HALFBACKS
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
9. Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)
The aforementioned injury scare to George Ford has thrown a curveball into Steve Borthwick’s plans, with the Sale Sharks man removed after just four minutes in last weekend’s defeat to Saracens. Ford pulled up with a quad injury after taking a long range shot at the posts, in what was worrying signs at the StoneX in the run up to the Autumn Internationals.
In Ford’s absence, the fly half baton once again rests with Marcus Smith, who led the line for England at 10 in the Summer tour of Japan and New Zealand. Smith was excellent against Eddie Jones’ Brave Blossoms, as he scored a try and grabbed two assists in the emphatic 52-17 win out in the Far East. Smith’s kicking performance in the first Test against the All Blacks, mirrored that of Jonny Wilkinson’s shortcomings at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. The halfback left eight crucial points on the pitch, for an All Blacks win in Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Smith is now back flying in the famous Harlequins quarters, and enjoyed a solid first start last weekend as the Londoners despatched Newcastle Falcons for a 28-14 win. There could well be an alteration to Smith’s halfback partner, as Alex Mitchell is currently undergoing a scan on a neck injury, that has kept him out of action so far this season. There has not yet been an update from Northampton Saints regarding the duration of Mitchell’s absence, but should the Saint not return in time for the All Blacks Test, his opposite man from the Premiership Final would be expected to take his place.
Ben Spencer was arguably in the form of his career, as he guided the blue, black and whites to the Premiership Final this past season. Spencer was appointed the Bath captaincy from Johann van Graan, and has stepped up to the role with great aplomb on the pitch. Spencer began the new Premiership calendar with a try in the win over Northampton, as Bath made amends in a re-match of the previous season finale. Should Spencer step up in Mitchell’s absence, we would expect to see Leicester’s Jack van Poortvliet take up the 21 jersey.
FRONT ROW
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
2. Jamie George (Saracens)
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
Moving on to the front row, and Bristol Bears loose-head Ellis Genge will be chomping at the bit for a return to the Test match stage. Genge missed out on the Summer tour to Japan and New Zealand, as he sustained the most untimely calf injury. Genge was firmly in the plans for the Summer expedition, but picked up the injury in Bristol’s last match of the Premiership season to fall agonisingly close at the final hurdle.
Also, Joe Marler will be unlikely to return in time for the Autumn Series, after the Harlequin broke his foot in the first New Zealand Test last Summer. Fin Baxter also impressed upon his England debut and subsequent first start, but we give the nod to Genge, who was a stand out feature of the recent West Country derby between Bristol and Gloucester.
The ‘Baby Rhino’ locked horns with highly rated tight-head prospect Afolabi Fasogbon, with the two sharing a nice post match show of respect. Fasogbon could well be on his way to the England squad, with a call-up for at least the England A squad expected to be in 20-year-old’s future.
The England captain needs no introduction, with Jamie George set to continue his command of Steve Borthwick’s side into this Autumn. Appointed to the role following the standing down of Owen Farrell, George has risen to the occasion and relished in every opportunity to take up the armband for the national side. George has been guiding his Saracens understudy Theo Dan into the Test match landscape, with the 23-year-old hooker predicted to maintain his control of the England 16 jersey, for another explosive replacement appearence against the All Blacks.
The tight-head option is were things get interesting for England’s front row. With the likes of Gloucester’s Afo Fasogbon, Bath’s Billy Sela and Sale’s Asher Opoku-Fordjour proving that if you’re good enough you’re old enough. We could well see the dawning of a new era in the England three jersey this Autumn, with Dan Cole’s England future as yet unconfirmed. As the Leicester Tigers prop is said to be taking things “day by day” with Steve Borthwick, the recent England U20s stars could well be the answer for the three shirt this Autumn.
However, Bath prop Will Stuart would likely have something to say about that, with the 28-year-old not willing to relent the three shirt to someone eight years his junior. Stuart started at tight-head for England’s two Summer Tests against New Zealand, and given his recent experience in taking on the All Blacks, we can see Borthwick taking the safe bet on Stuart to pack down against Ethan de Groot and Tyrel Lomax this November.