This is the England starting XV Steve Borthwick should pick to beat Australia – all the key selection battles from flying full-backs to race for No10, and what to do with Henry Pollock

Steve Borthwick yesterday named a 36-man squad for England’s crunch Nations Championship opener with Australia on Sunday at Twickenham.

It was one without injured scrum-halves Alex Mitchell and Archie McParland but it did include first-choice No10 Fin Smith, despite the Northampton man’s calf worry.

England are preparing for four crucial matches this month which will start the countdown for next year’s World Cup, with a raft of selection battles across the starting lineup.

Here, Daily Mail Sport’s ALEX BYWATER assesses how Borthwick’s party is shaping up for the Wallabies on Sunday – and picks his starters to take down the Wallabies.

Front row

Promising 21-year-old hooker Kepu Tuipulotu suffered a leg injury in England training last week and has been replaced by Saracens’ Theo Dan.

England’s front row has significant experience otherwise and pretty much picks itself – Jamie George is the likely starting hooker with Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes propping up the scrum either side of him.

Luke Cowan-Dickie and the fit-again prop pair Fin Baxter and Will Stuart provide strong options from the bench.

Daily Mail Sport’s starters: Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Joe Heyes

Second row

After missing the summer as part of a scheduled rest period, Maro Itoje is back in the England squad and is close to certain to start at lock against Australia as captain. 

Even though his club side Saracens have struggled so far this season, Itoje demands inclusion. The question is who partners him.

Ollie Chessum, fresh from signing a new Leicester deal, has been in regal form and is now one of England’s best and most important players. But despite him playing lock at club level, it seems Borthwick wants him to provide extra physicality and another lineout jumping option in the No 6 jersey, where he starred in the Stade de France in March.

That leaves a space for either Alex Coles or George Martin. Martin’s grunt is invaluable, but Northampton’s Coles has shown more so far this term.

Daily Mail Sport’s starters: Maro Itoje (captain), Alex Coles

Second-rowers Ollie Chessum, Alex Coles and Maro Itoje have been in fine form, and Chessum’s versatility means he should slide over to No6

Back row

England have a wealth of resources in this area but also questions to answer. 

Chessum excelled on the blindside flank in the Six Nations finale with France. But in their recent struggles, England have struggled to get their breakdown firing. 

Borthwick has pointed out the difference between the way the ruck is refereed at PREM level and internationally and that his team has to adapt better. Issues there have led to England conceding too many penalties and subsequently, yellow cards. 

Australia are dangerous but inconsistent. They do, however, play with pace and are battle-hardened from a busy summer schedule, which included beating a weakened South Africa side. England, by contrast, only arrived at their Pennyhill Park base on Monday night and haven’t played since July.

‘Facing Australia is an exciting challenge,’ said Borthwick. ‘They have played a significant amount of Test rugby in recent months. We know the quality and experience they will bring,’ Borthwick admitted.

To slow down the Wallabies, Borthwick’s most sensible bet is to go with the experience of Tom Curry in the No7 jersey, alongside Chessum and Ben Earl who is an automatic pick at No8. That can leave Henry Pollock to bring his athleticism and dynamism from the bench in a battle with a team he scored against this time last year.

Daily Mail Sport’s starters: Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry, Ben Earl

Half-backs

This is where England’s problems begin. Mitchell and McParland were two of England’s three scrum-halves in training last week, alongside Jack van Poortvliet. 

Mitchell is awaiting the results of a scan on a hamstring injury suffered in club action for Northampton against Gloucester, but won’t face Australia as he wasn’t named in Borthwick’s squad for the game. Neither was McParland who suffered a calf problem in England camp last week.

Leicester’s Jack van Poortvliet and Northampton’s Fin Smith (both centre) got to grips in their recent PREM clash – now they need to put England on their back and lead them to victory

That leaves Leicester’s Van Poortvliet as the man to start, with one of Ben Spencer or Harry Randall – who have both had late call-ups – in reserve.

There is also a lack of clarity at No10. England are hopeful Smith will recover from a calf injury of his own to start against Australia. Marcus Smith and George Ford are the other options. Fin Smith has to start if fit. But if not, namesake Marcus is in better form than Ford and would deserve a chance.

Daily Mail Sport’s starters: Jack van Poortvliet, Fin Smith

Centres

This has been England’s big problem for a long time now. Seb Atkinson is the man in pole position at inside centre and played well for Gloucester at Northampton at the weekend, proving he is over his knee issue.

Who starts in the No 13 shirt is a bigger question. After missing the 2023 World Cup, Henry Slade is now back in favour.

One of Will Joseph or Joe Marchant would be bolder picks and the former, who has just one cap, has been a form horse in the PREM. But Borthwick places a great deal of emphasis on cohesion. Slade is the right call for this game.

Daily Mail Sport’s starters: Seb Atkinson, Henry Slade

Borthwick places a great deal of emphasis on cohesion and the returning Henry Slade is the right call for this game

Back three

Immanuel Feyi-Waboso has shown defensive frailties for Exeter, but his game-breaking ability means he has to start on the wing after he played club rugby last week following a hamstring worry.

Borthwick has dallied with Tommy Freeman at outside centre, but he has to start on the other wing to Feyi-Waboso. It’s not rocket science – pick your best players in their best positions.

Full-back is a straight shootout between George Furbank and Freddie Steward. Furbank has had rotten luck at Test level, summed up by the appendicitis that forced him to miss South Africa in July. His ball-playing ability makes him perfect to help what has been a stuttering England attack.

But Freddie Steward is pushing him hard, after revitalising his game at Borthwick’s request. Whichever Smith starts at fly-half, Furbank knows both well as team-mates past and present, so that’s an extra tick in his box.

Daily Mail Sport’s starters: Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Tommy Freeman, George Furbank

George Furbank is in a tight race for the No15 shirt with Freddie Steward but his partnerships with Fin and Marcus Smith may just settle the matter