Steve Borthwick Reveals England Squad for Autumn Nations Series: Includes Uncapped Players

The squad is set to gather on Monday, 7 October, with training scheduled at England's Honda Performance Centre in Pennyhill Park, as well as at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.

England will face a challenging schedule, playing four matches at Twickenham, now rebranded as the Allianz Stadium, during the upcoming Autumn Internationals.

The series kicks off with a high-profile clash against the All Blacks on Saturday, 2nd November. England will then host the Wallabies and Springboks over the following two weekends, before wrapping up their autumn campaign with a match against Japan on Sunday, 24th November.

“After watching a competitive and high scoring start to the Premiership season, I am once again looking forward to gathering the players together,” said Borthwick

“This training camp is an important part of our preparations for the Autumn Nations Series as we continue to build on the cohesion we've developed over the past two campaigns.

“The squad reflects the depth and quality we have in English rugby, and we are looking forward to working with the players ahead of what will be a highly competitive series.”

Forwards
Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks)
Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins)
Theo Dan (Saracens)
Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Jamie George (Saracens)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints)
Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
Tom Willis (Saracens)

Backs
Oscar Beard (Harlequins)
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby)
Alex Lozowski (Saracens)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears)
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers)

Rehabilitation: Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), Luke Northmore (Harlequins).

Not considered for selection: Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Tom Curry (Sale Sharks), George Ford (Sale Sharks), Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), Will Muir (Bath Rugby), Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby), Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks), Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks).

Many high-profile players continue to polarize opinions in the rugby world—one player might be considered overrated by some but highly regarded by others, leading to endless debates.

Here is RUCK Editor Steve Smith's attempt at ranking the top 10 most overrated players in the world right now.

10. Ange Capuozzo (Italy) – The young Italian fullback has gained a lot of attention for his electrifying play and highlight-reel moments, but some critics feel that his defensive frailties and occasional lack of consistency make him less of an all-around threat than the hype suggests.

9. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand) – Barrett is undoubtedly one of the best players in the world, but some believe his performances have been inconsistent, particularly at the Test level in recent years. They argue that while he excels in Super Rugby, his form for the All Blacks has fluctuated.

8. Maro Itoje (England) – While Itoje is seen as a world-class lock and one of England's key players, there are critics who believe that his influence is sometimes overstated, especially when England is struggling as a team.

7. Sam Cane (New Zealand) – As captain of the All Blacks, Cane faces high expectations. Some fans feel his leadership and performances haven't lived up to the level of his predecessors, like Richie McCaw, making him a target for criticism.

6. Siya Kolisi (South Africa) - Including Kolisi on a list of overrated players can be controversial due to his significant achievements and leadership. However, some critics argue that Kolisi's global prominence, particularly after leading South Africa to the 2019 Rugby World Cup victory, has overshadowed his on-field performances, which they claim are not always as impactful as his leadership role. Detractors might suggest that his leadership and symbolic importance sometimes eclipse his actual playing ability when compared to other top-tier flankers.

5. Marcus Smith (England) – A highly talented and creative fly-half, Marcus Smith has been heralded as the future of English rugby. However, some feel the hype around him has outpaced his actual impact on the international stage, particularly in tight, high-pressure matches, where consistency has been an issue.

4. Owen Farrell (England) – One of England’s most polarising figures, Farrell’s leadership and kicking ability are unquestionable, but his sometimes abrasive playing style, along with a lack of creativity in attack, has led some to question whether he’s overhyped, especially when he was England’s primary playmaker.

3. Finn Russell (Scotland) – Known for his flair and creativity, Russell is sometimes seen as overrated due to his high-risk, high-reward style of play. While he can produce magical moments, his inconsistency and decision-making under pressure are often questioned.

2. Faf de Klerk (South Africa) – Known for his high-energy style and defensive work, de Klerk is a polarising figure. While he’s a key player for South Africa, critics argue that his decision-making, particularly in attack, and reliance on kicking can make him overrated compared to the top scrum-halves in the world.

1. Romain Ntamack (France) – Despite his brilliant displays for France, Ntamack has faced criticism for not always living up to the high expectations, especially when compared to other top international fly-halves. Some feel his performances lack consistency in critical moments.