Five key takeaways from England team to face France XV

Telegraph

4 hours ago

British and Irish Lions tours are exciting in themselves without the concurrent fixtures that allow nations to experiment and build depth. England 's summer begins this weekend with an uncapped game against France before a two-Test series against Argentina and one more meeting with USA in Washington.
Steve Borthwick has assembled his first match-day 23 of the campaign, and here Telegraph Sport highlights five things to watch out for:
Lions watch
In a strong balance of youth and experience, there are starts for Jamie George and George Ford. The concept of multiple co-captains does not sit well with everyone, but this signals Borthwick's intention for the older heads to lead from the front – and, in the process, to keep themselves in the shop window for British and Irish Lions call-ups.
Like Ford, Henry Slade is a survivor from this tour in 2017, when England beat Argentina 2-0 in an exciting Test series. Others who will surely pique the interest of Andy Farrell with assertive performances are the starting wings, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Tom Robuck, as well as Ted Hill and Tom Willis in the back row.
Jack Conan and Ben Earl are the Lions two No 8s, so Willis would be particularly attractive with a strong outing. Farrell is evidently coveting commitment in the aerial contest, given his selection of tall back-three players, which bodes well for Feyi-Waboso and Roebuck. Without a game since dislocating his shoulder on December 17, restoring match-fitness will be foremost in Feyi-Waboso's mind. Joe Heyes could be the next cab off the Lions rank at tighthead as well, notwithstanding the versatility of Asher Opoku-Fordjour.
Atkinson and Carpenter refresh the backline...
An injury to Fraser Dingwall opens the door for Seb Atkinson at inside centre, presenting an opportunity for the 23-year-old to translate his consistent excellence for Gloucester to a grander stage. Atkinson, preferred to Max Ojomoh for this run-out, is a strapping and skilful midfielder. George Skivington has impressed his Test credentials for a long while. Expect him to be a first-phase focal point when England launch from scrums and line-outs.
Borthwick has Freddie Steward and Joe Carpenter in his wider squad, but the sparky Carpenter will wear 15. He is a fizzing threat on the counter who is brave under the high ball and brings familiarity with Ford and Roebuck. Slade, one would expect, will cover fly-half in case Ford has to make way.
…with Coles and Isiekwe in the engine room
The absence of Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum and George Martin, with the first two on Lions duty and the third injured, requires a revamp at lock. Alex Coles comes into this campaign on the back of some fine performances for Northampton Saints, especially in the Investec Champions Cup. He was outstanding against the Bulls in Pretoria, and then against Castres, Leinster and Union Bordeaux-Bègles in the knockout rounds. His England career to date has been rather bitty, so this is a chance to stay in the mix when the established names return.
There is a sense of symmetry in the selection of Nick Isiekwe, who made his Test debut as a teenager eight years ago. Perhaps more interesting, though, will be to see which of Hill or Chandler Cunningham-South move to lock later on. Both have been earmarked by Borthwick as stand-in second-rows and Cunningham-South spent most of the recent victory over Wales in that position. The development of Arthur Clark and other young locks will be a priority for England.
Bath silverware rewarded
Occasionally, you need to play a hot hand and Borthwick has kept Ben Spencer and Guy Pepper, as well as Hill, rolling on from Twickenham. Bath supporters will hope that Will Muir and Ojomoh are used at some point over the coming weeks, but Spencer and Pepper are trusted in key roles. The openside pile-up is quite remarkable. With Sam Underhill still suspended, Pepper has produced back-to-back man-of-the-match displays. A third could lead to a Test cap.
Six-two bench a template for the Tests?
The back-row resources at Borthwick's disposal are extraordinary, and may well mean that three backs on the bench will be the exception, rather than the rule. Here, for the visit of France to begin a seminal summer, he has chosen Bevan Rodd, Theo Dan and Trevor Davison to cover for a strong starting front row of Fin Baxter, George and Heyes. Curtis Langdon must be close.
It gets intriguing with the back-five forwards. We have already mentioned Cunningham-South and there is a strong Harlequins accent on the rest of the bench as Jack Kenningham and Alex Dombrandt join Oscar Beard. Such cohesion is valued by Borthwick as a means of maintaining fluency late in games.
Raffi Quirke is Spencer's deputy here. In England's behind-the-scenes video content, there have been hints of the scurrying Sale Sharks scrum-half on the wing. Could he become a Cobus Reinach-type utility man who allows England to pick a seven-one split? That would be something.