With another disappointing defeat for England, we name four Premiership stars who’ve impressed during the two games thus far this weekend.
#1. Tom de Glanville (Bath Rugby)
Age: 23
Position: Fullback
Somerset Live 8/10: “The full-back was the best Bath player on the pitch all game as he dealt with high kicks well throughout the match and sparked the best attacking moments in the match including finishing an 80m breakout try which he sparked with an offload to Miles Reid.”
Did you know? He is the son of Yolanda and Phil de Glanville, the former captain of the England national rugby union team
#2. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Age: 29
Position: Winger
Exeter captain Jack Nowell took a quick tap penalty to score during Chiefs a 24-5 win over Newcastle Falcons at Sandy Park.
Did you know? Nowell was originally a product of the Cornish Pirates junior section
#3. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Age: 20
Position: Fly-half
Northampton Chronicle 8.5/10: “A flawless display from the tee as he kept Saints ticking over, while also displaying his physicality and creativity in open play”
Did you know? Smith’s nickname amongst Saints players is “Smithers”
#4. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
Age: 28
Position: Number 8
Devon Live 8/10: “The England number eight looked more like his old self as he made an eye-catching powerful carry down the blindside to get Exeter with a few metres of the line only for Dave Ewers to get turned over and then used every bit of his pace to get back and make a try-saving tackle on Mateo Carreras after he broke the line.
“Then, in the second half when Chiefs needed a bonus point try he went through the gear and into overdrive to make multiple carries in the space of 90 seconds, with his final one being a burst over the try line to secure the five match points. Should have had a second try but had the ball dislodged as he dived over the whitewash.”
Did you know? His younger brother, Joe Simmonds, also plays rugby union for Exeter Chiefs and has represented England at youth levels as a fly-half
Three England players who are blacklisted by Steve Borthwick – and why
Steve Borthwick has been brutal In his short time in charge of England, dropping a number of major stars ahead of the 2023 Six Nations.
Below, we look at three established stars who are unlikely to win another cap.
#1. Joe Marler
Age: 32
Position: Loosehead-prop
Caps: 83
Marler is unlikely to return to the England team during the 2023 Six Nations after he breached one of Steve Borthwick’s main rules.
The new England boss has a “no sh**talking policy” with England, whereby he expects players to behave appropriately on the pitch.
As a result, Marler was left out of the Six Nations squad despite his fine form with Harlequins this season.
Marler’s latest ban was for six weeks – four of them suspended – after accepting a charge regarding comments made to Bristol flanker Jake Heenan about his mother.
At this stage, an international return looks very unlikely.
DID YOU KNOW? Marler started his career at Haywards Heath RFC in Sussex where he played in the same side as fellow England international Billy Twelvetrees