Steve Borthwick is sending a clear message with his latest England XV to face France on Friday night: he’s not afraid to look back while also looking ahead. The squad, named ahead of July’s Nations Championship Tests, features several players who’ve spent months on the outside looking in — and one name in particular that was conspicuously absent.
Here’s where the real story lies — and who’s coming up short.
Winners: The Return of the Overlooked
Alex Dombrandt has been called a ‘forgotten man’ more times than he’d like. Since losing his No. 8 spot after the 2022/23 season, the Harlequins back-rower has bounced between matchday 23 and the stands. With Tom Willis now in France, Dombrandt’s inclusion this Friday feels like a lifeline — and a genuine audition for a starting role in the summer Tests. The team has not confirmed anything beyond this match, but the timing is telling.
Max Ojomoh is another player whose stock is rising fast. The Bath center put in a man-of-the-match shift against Argentina back in November, only to be ignored during the Six Nations. Now he’s being handed his first start at outside center, and sources close to the camp suggest Borthwick is already mapping out a long-term midfield partnership that pairs Ojomoh with the South African-born Benhard Janse van Rensburg at inside center. That’s a big hint about where the future lies.
Ted Hill has been something of a rotation casualty at Bath, where the depth chart pushes him between starting and bench roles. That inconsistency has made it tough for him to build momentum — but Borthwick is giving him a full 80-minute run on Friday. That’s a vote of confidence, and a chance for Hill to prove he belongs at Test level when given the minutes.
Then there’s the uncapped quintet making their mark. Saracens try-machine Noah Caluori and Bristol Bears prop George Kloska are in the starting XV. Bath’s Vilikesa Sela will come off the bench in the front row, while Harlequins’ Jack Kenningham and South African-born Janse van Rensburg (who will cause some debate among fans) are also set for run-out time.
Losers: The Snubs That Sting
Charlie Atkinson has quietly rebuilt his career after Wasps folded, spending a season at Leicester before finding a home at Gloucester. He’s been capped once — a lone appearance against the USA in 2025 — but Friday’s match was supposed to be a chance to add to that tally. Instead, Borthwick went with the steady hand of George Ford at fly-half, with Marcus Smith providing cover from full-back. For a 24-year-old who needs game experience, this is a missed opportunity he’ll feel keenly.
Hugh Tizard has every right to be frustrated. The Saracens lock is younger and fresher than Nick Isiekwe, who keeps getting the nod despite failing to consistently meet the physical demands of international rugby. With Maro Itoje being rested this summer, this was the moment to give Tizard a shot — and Borthwick passed.
Archie van der Flier is the odd man out among a front-row mix that blends experience with youth. The 24-year-old Leicester prop wasn’t even considered for the bench. He still has time on his side, but he’ll need to break into the Tigers’ starting XV if he wants to climb the England ladder.
Friday’s encounter may be billed as a tune-up, but for the men left off and those finally getting their shot, it carries real weight.
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