"A proper bolter" - Will Greenwood's five England World Cup players to watch

On Monday, head coach Steve Borthwick confirmed his final 33-man squad for the tournament this morning with a number of major stars missing out on the squad

Below, we look at five players the 2003 World Cup winner has told supporters to keep an eye on during the tournament next month.

A barnstorming young hooker, Dan has burst onto the scene this season with a series of standout performances for Saracens.

Whilst his work at the scrum and line out are impressive, it is his carrying ability and work around the park that has made people sit up and take notice.

Greenwood wrote:  "A proper bolter. In 2003, we were far more settled and assured. This time, it was different, and the difficulty is that brilliance at club level does not always translate.

"It feels like a hell of a risk to take him. Then again, Jonah Lomu got pulled out of Hong Kong Sevens and did ok."

t has been a steady rise through the England age groups for Birmingham-born Bath Rugby centre Ollie Lawrence.

Having played for England Under 18s and England Under 20s, the latter at aged 18, he was first called up to the senior squad in the summer of 2018 ahead of the summer tour to South Africa.

A line-breaking midfielder, Lawrence was called up again by Eddie Jones ahead of the autumn games in 2020. Recently, Lawrence was named in Steve Borthwick’s squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

Greenwood wrote: "He had a big Six Nations in a straightforward role, which can help players to stand out. Six months ago he was not considered as an option.

"Rugby changes and it does not change. One of your centres has to run through brick walls and Lawrence showed he was up to that."

Arundell was the Player of Match against Scotland on his U20 debut in February 2022, scoring a length-of-the-field try in the 41-24 victory in Edinburgh.

His first Premiership match in the London Irish starting team against Bristol Bears the following week was equally memorable, ultimately leading to a first call up for a senior England training squad after only six Premiership appearances.

Included in England’s summer tour of Australia, Henry made his debut off the bench in the first international Test, scoring a remarkable solo try with his first touch of the ball. He went on to feature in the following Guinness Six Nations campaign, before being named in Steve Borthwick’s squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

Greenwood wrote: "There is a lot of noise for a kid with just a handful of seven caps. Wonder-tries against Toulon and Australia will do that.

"Every time I am on Instagram, he is doing squats. He will have proven that he can play in a system. A maverick in a system is fine. A maverick who cannot play in one is struggling."

One of the most dynamic props in England, Bristol-born Ellis Genge made his debut for his country as a replacement in a 27-13 win over Wales at Twickenham Stadium in 2016.

Three days earlier, Ellis had agreed a move to Leicester Tigers, where he had been on loan from Bristol for the final months of the 2016/17 season. Ellis was included in the squad for England’s 2016 touring party to Australia and won the 2016/17 Land Rover Discovery of the Year award.

A former No 8, the ex-Old Redcliffians’ player, was educated at John Cabot City Technology College and led Hartpury College to two AASE Championship titles. Ellis represented England U17, U18 and U19 before featuring in eight matches for the U20 side in 2015, including the World Rugby Championship final against New Zealand.

Ellis was a regular member of England squads under Eddie Jones and was part of the squad that reached the 2019 Rugby World Cup final. He was recently named in Steve Borthwick’s squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

Greenwood wrote: "Ellis would have been close to the full-time captain, surely. Eddie Jones moved him to defacto full-back and Steve wants him on the ball as much as possible, leading and snarling.

"It is a big World Cup for him. Can he prove himself on the international stage? Domestically, he has bossed it."

Vunipola climbed off the bench to make his England debut against Argentina on their 2013 summer tour and in his short time on the field bulldozed over for his maiden international try.

Born in Sydney and the son of former Tongan international Fe’ao, Billy and his brother Mako qualify for England through residency.

Billy won his first eight Test caps consecutively before injury ruled him out of the Wales match at Twickenham in March 2014. Appointed as one of three vice captains to Dylan Hartley in the new Jones era, Billy was pivotal to their historic Grand Slam win with man of the match displays against Scotland, Ireland and France.

Injury struck to limit his involvement to just two games in the 2017 Six Nations as England made it consecutive Championships and then shoulder surgery denied him the chance to tour with the British & Irish Lions to New Zealand. 2018 was a similar story as injuries kept him on the sidelines but he returned in time to earn selection for England’s summer tour to South Africa. Billy was recently named in Steve Borthwick’s squad for the 2023 Ru

Greenwood wrote: "This is a real show of faith. He has been out in the cold and cannot know whether he is coming or going, but has broad enough shoulders.

"If he is fit, he has always been who I would pick. Has stared down some of the best in the world and got the better of them."