"Irrepressible" - Five players Steve Borthwick must call up for England
Rugby NewsSunday, 28 December 2025 at 19:39
respect.
The Gallagher Prem delivered another blockbuster weekend.
From Bristol’s bruising power to Northampton’s free-flowing brilliance, several players didn’t just play well — they
demanded attention. Steve Borthwick will have been watching closely… and these five made it impossible to look away.
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1. Gabriel Oghre (Bristol Bears) — Bristol 36, Newcastle Red Bulls 27
If impact subs were an art form, Oghre would be hanging in the Tate.
Thrown on in the second half against Newcastle, the Bristol hooker wasted no time reminding everyone what he does best — bully defences and finish from close range. His 60th-minute try came straight off the back of a thundering maul he helped create, the kind of score that screams international readiness.
Powerful, direct and utterly reliable at set-piece time, Oghre is making a compelling case to be more than just Premiership depth.
2. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints) — Bath 21, Northampton Saints 41
Irrepressible. Again.
Pollock was everywhere against Bath — scoring twice, flying into breakdowns, niggling defenders and generally being an absolute nightmare to play against. He’s the sort of player opposition fans hate but teammates adore.
Yes, the antics will wind people up. But when you’re backing it up with performances like this, it’s all part of the package. England need edge. Pollock brings it in spades.
3. George Hendy (Northampton Saints) — Bath 21, Northampton Saints 41
Northampton’s back three tore Bath apart, and Hendy was right at the heart of it.
Electric in space, fearless under the high ball and constantly probing for gaps, he looks like a player operating with supreme confidence. His development this season has been rapid, and this was another reminder that he’s knocking very loudly on the international door.
If England want genuine back-three dynamism, Hendy has to be in the conversation.
4. Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs) — Exeter Chiefs 24, Leicester Tigers 10
Some performances don’t grab headlines — they earn
Fisilau was colossal for Exeter in their win over Leicester. Huge carries, relentless work rate, dominant at the contact area and never took a backward step. The kind of No.8 performance coaches absolutely love.
With England’s back-row picture still evolving, Fisilau is doing everything possible to force his way into the mix.
5. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints) — Bath 21, Northampton Saints 41
This was the Tommy Freeman show.
Three tries. Constant line breaks. And a masterclass in timing and movement from midfield. Many believe his future lies at centre — and after this performance, it’s hard to argue otherwise.
His blend of power, pace and rugby IQ makes him one of the most complete backs in the Premiership right now. If this is what he can do when Northampton click, England selectors won’t be able to ignore him much longer.
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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