sport news How is England Rugby World Cup 2023 squad taking shape after dismal Six Nations trends now
Steve Borthwick's first Six Nations campaign as head coach was a disappointment as England lost three matches in the Championship for the third year in a row.
Borthwick's reign got off to the worst possible start with a home defeat by Scotland and while losses were expected against No 1 and 2 ranked Ireland and France, the manner of England's Twickenham capitulation against Les Bleus was a cause for alarm in World Cup year. Even the wins over Wales and Italy came with problems as England struggled to click into gear under their new coach.
The good news for Borthwick and England is that the Six Nations is not the main event this year, but the bad news is the World Cup starts in just over five months and they look well behind the pace set by the top teams on the planet.
Borthwick did use the Championship to try out new players and different combinations, however, and he should have a clearer picture in his mind of who he wishes to take to France in his 33-man squad - up from 31 in 2019 - in September.
Here, Sportsmail runs through every position and assesses Borthwick's options, highlighting those who look certain picks, probable picks and outside chances - provided the players in question are fit come selection time at the end of August.
England head coach Steve Borthwick will pick his 33-man squad for the World Cup in August
Jack Willis was a standout performer for England despite their poor Six Nations campaign
FULL-BACK
Definite pick: Freddie Steward
Outside chance: George Furbank
One of the few positives for England in the last couple of years has been the emergence of Steward at full-back. Rock solid under the high ball and with a handy knack of scoring tries, the 22-year-old Leicester Tiger remains a certain starter in France if fit despite his harsh red card against Ireland.
The versatility of England's wing options means Borthwick doesn't need to select another out-and-out full-back, but if he wants to then the creative Furbank is the next in line and offers something different to Steward.
WING
Definite picks: Anthony Watson, Henry Arundell
Probable picks: Max Malins, Ollie Hassell-Collins
Outside chance: Tommy Freeman, Jack Nowell, Cadan Murley, Joe Cokanasiga, Jonny May
After injury initially ruled him out of England's Six Nations squad, Watson finished the campaign as Borthwick's first-choice wing. His experience and the fact Borthwick signed him for Leicester mean he's a certain pick if fit, while London Irish prodigy Arundell will definitely be in the squad even if if he's not a starter.
Hassell-Collins and Malins started the Six Nations as Borthwick's wings before getting injured and being dropped, but if they maintain their fine club form they should stay ahead of the long queue of wings waiting behind them.
CENTRE
Definite picks: Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade
Probable picks: Manu Tuilagi, Elliot Daly
Outside chance: Dan Kelly, Joe Marchant
To say Borthwick's selection at centre has been muddled would be an understatement. Having been surprisingly left out of Borthwick's initial squad, Lawrence emerged to form the new coach's preferred pairing with Slade before the France debacle. Both should have enough credit in the bank though to make the World Cup, but Marchant - selected for the Scotland defeat before being discarded until a bench role in the final round - has work to do.
Daly and Kelly - another of Borthwick's former Tigers - were tipped to start the Six Nations together before injury struck and both will be determined to make amends for their clubs at the back end of the season. Tuilagi's performance against Ireland - having been called-up, dropped, banned, then selected to start - probably has him ahead of Kelly at the moment, while Daly's versatility would be an asset.
FLY-HALF
Definite pick: Owen Farrell
Probable picks: Marcus Smith, George Ford
Outside chance: Fin Smith
England's selection problems at centre and fly-half were intertwined during the Six Nations as Borthwick struggled to find the right midfield balance. Farrell is now back in possession of the No 10 shirt after a solid performance against Ireland, which only served to highlight how much his leadership skills were missed against France.
Smith's X-factor talent and contrasting style to Farrell means his place in the squad is firmly pencilled in, though with larger squads at this year's World Cup Borthwick may be tempted to pick a third fly-half in Ford - another of his Leicester title-winners - knowing that Farrell can also cover at inside centre.
England lost both matches that Marcus Smith started at fly-half during the Six Nations
Manu Tuilagi was called in from the cold for England's final Six Nations match against Ireland
SCRUM-HALF
Definite picks: Jack van Poortvleit, Alex Mitchell
Probable pick: Ben Youngs
Outside chance: Raffi Quirke, Harry Randall
While he has frustrated at times with his inconsistency, 21-year-old Leicester star Van Poortvleit has done enough to make Borthwick's squad if fit. Northampton's Mitchell, only 25 himself, caught the eye during the Six Nations off the bench and will push his rival
