squad, as Borthwick called up seven Saracens players into the Rugby World Cup squad today. Willis is joined by captain Owen Farrell, Maro Itoje, Jamie George, Elliot Daly, Max Malins, Ben Earl as well as newcomer Theo Dan (more on him shortly), in the reinforced England squad.

The Saracens understudy to Jamie George, Theo Dan is a blistering young prospect who has untapped potential. The 22-year-old had his Premiership break-out season in Saracens latest title winning campaign, providing more than capable hands in the extended absence of his mentor George.

England's number two was out for a prolonged stint with a concussion, and also took up the international reigns upon his return to match fitness. During his time away Dan stepped up to the mark, and made seven starts for the North London club (in 20 total appearances), and helped steer his side to the top of the Gallagher Premiership table.

Dan presented his capabilities as a try scorer, crossing over for five tries in the latest Premiership season. The hooker's break-out season is not a flash in the pan, the front-rower has been honing his craft in the RFU Championship, grinding out senior caps whilst on loan at Ampthill. This first XV exposure has worked wanders for Dan, who took his new-found skillset for a trial in the Premiership Rugby Cup, and progressed into a domestic league mainstay under Mark McCall.

Dan is in the best possible scenario to push on from strength to strength, as he joins his Saracens mentor Jamie George at Pennyhill Park for England training. As mentioned earlier, George is one of seven new Saracen to arrive in the England camp. Borthwick has also called up five players from Sale Sharks, now that the two sides have completed their five-week stand-down period following the Premiership Final.

Dan had an extended role in the Premiership Final triumph, as he came off the bench after just eleven minutes. George was knocked out in the final, after colliding with Tom Curry's shoulder. This prompted a nice showing of sportsmanship, from Sale lock and England teammate Jonny Hill who rushed to his aid. Dan stepped up to the mark in an outstanding Premiership final, and reaped the plaudits as his side lifted their sixth league title.

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Regarded by many England fans to be long overdue a call-up, Gloucester’s Val Rapava-Ruskin has been on the fringes of an international breakthrough since the tail-end of the Eddie Jones era. The Georgian-born prop is regarded amongst the best scrummagers in the Premiership, and frequently comes up with the plaudits following a scrum-time turnover for the Cherry and Whites.

The prop also has a keen eye for the try line, and is able to make the key yards to muscle his way through defenders to score. Rapava-Ruskin scored five tries for Gloucester in the 2022/23 Premiership season, and has become a firm fan favourite with the Kingsholm faithful. The 30-year-old joined Gloucester back in 2017, and in February Rapava-Ruskin extended his contract in the West Country, where he will continue to ply his trade.

Already a Gloucester centurion, the timing seems right for Rapava-Ruskin to make the breakthrough onto the international stage. The Rugby World Cup is a marathon, and considering Rapava-Ruskin’s unexpected pace at the sprint, the prop will be a worthwhile asset to Borthwick’s squad for the upcoming competition.

Rapava-Ruskin would add a high quality reinforcement to the England pack, during the latter stages of a world cup fixture. Rapava-Ruskin could well make his debut in one of the four World Cup warm-up fixtures, as Borthwick tries out his entire arsenal of talent, and fires the Rapava-Ruskin cannon at his unfortunate opponents.

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One of English rugby’s most exciting young talents, fans have been calling for the international break-out of Tom Pearson following consistent stellar performances with his former club London Irish. One of the most talked-about players following the financial collapse of the Exiles, Pearson will call Franklin’s Gardens home next season, as he has agreed a deal with Northampton Saints.

Pearson joins the Saints with former London Irish teammates and future England stars Chunya Munga and Tarek Haffar, but has the hopes of pulling on an England jersey before he runs out for Northampton next season. Pearson had a phenomenal season with the Exiles, and is now considered to be amongst the best defenders in the Premiership.

Pearson finished joint-first in the tackle charts, making a staggering 240 tackles in the 2022/23 Premiership season, with a 94% tackle completion rate. The 23-year-old shared the accolade with new Northampton teammate Alex Moon, yet took home the 2023 RPA Young Player of the Year Award all for himself. Pearson averaged out 73 minutes a game for Irish last season, and presented his attacking threat by making 496 metres with ball-in-hand.

A fantastic talent, England fans have been hopeful of Pearson’s breakthrough ever since it was first reported that former Exiles Head Coach Declan Kidney had been in discussion with Steve Borthwick about his players. Pearson has solidified his spot in the England training squad, and is learning from the experienced forwards ahead of the upcoming Summer series.

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The latest star to explode out of Twickenham Stoop, Cadan Murley has been amongst the England conversation since the appointment of Head Coach Steve Borthwick. The flying Harlequins winger was initially brought into the camp ahead of the 2023 Six Nations, yet Murley was let go back to his club, with veteran winger Jonny May preferred in the following week’s camps.

Murley went on to have an unignorable season, finishing at the top of the try-scoring charts after crossing for 15 tries in the latest Premiership campaign. A source of many ‘try-lights’, Murley’s best photo finish came early on this past season.

The 23-year-old’s diving try against Northampton Saints in October, after beating three back-peddling defenders along the left wing, certainly got the conversation started for an England call-up. Murley has only gotten better since, so be prepared to see some exhilarating runs in the England shirt this Summer.

Murley did not reach top spot by dotting down easy overlap scores, and has the running records to bolster his claim for an England debut. Murley also topped the Premiership charts for clean breaks this season, making 30 in an exhilarating year. Murley is hopeful to join his Harlequins teammates Marcus Smith, Joe Marler, Danny Care and Alex Dombrandt on the pitch this Summer, as he provides an exciting uncapped asset to Borthwick’s squad.

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