Following the conclusion of the latest weekend of Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup action, here is our take on the winners and losers from an England perspective ahead of the Six Nations squad selection.
Winners
Harlequins half-backs
A big part of Harlequins’ surprise win over La Rochelle over the weekend was the impact of half-back duo Marcus Smith and Lucas Friday, with the pair picking the perfect time to impress in arguably the biggest game of their season to date.
As individuals, they both made a huge impact on proceedings. Friday, only 19, once again injected some serious tempo around the fringes of the ruck, which then allowed Quins to set the pace of the game and get around the stubborn La Rochelle defence. Around that, he also showed serious game management skills with his boot, kicking for 322 metres across his shift, which again played a huge role in flipping the pressure back onto the hosts and fuelled a genuine sense of confidence within his side.
Smith, as we have already touched on in our Team of the Week, was really on song. He once again posed a genuine threat ball-in-hand, reflected in his tally of 37 metres and one linebreak from just three carries, but also looked to play wide quickly and inject that no-fear approach into their game that has driven them to success in the past.
As a unit, too, they just seemed to feed off one-another. Friday’s tempo around the ruck gave Smith the platform to thrive, which in turn then fuelled a confidence in his own game too. They seemed to be on the same page across the game, which only reflected in their side’s attacking efforts.
There is strong competition in both of these areas, but this was rather timely considering how close we are to the England squad selection.
Bath ballers
It was a good weekend for Bath hopefuls too, with Joe Cokanasiga and Max Ojomoh really stepping up to the plate ahead of the squad announcement.
Cokanasiga has been outside of the England picture for a while now, with the likes of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman and Tom Roebuck dominating the wing spots in recent Tests, but this was an advert of just how destructive he could be.
Yes, he was playing against a rotated Edinburgh side, but that shouldn’t take away from his impactful effort. Whenever and wherever – with him often seen floating around the 13 channel – he got the ball, things just seemed to happen, reflected in his mammoth tally of 124 metres and two linebreaks from his 10 carries, and he managed to get himself over the whitewash twice for good measure. While there is plenty of competition out wide, Cokanasiga offers something incredibly unique to the England squad, and given he was a key part of Lee Blackett’s attack last season, could just slide into the squad and fit in.
Fellow back Ojomoh was also in terrific touch across the game, and once again pushes his name into the conversation to wear 12 this Six Nations. His blend of genuine playmaking skills alongside serious punch ball-in-hand was clear for all to see on Friday night, and could really whet Borthwick’s appetite. England by no means lack quality in the centres, with Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence and Fraser Dingwall all expected to make the squad, while Seb Atkinson has also had a great PREM season despite Gloucester’s woes, but Ojomoh just offers that all-court threat and could easily be making the case to start come round one against Wales.
Number eight cohort
This position continues to intrigue ahead of the Six Nations, but Alfie Barbeary, Alex Dombrandt and Ben Earl all showcased their talents this weekend.
Crucially, all three men seemed to bring that ballast in the tight that Borthwick is leaning towards, particularly in the carry. Bath man Barbeary once again bossed proceedings ball-in-hand, making 59 metres from his 14 carries in the process, which keeps with his recent run of great form. Dombrandt also showcased his genuine carrying skills in the tight, something he has been working on this season, notching 29 metres in his 15 carries. Saracens ace Earl also stepped up to the plate in that department, particularly against a revved-up Glasgow back-row too, making 54 metres with his 22 carries across his shift.
These gritty performances ball-in-hand will please the England boss no end, considering he will once again be without Tom Willis this competition, and show that whoever he opts for to bookend the scrum, he will still have a primary ball-carrier to rely on.
Front-row options
England are in the midst of a front-row injury crisis, with Fin Baxter, Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Will Stuart currently sidelined, but Beno Obano and Trevor Davison both showed themselves as worthy options ahead of the Championship. Both men seemed to offer that complete propping performance this weekend, impressing in the loose and at scrum time.
The performances in the scrum in particular will impress Borthwick, given the rapid improvement in that area across the past year, and could see them boosted into the squad.
Crucially, too, this comes after some strong performances across the year, so it only furthers their case to make the wider squad this Six Nations.
Want more from Planet Rugby? Add us as a preferred source on Google to your favourites list for world-class coverage you can trust.
Losers
Injured stars
Unfortunately, England have suffered a couple of setbacks ahead of their squad selection, with Opoku-Fordjour and Adam Radwan expected to be out for a while. The Sale tighthead is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury picked up in training, and has since gone under the knife. This also follows an elbow injury, which has kept him out of action since November.
Elsewhere, Radwan has also been spotted in a boot after picking up a leg injury in the wake of his side’s Champions Cup win over Bayonne, and now seems to be a major doubt for the Championship.
These injuries will come as a major blow to Borthwick, with Opoku-Fordjour primed to feature in the 23-man matchday squad after the injury to the aforementioned Stuart and Radwan tracking to earn a spot in the squad after some impressive performances for Leicester.
Saracens hopefuls
It was once again a tough night for Saracens, with a number of their squad seeing their England hopes dented as a result. While there was nothing necessarily wrong with their display, they were put under the cosh by an aggressive Glasgow side littered with Scotland internationals, and with them primed to feature in the Six Nations, it could hamper their chances ahead of the squad selection.