"Power and pace" - Three players Steve Borthwick should call-up for England's summer tour

It will be a Test trio to remember and an opportunity not to be missed. Not only will Japan host England in the summer, the Roses will also be heading to New Zealand for two Test matches against mighty All Blacks.

England and the Brave Blossoms will face off in their first ever test hosted in Tokyo, Japan this year in the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup on Saturday, 22 June 2024. The two nations have played three Test matches against one another but this will be the first time Japan has the home field advantage.

The Roses will then face New Zealand in Dunedin on July 6 and at Eden Park a week later. Two mouthwatering occasions not to be missed as England will seek to beat last year's Rugby World Cup runner-up.

Below, we look at three players Borthwick should call-up.

Harlequins' winger Murley burst onto the scene in 2018, swiftly solidifying his place in the Premiership club's starting lineup. Since then, he's been an integral part of the team, notably contributing to their triumph in the 2021 Gallagher Premiership.

Despite being just 24 years old, Murley boasts an impressive 106 appearances for his club, with 48 tries to his name. A striking average of 0.5 tries per game cements his status as one of the most lethal wingers in global club rugby.

Murley's talent was evident early on when he represented England at the U18 level in 2017, showcasing his scoring prowess against formidable opponents like France and Ireland. He furthered his international journey by donning the English jersey at the U20s level as well.

Speaking on Murley, Borthwick said: "Cadan Murley has an ability to score tries and find his way to the try line. He can beat defenders in. the smallest space possible, has power to be able to come off both feet, plays at 14 and 11, and then accelerate in such a small space."

According to Lawrence Dallaglio, it's an absolute injustice that Gloucester standout Zach Mercer wasn't part of the England squad for the Six Nations, especially considering his exceptional talent. Mercer, who hasn't represented England since 2018, recently led Gloucester to victory in the Premiership Cup against Leicester Tigers.

Dallaglio passionately expressed during commentary, "Being the standout player in France should guarantee a spot in the England squad."

Dallaglio, who shares Mercer's role as a skilled No.8, echoed the disbelief of many regarding England head coach Steve Borthwick's decision to overlook Mercer. Despite Mercer's remarkable achievements, including being named Player of the Year in France in 2022, he was omitted from both the England squad and the England A team.

Dallaglio believes it's time for Borthwick and Mercer to set aside any personal differences for the betterment of the national team.

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.

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.

Definitely a player to watch.