Steve Borthwick's choice to reveal his World Cup squad ahead of time seems to have had unintended consequences, as several of his chosen players are encountering difficulties.
Just last Monday, the head coach of the England team finalised his list of 33 squad members, a whole three weeks prior to the official deadline.
Nevertheless, this early announcement leaves room for potential alterations, whether brought about by injuries or a decline in performance.
Outlined below are three players we believe should be considered as additions to the England squad.
#1. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
On Saturday, van Poortvliet added his 14th Test cap to his record for England and seemed poised to make his debut in a World Cup.
The 22-year-old player from Leicester Tigers was selected as part of Steve Borthwick’s 33-man squad for the Rugby World Cup.
However, his participation hangs in the balance due to an incident that occurred in the 32nd minute, resulting in him needing assistance to leave the field.
While England does have seasoned options available, such as Ben Youngs and Danny Care, both of whom are also part of Borthwick’s World Cup squad, Van Poortvliet has been a consistent presence in the team as of late.
It's understood that Alex Mitchell, a standout player from Northampton Saints, has been designated as the reserve scrum-half and would likely step in if needed, following Borthwick's decision.
Mitchell was one of the star performers during the 2022/23 Premiership season. Displaying an impressive equilibrium in his style of play, he would serve as the perfect replacement.
#2. Zach Mercer (Gloucester Rugby)
Despite receiving reassurances from Borthwick about Billy Vunipola's heightened fitness leading up to the Wales match, the Saracens' number 8 was unable to meet expectations on the field.
As Rugby Pass scribe Liam Heagney said, "it was like a jumbo jet struggling to gather speed on the runway".
Although Tom Willis and Alex Dombrandt probably sit ahead of Mercer in Borthwick's pecking order, Mercer at his best is different class.
With two England caps to his name – as well as 17 for England U20, including 10 as captain - Mercer has made a lasting impression in France over the past 12-months. He helped secure Montpellier’s maiden Top 14 title, contributing to three first half tries - including crossing the whitewash himself – in a man of the match performance hailed by rugby fans and media alike.
Mercer's attributes include an impressive work ethic, remarkable prowess in ball carrying, and a steadfast presence in defense. Incorporating him into the struggling England back-row would undoubtedly introduce a new dimension.
#3. Cadan Murley (Harlequins)
Speedster Murley, who was the fastest England back during the training camp, should have been in the squad anyway.
Nevertheless, with Freddie Steward's ongoing struggles and Henry Arundell's consistent lackluster performances, the decision to exclude the Premiership's top scorer (with 15 tries) from the 2022/23 season appears increasingly perplexing.
In a recent interview, Murley attributed his improved finishing to the influence of Erling Haaland, the prolific striker from Manchester City.
Murley acknowledged how athletes often draw inspiration from different sports to enhance their own skills.
“Every sportsman looks at other sports and wonders how they can improve, and you’ve just got to look at Haaland’s goalscoring record this season, it’s been absolutely incredible,” he said.
“As a United fan it’s pretty tough to say. You just have to look at those relationships, you can see, for a lot of those goals he’s been called a tap-in merchant, but you have to be in the right place at the right time. And I just think a lot of that is down to his relationships and his understanding of the players around him.”
