HALFBACKS
10. Joe Simmonds (Pau)
9. Dan Robson (Pau)
Onto the 10 jersey, and had Joe Simmonds opted to stay with Exeter Chiefs, Steve Borthwick’s fly-half selection headache could have been a full-blown migraine. The classy playmaker was confirmed to leave Sandy Park mid-way through the latest Premiership season, and made a new home at Section Paloise in the French Top 14. The 26-year-old certainly took his shooting boots with him to Pau, as he has gotten off to a fine start from the tee.
Simmonds has already etched up 77 points in just six games, as Pau began their 2023/24 Top 14 campaign strongly. The Pyrenees Mountains side sit high in the rankings, with Simmonds efforts helping take his new club up to second in the table. We’ve opted for Simmonds ahead of Jacob Umaga at fly half, however the former Wasps halfback finds a space on our replacements bench. Partnering Simmonds in our Ultimate XV and at Pau, is 16-capped England scrum half Dan Robson.
Robson was picked up by Pau after the financial breakdown of Wasps last season, and the halfback quickly worked his way up the selection ladder at his new club. Either featuring from the off or as a replacement, Robson has achieved 24 caps for Pau, and is undergoing a tug of war with French talent Thibault Daubagna over the number nine jersey. Due to his previous international experience with England, we’ve given Robson the nod to start ahead of Andy Uren, who takes the 21 jersey.
FRONT ROW
1. Kieran Brookes (Toulon)
2. Chris Moore (Munster)
3. Hayden Thompson-Stringer (NSW Waratahs)
Moving on to the forwards, and our ‘England Exiles’ front row comes from across three different leagues. Beginning on the loose-head, Kieran Brookes had a textbook trajectory to his England caps, having made his Premiership break-out at Newcastle Falcons. A two year run with Northampton further staked his claims as a England fringe player, yet his move to Wasps ended in the club’s unfortunate collapse. Brookes’ talents were promptly spotted by Toulon, where he battles against the top scrummagers from across the Top 14.
Jumping over to the tight-head, we’ve picked out Hayden Thompson-Stringer who continues his globe-trotting career with a move back down to Australia. Having previously played in the Premiership for Saracens, and French Top 14 with Brive, La Rochelle and Pau, Thompson-Stringer returns to New South Wales with a mid-season move to the Waratahs. The tight-head was at the ‘Tahs for the latest Super Rugby season, and heads back at the end of his stint as a ‘Joker’ at Pau. One of the finest props to not receive an England cap, despite impressing at England U18s and U20s level.
Between the two props, this spot looked reserved for Luke Cowan-Dickie when the hooker agreed a move to Montpellier from Exeter Chiefs. However, the front-rower has since swapped Southern France for Sale, as the move to France broke down. We’ve instead opted for Munster hooker Chris Moore, who moved to the Emerald Isle after completing his studies at Exeter University. Born in Trowbridge, Wiltshire, Moore is eligible to play for England but could soon get an Ireland call-up if he catches the eye of Andy Farrell. An exciting young front row prospect, Borthwick needs to move fast to secure the 23-year-old for England.