5. Arron Reed (Sale Sharks)
Wrapping up our picks for the five England hopefuls who impressed this past weekend, is Sale Sharks winger Arron Reed. The 24-year-old caught the attention of Premiership fans with two tries against Gloucester last weekend, and has continued on this impressive run of form. Reed presented an exhilarating turn of pace early on against Bristol, to score his side’s openning try at Ashton Gate.
After the Sharks driving maul was halted in the right corner, the ball went through the hands before George Ford sent a looping pass out wide to Reed. The winger caught the ball at pace, and could not be stopped on his way through to the try-line, despite the covering tackle attempt of Max Malins. Reed grounded the ball nicely, before he was dragged into touch by the fullback. Continuing to impress after graduating the England U20s set-up, Reed is certainly one for Borthwick’s radar.
Reed has an impressive strike rate at the AJ Bell, having scored 26 tries in his Sale Sharks tenure. Breaking onto the scene at the end of the 2017/18 campaign, Reed has been steadily progressing with Sale, and could well be on his way to fill the England vacancy left by Jonny May. There are plenty of talented wingers looking to fill that void, with Reed set to take on the likes of Harlequins’ Cadan Murley and Racing 92’s Henry Arundell for the back-three spot.