"Enormous Potential" - Reviewing The 7 Uncapped Players in Steve Borthwick's England Squad for the 2024 Six Nations

England commence their Six Nations campaign on February 2nd, with an upcoming trip to Rome. Borthwick's side open their campaign at the Stadio Olympico against Italy, who have also undergone significant changes following the appointment head coach Gonzalo Quesada. The Azzurri will prove to be a tough test for England, yet Borthwick could well utilise the opening weekend as an opportunity to give his newest recruits a chance to shine on the international stage.

With two players from Exeter Chiefs, Northampton Saints, Harlequins and one from Sale Sharks, the uncapped players have been in fine form as the clubs are all in the top half of the Premiership table. There is just one more weekend of club duties for these seven 'bolters', before they join up with the England squad in the hopes of a test match debut.

Here are the seven uncapped players in the England squad, for the 2024 Six Nations.

The second uncapped Saints talent to make his way into the England fold, Fraser Dingwall has been tearing up the Premiership's midfield channels this season. Dingwall was first called into a Six Nations squad for the 2020 Championships, yet has not yet progressed into gaining test match game time for England. With the ability to play at both inside and outside centre, Dingwall brings a valuable versatility to the midfield, as Borthwick looks to re-build his back-line following Joe Marchant's French departure and Manu Tuilagi's injury uncertainty.

Should Dingwall miss out on being named in the England match-day squad, he could well wear the rose for England A against Portugal. Saints head coach Sam Vesty has been named in George Skivington's England A coaching staff, and would be all too happy to utilise his centre's talents against Portugal, should he fall behind Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade in the pecking order.

"So Fraser again, I only worked with him a little bit, he came in a little bit during last year's Six Nations." Borthwick said. "When I see him, when you stand back and watch Northampton, the players turn to him. He's a key leader within that team. You see on the pitch and as you stand back and watch it you see who the players look to, and they look to him. It's like the way they look to Sladey, at Exeter, the boys look to look to him and he plays very well. 12 or 13, he's strong, able to distribute in the draw, he's been really strong in his carry and defence."

Dingwall was a tide-turning replacement, when Northampton battled back from a 26-0 deficit to win away at Exeter Chiefs three weeks ago. The dramatic 42-36 comeback victory was witnessed live by Borthwick, who was delighted by the competitiveness of the Premiership clash. He believes that matches like that are far more up to test match standard than a one-sided drubbing.

"I remember reflecting towards the end of last season, as I was selecting, looking for selection for the World Cup squad. I was watching a number of games - and seeing the score lines extend out. I thought, this is not the nature of what World Cup rugby is going to be like, this is not test rugby. Test rugby will be so tight, and if we're playing games where the score line is blown out, this is not preparing the players for what we need to do.

"What I'm seeing now is, every game, every team is fighting for that result. A lot of them, you're not quite sure how the game's going to work out. You know, I was there at Exeter v Northampton, you seen the scoring going one way and then you seen a sin-bin, and Northampton come-back. Then you see that second half and you see Northampton find a way to get in front and Exeter jump on the back foot and then Northampton (win). I'm like, 'right, the nature of the teams trying to find a way to win, thats a significant step forward. I think."

With Owen Farrell's upcoming move to Racing 92 confirming him to be out of the England fold for the foreseeable future, Fin Smith is ready to bolster the squad's fly half ranks. The Northampton Saints man has been in tremendous form this season, and has been steadily progressing for his test match debut after narrowly missing out on the 2023 Rugby World Cup Squad.

Smith was involved in the previous Summer's preparations, yet did not make the grade for the trip to France, as Farrell, George Ford and Marcus Smith were the selected trio of fly half options. The 21-year-old talisman that has lead Northampton to the top of the Premiership, and an as-far unbeaten run in the Champions Cup, the former Worcester Warrior has emerged as one of the Premiership's top fly halves and has rightfully returned to the England squad.

Following his squad announcement, Steve Borthwick spoke about how Northampton Saints' playmakers have evolved their game to an excellent level. Fin Smith is amongst the team's pivotal figures, and the England head coach recognised how the Saints are making test match ready decisions.

"In terms of the visits to the clubs and chatting to the club coaches, we're doing that regularly. Wiggy's (Richard Wigglesworth) been there at Northampton a number of times. I think you'll see that has always been a talented group of players, and you see in evolution in their game, which has been really smart."

"You can see that, we all know that they sit atop of the table, and their evolution's changed. They run the ball a little bit less, they kick the ball a little bit more. You see the smartness of how they've developed that game. They have the ability to move the ball, and work the ball on edges either by running or by kicking, and that balance has been been excellent. I think you've probably seen a change in their decision making processes in some of their key players."

"I think that decision making process of what the right thing to do at the right time is, is crucial in Test rugby. Test rugby is so tight, games are so tight, and understanding and making those key decisions at the right time, is integral to get the result you want."

Chandler Cunningham-South continues to go from strength to strength, and has rightfully been rewarded with a call-up to the England senior squad, after gaining U20s honours. Cunningham-South made his way up the rungs in his early days at London Irish, and began to garner an name for himself across South West London.

His reputation could not be ignored by the Exiles' old neighbours, that when Irish entered financial administration, he was quickly approached by Harlequins for his signature. After a turbulent few months following his former club's financial collapse, the back-row has settled into his new life at the Stoop, and has steadily become one of the top fan favourites at Harlequins.

"Chandler, he wants to carry, he wants to take his team forward." Borthwick said. "When the opposition have got the ball, he wants to stop them. He trained against England in August, for Harlequins, we did a session against Harlequins, and he was outstanding, really physical. He was a player who was at London Irish and had the opportunity to go overseas (when Irish collapsed), play elsewhere in the world. He chose to stay in England, he chose to work towards playing for England and he signed for Harlequins. I think he's a player who's got enormous potential."

Harlequins Director of Rugby Billy Millard said: "It’s great to see him get big, big minutes. And he was cramping there at the end (against Ulster), and rightly so. But you know, he just showed, he’s got so much go forward and aggression hasn’t he. He just needs to keep getting game time. We’re stoked he’s going in with England and I’m sure he’ll be much better for it. Whether he gets starts or not, just being in that environment for Chandler is going to be outstanding for everyone.”

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."

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."

When Immanuel Feyi-Waboso reaches his top gear, he is almost impossible to bring to the deck. The explosive wing has been scorching up Sandy Park when he ignites the afterburners, with six tries to his name already this season. From dramatic corner dives against Northampton Saints, to half-pitch run-ins against Sale Sharks, Feyi-Waboso is a star on the rise, with England fans delighted to have secured his duties and put to bed the echoing of a Wales return.

Borthwick spoke prominently about Feyi-Waboso’s call-up to the squad, after the Cardiff-born wing cemented his England intentions in recent regional pre-competitions camps. Another top talent that won’t be playing for Wales anytime soon, Borthwick was delighted to have secured Feyi-Waboso, and re-called the phone conversation to tell the 21-year-old the news.

“So Manny and I spoke some weeks ago, and I’ve been in regular contact with him and particularly with Rob Baxter, as well, who’s been excellent. And Manny’s really impressed us, not just on the pitch, I think we can all see the the power that he brings, the speed that he brings, and how he finds a way through contact when they dosn’t appear to be your way through that.

“He’s a real mature guy. What he’s doing, he started his studies, medicine studies, and then playing for Wasps. Then to have gone through what Wasps went through, then move down to Exeter, restart from a rugby perspective and restart from a studies perspective. Really, a real sense of maturity within a young man, but really excited about this step.”

“When I rang him yesterday, and I spoke to him yesterday evening, and I asked ‘what are you doing?’, and he says, ‘I’ve just finished my university studies for the day, just wrapped up’ and I said, ‘I’m announcing the Six Nations squad tomorrow, and I’m naming you.’ I could sense that excitement and buzz down the phone, he was he was thrilled. That gave me a real buzz as well.”

The seventh uncapped player in Steve Borthwick's squad, could well have ended up in a different Six Nations set-up had the selection process played out differently. Sale Sharks wing Tom Roebuck was on the cards for both England and Scotland, with Gregor Townsend presenting his interest in the 23-year-old on the run up to the squad announcements.

Townsend was able to secure the services of England candidate Arron Reed, yet Roebuck did not join his Sale wing teammate North of the border despite the speculation. Townsend also had a reported ploy for Fin Smith, yet as mentioned the Northampton halfback is primed and ready to make his mark on the England team this coming Six Nations. Roebuck has been in exceptional form for Sale, and has patiently bided his time to capitalise on Jonny May's international retirement.

With six tries to his name across all competitions, Roebuck's power to batter through his opposite man kept him amongst Borthwick's plans. The wing had spoken with the England head coach ahead of last year's Rugby World Cup, with Borthwick explaining his delight when Roebuck nailed his colours to the England mast so far in advance.

"So Tom Roebuck and I, we spoke last year." Borthwick said. "We spoke prior to the World Cup, and the latter part of last season, and (I said) that I was very impressed with what he was doing. And I think my words at that point in time were 'right now, there are other wingers that I'm rating very highly. And I think there'd be more opportunity immediately post World Cup.'

"You look at it as an opportunity, with people like Jonny (May) stepping away, you see opportunities emerge. Immense credit to Tom, the way he's going about his game, really tried to work hard and develop and has said that he wants to be playing for England, and has been determined to play for England. So I'd been dighted by that, was with him yesterday. Big powerful winger, really bubbly personality, vibrant personality. So I want those kinds of characters in the team.