DROPPED:
#1. Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
In August, Borthwick asserted that he had never witnessed Vunipola in better shape, but the reality in France during the Rugby World Cup, once he was cleared of the suspension that ruled him out of the opener, painted a different picture.
Vunipola’s ball-carrying proved ineffective, reaching a low point with a game-ending knock-on against South Africa, and he generally seemed out of sync with the unfolding events. A notable instance was his positioning after replacing Curry against the Springboks, resulting in England conceding immediately from the ensuing lineout play. With the resurgent form of Alex Dombrandt, it’s probable that Vunipola will once again find himself sidelined by Borthwick.
#2. Max Malins (Saracens)
He never found success in France during the Rugby World Cup, experiencing only one lacklustre start against the Chileans and nothing more. It seemed like Steve Borthwick had abandoned faith in the swift player towards the end of the tournament, with the Saracens man not even being taken into consideration for selection.
Quiz: Can you all of the Guinness Six Nations winning captains?
In the storied history of Rugby’s Greatest Championship, exceptional leaders have emerged—warriors of various forms, be they agile half-backs, towering second rows, or fearless flankers.
Our latest quiz invites you to identify those who have captained their nations to Guinness Six Nations glory. It’s worth noting that in certain instances, there may be multiple captains from the same year due to factors such as injuries and rotation.
Surnames only will be accepted.