Six uncapped players who can make a statement to Steve Borthwick this weekend

The Investec Champions Cup is as close to Test match rugby as players can get, and therefore, the best opportunity for uncapped players to demonstrate their international credentials.

The latter stages of the competition resemble Test rugby more and more with every round that passes, but the upcoming weekend, where it is do-or-die for many teams in the final round of the pool stages, will produce some intense occasions.

With the Six Nations just weeks away now, this weekend may be the last chance for players to make a material impression on England head coach Steve Borthwick before he picks his squad.

Fortunately for some uncapped players, the fixture ahead of them provides the perfect opportunity to stake a claim to make England’s training squad.

So here are six uncapped England players with the most to gain this weekend in the Champions Cup:

Fixture

Investec Champions Cup

Toulouse

09:30

17 Jan 26

Sale

All Stats and Data

1. Ben Bamber
The combination of England being thin on locks and Sale Sharks facing a Toulouse team who are in ‘must-win’ territory at the Stade Ernest-Wallon on Saturday is the perfect recipe for Bamber to make a statement.

George Martin doesn’t look like returning any time soon, so there is a huge chance for the big-hitting Sharks lock to exert some pressure on England locks Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum and Alex Coles, and there is no better occasion to do it than against the likely France second-row pairing of Emmanuel Meafou and Thibaud Flament.

2. Afolabi Fasogbon
Fasogbon may have been lower down on this list, as, after all, it is unclear as to whether the tighthead will even start against Toulon on Saturday, depending on where George Skivington’s priorities lie.

But following the news that Asher Opoku-Fordjour has been ruled out of the Six Nations with a shoulder injury, Gloucester’s 21-year-old prop could well be in line to deputise for Joe Heyes for England this Six Nations, with Will Stuart already out with an Achilles injury. Northampton Saints’ Trevor Davison and Bath’s Billy Sela may have other ideas, however.

Suddenly, Gloucester’s clash with Toulon, where he will come up against France loosehead
Jean-Baptiste Gros, becomes an opportunity for Fasogbon to put himself front and centre of the tighthead shop window before the Six Nations.

3. Emeka Ilione
Now England have back-row options coming out of their ears at the moment, and it will be hard for any uncapped player to break into the set-up.

But if there was a place that a back-row like Leicester Tigers’ Ilione could make a bold statement, it would be against a Stormers side in Cape Town in what is in effect a must-win game for both sides. The 23-year-old was on the cusp of the England squad in the autumn, only for a shoulder injury to rule him out, but he is in firm contention again.

The Stormers boast multiple Springboks across their team, not least the back-row, who will be looking to avenge their first loss – albeit with a weakened side – of the season last week against Harlequins at the Cape Town Stadium, and in the process put themselves in a strong position to book a home round of 16 tie. The stage is set.

4. Noah Caluori
Saracens have plenty of options out wide, so may not even opt for Caluori on the wing, but there are few better places for the 19-year-old to showcase his full armoury than against Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun.

Like the back-row, there is an abundance of wingers in England currently, so earning a place in Borthwick’s squad must be merited.

England has already seen what Caluori is capable of, but a cold, wet night against a Glasgow side that have been the best performers in the first three rounds of Champions Cup action is the best opportunity for the teenager to showcase his all-round game and dispel any scruples Borthwick may have.

5. Greg Fisilau
Of all the uncapped players currently in England, Fisilau probably deserves a place in the England squad the most on merit, even in the aforementioned stacked back-row.

However, not playing in the Champions Cup does let him down this weekend as he isn’t able to strut his stuff at the top table. Then again, Exeter’s opponents at Sandy Park, Cardiff, sit in fourth in the United Rugby Championship, and both sides know that a win will give them a likely home round of 16 match (with the top two in the pool, Stade Francais and Ulster, playing each other).

If the Challenge Cup isn’t a worthy proving ground, Fisilau will have to hope Borthwick has made up his mind from what he has seen in the PREM this season, because he certainly deserves a place in the England squad.

6. George Hendy
Like with Fisilau and Ilione, Northampton Saints’ Hendy may well be positioned higher on the England pecking order for back three options than Caluori.

However, up against a winless Scarlets side at home, who admittedly still have a chance of qualification, may not be the environment to prove yourself that Scotstoun could be.