Who will be named in England’s QBE Internationals squad?

Stuart Lancaster will tomorrow name a squad of somewhere between 35-40 players, depending on what you read, for the upcoming November Internationals against New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa and Australia. Here’s our position-by-position analysis of who might be selected.

LOOSEHEAD PROP

Dead certs: Joe Marler, Matt Mullan
In the mix: Alex Waller, Mako Vunipola (injury-dependent)
Wildcards: Nick Auterac, Nathan Catt
Not considered due to injury: Alex Corbisiero

Joe Marler is a nailed on starter for the New Zealand game with Corbisiero out injured, while Matt Mullan will be named as his back-up. Alex Waller’s inclusion likely depends on the injury status of Mako Vunipola and whether he will be fit to feature in any of the later test matches. Bath duo Nick Auterac and Nathan Catt should be named in the Saxons, but if the latter is fit he could be a surprise inclusion over Waller.

HOOKER

Dead certs: Dylan Hartley, Rob Webber
In the mix: Jamie George, Joe Gray
Wildcards: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dave Ward, David Paice
Not considered due to injury: Tom Youngs

Hartley will certainly start the New Zealand match, with Webber likely to be on the bench after he impressed on tour there over the summer. The third hooker spot should go to Jamie George after his storming start to the season for Saracens, although Joe Gray is also in the mix. London Irish’s David Paice would be a real wildcard selection, but has been capped before and has started the season well for his club.

TIGHTHEAD PROP

Dead certs: David Wilson
In the mix: Kieron Brookes, Henry Thomas, Kyle Sinckler, Scott Wilson
Wildcards: Will Collier, Fraser Balmain
Not considered due to injury: Dan Cole

After David Wilson, this is one of the positions with the least certainty surrounding it. Lancaster must wrap Wilson in cotton wool, as the lack of experience in a position that demands so much of it is alarming amongst his understudies. Kieron Brookes’ cameos in New Zealand have probably seen him leapfrog Thomas and Sinckler in the standings.

SECOND ROW

Dead certs: Courtney Lawes, Joe Launchbury, Dave Attwood
In the mix: Michael Paterson, Graham Kitchener, George Kruis
Wildcards: Elliot Stooke
Not considered due to injury: Geoff Parling, Ed Slater

A relatively settled position, although injuries to Parling and Slater have robbed Lancaster of some depth. Lawes and Launchbury will start with Attwood on the bench, with one of Paterson, Kitchener or Kruis taking the final spot in the squad for the Autumn.

FLANKERS

Dead certs: Chris Robshaw, Tom Wood, James Haskell
In the mix: Matt Kvesic, Will Fraser, Calum Clark
Wildcards: Dave Ewers, Jackson Wray, Luke Wallace, Jamie Gibson, Carl Fearns, Mark Wilson, Steffon Armitage
Not considered due to injury: Tom Croft, Tom Johnson

A convoluted section with an array of options after the guaranteed few. James Haskell’s form has been such that he is surely assured a squad, and maybe even a starting, place, while Will Fraser tops the list of those in the mix after playing well enough for Sarries this year to keep Jacques Burger on the bench. The raw physicality of Exeter’s Dave Ewers would offer something different. Steffon Armitage is obviously the biggest wildcard of the lot – can you even imagine?

NUMBER EIGHT

Dead certs: Billy Vunipola, Ben Morgan
In the mix: N/A
Wildcards: Thomas Waldrom, Sam Dickinson
Not considered due to injury: N/A

In reality, Vunipola and Morgan are the only two specialist number eights likely to be named given the ability of the likes of Haskell and Wood to cover here if absolutely necessary. Both have started the season reasonably well and it’ll be interesting to see which one Lancaster goes for to start against New Zealand.

SCRUM-HALF

Dead certs: Danny Care, Ben Youngs
In the mix: Lee Dickson, Richard Wigglesworth, Joe Simpson
Wildcards: Dan Robson, Dave Lewis
Not considered due to injury: N/A

A full roster of scrum-halves to choose from for Lancaster, and after the obvious two of Care and Youngs, things get interesting. Lee Dickson has been sat on the bench for most of the big games this season, the Saints preferring Fotuali’i as a starter. Wigglesworth would be the safe choice and performed well against Clermont at the weekend, but a roll of the dice on Simpson or Robson would provide more zip and a higher tempo game.

FLY-HALF

Dead certs: Owen Farrell, George Ford
In the mix: Danny Cipriani, Stephen Myler, Freddie Burns
Wildcards: N/A
Not considered due to injury: N/A

Owen Farrell will likely start against New Zealand despite not getting much game time yet this season, while George Ford should certainly start at some point given his fine form for Bath so far. The third fly-half spot is up for grabs – Cipriani would be the attacking, forward-thinking option while Stephen Myler is a safer bet but is sometimes unfairly pigeon-holed as someone who is no good at attacking, which simply isn’t true. Freddie Burns’ form has gone off the boil slightly in recent weeks, so expect to see him in the Saxons for the time being.

CENTRES

Dead certs: Luther Burrell, Kyle Eastmond (injury-dependent)
In the mix: Billy Twelvetrees, Brad Barritt, Jonathan Joseph, Henry Slade
Wildcards: Shane Geraghty, Sam Hill, Elliot Daly
Not considered due to injury:

With Manu Tuilagi now confirmed as out, the prospects of Jonathan Joseph and Henry Slade look a lot brighter. One of the two – more likely Joseph, given his greater experience – will take his place. In reality, though, neither may start, with a Barritt/Burrell combination being mooted as the most likely option. Twelvetrees’ slipshod form has seen him perilously close to being dropped, and it may depend on Eastmond’s fitness as to whether he’s selected. It is probably a year too early for Sam Hill and Elliot Daly, who will probably be in the Saxons, where they could be joined by Shane Geraghty, who has been on fire for London Irish.

WINGERS

Dead certs: Marland Yarde, Semesa Rokoduguni
In the mix: Anthony Watson, Chris Ashton, Christian Wade, Jack Nowell, Jonny May
Wildcards: Dave Strettle, Charlie Sharples, Alex Lewington
Not considered due to injury: N/A

Rokoduguni’s form has been so hot that he simply cannot be ignored, and he should start against New Zealand. Marland Yarde will likely fill the other flank, but beyond that it’ll be a case of picking two, maybe three, from a handful of hopefuls, all of whom can press claims to be included. Along with centre, it will be the most difficult decision Lancaster has to make as two or three quality finishers will miss out.

FULLBACK

Dead certs: Mike Brown
In the mix: Ben Foden, Alex Goode
Wildcards: Mat Tait, Rob Miller, Chris Pennell
Not considered due to injury: N/A

Brown is the only fullback 100% certain of his spot purely because Lancaster isn’t guaranteed to pick three fullbacks – although he could allow himself a bigger squad and do just that, because the competition below Goode and Foden is lightyears away. If he decides he doesn’t have room for three, one of Foden or Goode could give way given that the likes of Nowell and Watson are proficient at fullback too.

By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images