'Almost unbelievable': The England player Borthwick must now back - Andy Goode

Steve Borthwick must now finally follow the PREM champions’ example this summer, starting with backing Fin Smith to the hilt.

It’s almost unbelievable that he has just seven Test starts to his name when he is a British & Irish Lion and has led his team to the league title in two of the last three seasons but there is no way he can be overlooked again.

The Northampton man was parachuted into an already struggling side for the final two defeats of a disastrous 2026 Six Nations campaign, and only started once against Fiji in the autumn, that after winning all four games he started in the previous Six Nations.

It was those successes that earned him a call-up from Andy Farrell for the Lions tour and Borthwick may never acknowledge it publicly but he knows deep down that he should never have lost the starting spot when he returned to the England fold.

George Ford has disappointed in a white shirt since last summer’s tour to Argentina and his Sale side have struggled badly domestically this season, while Marcus Smith hasn’t started at fly half for England since the opening game of the 2025 Six Nations and Quins finished second bottom in the PREM.

Meanwhile, Saints’ title-winning number ten has elevated his game once more, averaging 12.8 carries and 16.6 tackle attempts per game this season, which are incredible numbers for his position.

Not that those were weaknesses in his game at all but those numbers have increased from 6.6 carries and 14.6 tackle attempts per game in Northampton’s previous title-winning run a couple of seasons ago.

His passing and kicking game have always been top drawer and he might not have the out-and-out pace of some others but he’s now much more of a threat taking the ball to the line and his leadership skills are even more impressive than before, all at the age of 24.

He could be England’s starting fly half for the next decade and he deserves to have the same trust and backing from his international head coach as he’s had from Phil Dowson at club level.

Sam Vesty has done wonders with Northampton’s attack but England have a man in Lee Blackett who has a not dissimilar view on how the game should be played and he can give Smith the framework and tools to thrive at international level.

That starts with many of his clubmates surrounding him after earning their own places on merit. Tommy Freeman and George Furbank will be in the back three and Henry Pollock and Alex Mitchell should form an all-Saints eight, nine, ten axis with Smith.

Alex Coles will also surely start at lock alongside George Martin or Ollie Chessum, in the absence of Maro Itoje, and the rest of the forward pack almost picks itself but the centres are up for debate again.

For me, Freeman should be playing on the wing so Henry Slade is the only obvious choice at outside centre and he’s been back to his very best at Exeter, while Seb Atkinson is the man in possession at inside centre and will probably keep his place.

His size and physicality will count in his favour for the opening game against South Africa, with Benhard Janse van Rensburg not yet eligible, but Max Ojomoh deserves another shot after being named Player of the Match in his last run out for England eight months ago.

I’m a big fan of Ollie Lawrence but I do think he’ll benefit from some added rest and a full pre-season after his injury issues and Fraser Dingwall lost his place in the Northampton team towards the end of the season so was always going to be left out of the squad.

There aren’t too many controversial omissions at all really but I feel for Curtis Langdon, who may not have enough games under his belt due to injuries but has been outstanding for the PREM champions when he has featured in recent years.

Jamie George is 36 in October, Luke Cowan-Dickie is 33 and injury-prone and Theo Dan doesn’t seem to be completely trusted by Borthwick so it would’ve been good to see another alternative given an opportunity at hooker.

Trevor Davison’s absence is a blow and there’s no doubt that the Springboks, in particular, will target England’s front row once the George, Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes are replaced.

There is no tougher assignment than facing the world champions in Johannesburg, with Fiji at Hill Dickinson Stadium and Argentina away also far from easy, but England have to focus on themselves and coming up with a more expansive game plan.

It’s no good just hoofing the ball and chasing it in this day and age anyway, and that would be meat and drink to the Boks more than anyone else, so Borthwick has to trust Fin Smith to bring his club game to the international stage.

It’s a point that has been made many times before but the straitjacket has to be removed in what is a big summer for England and Borthwick more than anyone else, given the disastrous Six Nations campaign and subsequent review and statements.

The Nations Championship is a new competition and England have to start as they mean to go on, which means being bold and brave against the best team in the world rather than just trying to compete physically and tactically.

South Africa play a great brand of rugby, especially with Tony Brown as their attack coach currently, and Fin Smith is the man to get England heading in the right direction when it comes to the style they want to adopt.

He has a bank of experience now in massive games at club level, despite being just 24, and an all-round game that few fly halves in world rugby can rival. Now it’s over to his international head coach to get the best out of him.