Following the announcement of England’s 36-man squad for the three-day training camp, here are our key winners and losers from Steve Borthwick’s selection.

Winners

Ollie Lawrence

His return to the pitch after just six months is quite incredible, but it’s a massive boost for England.

Lawrence has been a real mainstay in the side in Borthwick’s tenure, be it at 12 or 13, and with Bath assistant Lee Blackett now in the England coaching ticket, he will likely be an even more important part of the system.

Blackett’s attack at Bath was largely built around Finn Russell, granted, but the role Lawrence played in it was a large factor in its overall success. A lot of it was designed to get Lawrence playing in those slightly wider spaces where he can put his size and speed to good use with some barnstorming carries.

The fact that he isn’t listed in the rehab section and is fully in the 36-man squad is a massive boost, too, considering the severity of his injury.

George Furbank

Like Lawrence, having him back in the initial 36-man squad is a much-welcomed boost ahead of the Autumn Nations Series.

The Northampton skipper was such an integral part of the England side prior to his injury, with his ball-playing skills taking the attack up a gear, and you feel he will suit Blackett’s attack to a T. His system, both at Bath and for England in the summer, called for that extra link at 15 to then get the wingers involved and attacking in space.

He will face a battle to regain his shirt, given how Freddie Steward ended the summer tour, but having both men back available is only a good thing.

Fraser Dingwall

He got injured at the worst possible time last year, but his return comes at a really good time heading into the Autumn Nations Series.

His promotion into the starting line-up during the Six Nations helped get their attack purring, with England scoring 17 tries in the two Tests he was involved in compared to the eight tries in the three Tests before, and his ball-playing skills would suit the system Blackett wants to run in this squad too.

It also adds greater depth to the midfield, which continues to be an area of growing strength.

Ted Hill

It’s been a bumpy ride for Ted Hill at Test level in the past year, limited to brief cameos off the bench in the Six Nations and only making the 23 to face the USA this summer, but his inclusion in this squad shows he is still very much in the mix.

The Bath forward has all the qualities to be a serious Test match animal, with serious pace to burn and intent to throw his body around in the tight exchanges too, but yet hasn’t quite been given the freedom to show that in this England side. This is a great opportunity to secure a spot in the 23 on a consistent basis.

Borthwick has already been pretty open about his potential idea to deploy a 7-1 split to accommodate all of the back-rowers, and Hill would certainly be a good option for that given he can play lock and flanker, while his pace makes him an option to shift into the backline if needed.

Summer debutants

Oscar Beard, Guy Pepper, Seb Atkinson and Will Muir have all retained their spots in the wider 36-man squad.

Their inclusion is certainly well-deserved given their respective performances in the Americas, but it also shows just how important that tour was to the continued development of this England side.

Borthwick could easily be excused for turning to more familiar faces, but he has rewarded those players who left a mark on tour both in the camp environment and on the pitch, which will only be a good thing for this squad as they enter a new phase.

Adding new players within the squad is the next inevitable step as England move towards the 2027 World Cup, and these players do all fit into that wider development plan.

Losers

Injured stars

Arthur Clark, Curtis Langdon, George Martin, Luke Northmore and Ollie Sleightholme were all listed as ‘not considered for selection’ as they continue to return from injury, but that in itself will frustrate them as it suggests they are still in the frame for a Test place come the autumn.

Being injured right at the start of the season makes it even harder, too, with a good amount of Prem players lining up to take their spot as well.

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This will feel like a missed opportunity for the lot, but it does also show they are still highly thought of.

Theo Dan

Just weeks after having his EPS contract taken away, Dan now finds himself outside of the initial 36-man training squad.

The hooker endured a tough Test season last year, being overtaken by Luke Cowan-Dickie as the starting option in Jamie George’s injury absence, while the return of the vice-captain also pushed him further down the pecking order during the Six Nations. He did tour with England in the summer, coming off the bench in Test One and starting Test Two, but was hooked shortly after half-time and later omitted from the side to play the USA.

Hooker is a strong area for England right now, but this would have been another chance to really stake a claim to be the long-term option with Cowan-Dickie and George nearing the end of their Test careers, but it seems he is currently not in contention.

Alex Dombrandt

His return to the side this summer seemed to suggest he was again set for a long-term place in the side, but Dombrandt again finds himself outside of the wider England squad.

Number eight is an increasingly competitive position for England at the moment, with Tom Willis and Ben Earl both warranting spots in the starting side, so it seems he has fallen victim to that depth.

Around him, the likes of Greg Fisilau, Alfie Barbeary are consistently pushing their name into the England conversation too, so it seems he also has a fight on his hands to crack the wider squad moving forward.

Omitted summer tourists

Unfortunately, Charlie Atkinson, Trevor Davison, Afolabi Fasogbon and Gabriel Oghre have not made the cut this time around, despite touring with England this summer.

They are all likely still in contention heading into November, given their spots on that tour of the Americas, but for now they have to again wait their turn.

Prem returners

Henry Arundell and Owen Farrell were also notable absentees from this initial 36-man squad, despite returning to the Prem from Racing 92.

Even with Arundell being drafted into a training camp before the summer tour and Farrell featuring in two British and Irish Lions Tests Down Under, it still would have been a big call to draft them in at this stage given they have only just become available.

They could easily be in contention for the main Autumn Nations Series squad, with more Prem game time under their belt.

READ MORE: England: Ollie Lawrence boost for Steve Borthwick but no place in squad for Owen Farrell