Facing England back-row issues, seven stars are ready to play
Tom Curry, a flanker for England and the British and Irish Lions will miss the Six Nations 2024, the Sale Sharks said. The injury is a chronic hip problem that would require surgery. Rugby fans worldwide are called to book Six Nations 2024 tickets from our online platform ticketing. co. Rugby fans can book England Six Nations Tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.
This news follows Saracens’ announcement that World Cup hero Ben Earl, ranked eight, will also require surgery to address a medial knee ligament problem that caused him to pull up during the practice session before their London derby. However, Saracens released a statement indicating that the layoff may be closer to six weeks than the twelve initially estimated.
Borthwick’s team is going to change
None of England’s first-choice starting back-row, the team that was essential to their victories, may be accessible for this year’s Six Nations 2024 after the country lost the services of one of its all-time greats in the enormous form of Courtney Lawes, who stated his retirement following the World Cup.
That implies that everything has changed for Steve Borthwick and that the one area of his team’s supremacy that existed for the previous seven games has vanished.
Given that Lewis Ludlam’s move to Toulon was announced, there are also doubts about him. Although the terms of the arrangement are still unclear at the time of writing, it’s possible that he too will be unavailable by the moment the Guinness Six Nations tournament rolls around in February.
James While of Rugby examines the seven players possibly Earl, Ludlam, and Curry who could fill the enormous shoes left by Lawes as Borthwick’s team enters the second phase of their development, a rebuilding and consolidation phase leading up to the next World Cup cycle.
Borthwick’s options
Here are the players who would be on the consideration list of Borthwick:
Sam Underhill: Bath
Underhill, the fan favorite, is a man who hits in the tackle with more force than a freight train and has enhanced his handling and execution from his playing days a few years back. Though, in comparison to the top Test exponents, he occasionally lacks consistency in clearing and jacking around the breakdown, he is now nearly the whole package.
Borthwick will understandably have Underhill on his mind, especially after his outstanding performance in the Bronze Final. However, considering his concerning concussion history, there are still concerns about Underhill’s long-term resilience. A sure thing if fit, but he needs cautious handling to keep his great powers at their best.
Will Evans: Harlequins
The man who is known to all as “Wev,” an expert of the dark arts of slyly slipping around the rucks, is currently uncapped but has been highlighted in dispatches for several seasons due to his overall prowess. Rugby fans can book Six Nations Tickets on our website at exclusively discounted prices.
Being able to fit into even the smallest breakdown areas to climb over the ball and take, as well as providing significant weight around the tackle zone, makes Evans one of those players who are a constant headache to play against.
But England had begun to add support lines to their game with Earl and Curry, and Evans isn’t quite in the Earl level of pacy carrying through the wide spaces just yet. With Wev, you get what you see, although he does provide a very threatening presence in the vicinity of any breakdown.
Tom Pearson: Northampton Saints
The former London Irish participant is a complete back-rower; his size, carrying, and pace are reminiscent of a young Richard Hill. Like the legendary Saracen, he is an active try scorer, running great lines for his backs but not afraid to take direct options from the base of the ruck.
Although he’s a good lineout option at 6’3″, concerns are beginning to surface about his dependability when it comes to those ending and rucking responsibilities, which are so important during Test matches. In the East Midlands derby, Jasper Wiese and Tommy Reffell simply destroyed the Saints back-row, leaving Pearson unable to make an impression during the fixture.
Pearson’s potential is undeniable, but it’s evident to all what’s lacking from his strategy. Now, the question is how hard he can push himself to add those breakdown abilities to his innate talent. If he succeeds in doing so, England may have a 50-capper in the line.
Ben Curry: Sale Sharks
Rumor has it that the slightly older Curry would have played in the World Cup, but an injury ended his dreams. Ben may share Tom’s appearance, but he provides slightly less physicality overall and slightly more when it comes to playing with the ball.
The Shark is capable of playing six or seven and is also a born leader. His brilliant assist play has been important in opening up the Sale defense, and this, along with his tough demeanor in the breakdown, has made him a strong contender for additional playing time.
George Martin: Leicester Tigers
The key is not so much where to play Martin as it is how much he plays. With players, the stature of Pieter-Steph du Toit and Marcos Kremer in the modern Test back-rows being a major supplier of lineout ball, a man of Martin’s size is critical to the loose trio. Given Ollie Chessum’s excellent play at lock.
Martin may have to shift down a spot to make place for his Tigers colleague in the engine room, filling Lawes’ position. We think he’ll be England’s new blindside come February 2 because of his enormous dominant hits, strong carries through traffic, and engine the size of a Mack truck from the Tigers tyro.
Tom Willis: Saracens
Willis is a traditional English eight who backs up his claims with a lot of unrelenting tackling, carrying, and strong set-piece play. As Billy Vunipola nears the conclusion of his illustrious Test career, Willis is the guy waiting in the wings in both Sarries and England. Those who witnessed his brief stint at UBB last season talked in awe of his performances in the Top 14.
Zach Mercer: Gloucester
Mercer’s comeback to the Premiership hasn’t turned out to be as spectacular as he had imagined. Unexpectedly left out of the England World Cup roster, Mercer’s Premiership career began brightly before the former Montpellier player rolled his ankle on the Kingsholm field.
This was reportedly due to Mercer’s perceived lack of strength in carry and clearing as compared to other players. He will now need surgery to correct it, and while his recuperation schedule has not yet been officially confirmed, the unofficial consensus is that he is expected to be able to return in mid-January, which would likely mean he will miss the Six Nations opener.
At his peak, though, Mercer has it all: a relentless worker, a dynamic and intelligent leader with the ability to be an outstanding Test eight. But first, he needs to return to the Gloucester field with a sense of fury.
Jack Clement: Gloucester
In dispatches, he served as a standout substitute for Mercer. He has proven that he has maintained his progress as an England U20 player, solidifying his position as one of the Cherry and Whites’ main players.
Although many saw Alex Coles of the Northampton Saints as an Eddie Jones choice for the project, the 6’8″ back-five member has been in fantastic form in the Premiership, displaying significant progress in his physicality and the ability to provide versatility for England when required.
James While’s England trio George Martin, Tom Willis, and Sam Underhill for their match against Italy on February 2.
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