Since England last met Australia a year ago, they have played nine Tests and started five different full-backs.
The windmill of selection has turned particularly quickly in this key position for one key reason – George Furbank’s inability to stay fit.
Over the coming weeks the international scene will be littered with Movember facial hair monstrosities but there will be no sign of Fairbank’s trim World War Two fighter pilot moustache once more.
The autumn series has come around again with the Northampton Saint once more listed as ‘not considered for selection’ – this time because of a calf problem which has prevented him playing in the Prem yet this season.
In all, since the 2024 Test against the Wallabies last November, he has played just five games of rugby.
It is rotten luck for the 29-year-old but also for Steve Borthwick, who had Furbank inked in as his man after his excellent showing on the summer tour 15 months ago. His performances against Japan and, more relevantly, against New Zealand in Dunedin convinced the England head coach here was the player who could take his side on.
His point of difference was as a creator – a ball-playing full-back with a rare ability to read what was in front of him and uncanny appreciation of space. He had been a key cog in the Northampton backline and, having shone against the All Blacks, he had proved he could transfer those skills to a higher level.
All in all, it has added up to a wasted year at a time when Furbank should have been at the peak of his powers for club and country.
The shirt was his – and then the injury ghoul came haunting.
The broken arm he sustained in a Champions Cup fixture against the Bulls last December was the start of it. He had a metal plate inserted in it but took a bang to the same spot when he returned in April and suffered further damage.
He just made it back in time for the Champions Cup final against Bordeaux the following month but was invalided out of the game early on by a nasty concussion.
The calf issues since – in both left and right legs – have seen a series of comeback dates missed.
All in all, it has added up to a wasted year at a time when Furbank should have been at the peak of his powers for club and country.
Borthwick’s response to his absence has seen him struggle to pin down the right replacement.
The week after the defeat by the Wallabies 12 months ago, Freddie Steward started at 15 against South Africa, before Furbank returned against Japan. In Furbank’s absence England then turned to Steward in the opening match of the Six Nations against Ireland before changing tack to Marcus Smith against France and Scotland. Elliot Daly wore No 15 against Italy before Smith returned against Wales.
Steward was back for the first two summer Tests in Argentina before Joe Carpenter was handed his debut against the USA in England’s last outing.
Steward and Smith are both in the squad for the autumn Tests with Steward starting against Australia this weekend – Daly and Carpenter are injured – but neither are like-for-like stand-ins for Furbank.
Of the two, Smith is the closer approximation as an attacking playmaker from the back, but his suitability as a Test full-back remains open to question, especially as he does not play there for his club.
Steward can be relied upon to do a solid job for England. Would Steward be picked if Furbank was fit though? No.
Harlequins, under Jason Gilmore, have resolved to play him exclusively as a stand-off which is manifestly his best position.
While he is an intelligent enough footballer to provide cover for England at 15 (although Tommy Freeman will presumably do so against Australia with Smith left out of the 23), it is Steward who is the specialist.
As a commanding aerial presence, the Leicester full-back has few peers and he has developed as a running threat and ball handler. He was excellent in Argentina in the summer and that form has continued into the start of the new domestic season – he supplied the passes for both of Adam Radwan’s tries against Sale at the weekend.
He can be relied upon to do a solid job for England. Would Steward be picked if Furbank was fit though? No.
Despite playing so little rugby, Furbank was one of the 25 players handed an enhanced elite player squad contract by Borthwick in August. Steward missed out. That tells you all you need to know about the pecking order.
Had he had a decent run of games last season, there was every chance Furbank would have toured with the British and Irish Lions last summer.
As it was, he was left looking in from the outside – and he will be doing so again with England this autumn.
With some players, the unfortunate reality is that out of sight ends up being out of mind. Temporarily at first and then permanently. Selectors move on. A new flavour of the month emerges. You do not get the feeling that will be the case with Furbank.
With the midfield such a physical battleground these days, most of the best sides in the world in recent times have preferred to deploy their auxiliary playmaker from full-back.
He has only won 14 caps since being thrown into Test rugby’s deep end by Eddie Jones against France in Paris in 2020. Yet Borthwick is convinced he can be an important piece of the puzzle for the way he wants England to play.
With the midfield such a physical battleground these days, most of the best sides in the world in recent times have preferred to deploy their auxiliary playmaker from full-back. Look at South Africa with Willie le Roux.
Chris Boyd, the respected New Zealander who was an important influence on Furbank during his time as director of rugby at Northampton, has an interesting take. If a No 15 does not have the skillset to slot in at No 10 if he is needed there, then he is not a No 15 in the modern game.
Furbank, who has started Premiership games for Northampton at a stand-off – and a Test for England against Tonga in 2021 – is more than comfortable there.
England’s missing link man can only wait impatiently for his misfortune to abate and the stage to be his again.
When he finally returns – hopefully for the Saints in December – he will be desperate to make up for lost time.
With a fair wind behind him, the 2027 World Cup should still be a realistic target. Borthwick is counting on it.
He’s shown glimpses of those features to his game, he’s by no means the finished article or has dont it consistently enough to make such statements of facts. I can recall times when he looked out of place slightly too, as he was trying to find his feet at international level.
Thought maybe we’d be looking at Freeman filling in. But Borthwick has his methods for each game so never know what will happen from one game to the next.
One eyed article in favour of Furbank. No one knows how people recover from injury so you have to move on, need to have solid options. Just look at Manu Tuilagi, another brilliant player when fit, but England needed to find a way to play without him.
Well it’s pretty relevant given he was awarded an EPS contractf for this season. It means, currently, Steve has pinned himself to the Furbank mast. The article rightly points out that, when Furbank isn’t around, SB chops and changes his 15 between 3-4 guys. It means Furbank is viewed as a missing link by England management, and does leave England selectors with a problem they need to get past.
I think Furbank’s injury has been unfortunate, as has Daly’s at the same time, which has left the cupboard bare. I think it’s fair to say they would both be favoured in front of Steward and for Carpenter to then turn his ankle in training, has wiped out another potential option.
Therefore looks like Steward may hold on to the role for the Autumn but will be out once the others return.
One has to wonder how long it will be before Hendy is given a call up, yes he might have ? Under the high ball but with the form he's showing at saints and his ability to also play wing you'd think he could be quite a good option to have