‘Past their prime’ – FIVE England stars being phased out

Whether through age, form, or simply the coach’s vision for the future, these five England stars could soon find themselves on the wrong side of the selection debate.

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The oldest player in the England squad, and somehow still one of the best.

Borthwick has tried to move on from Jamie George more than once — but every time he’s written off, the Saracens hooker comes roaring back with another monster performance.

At 35, he’s undeniably in the twilight of his career, yet his influence and consistency remain unmatched. Quietly, George has built a legacy that puts him in the conversation with Steve Thompson and Brian Moore as one of England’s greatest-ever hookers.

He might be “past his prime,” but good luck finding anyone ready to actually replace him.

Slade’s international career has been a rollercoaster under Borthwick. Dropped, recalled, dropped again — yet he keeps proving his worth with Exeter week after week.

Physically, he’s not quite the explosive centre he once was, but his rugby brain and silky skills are still top-class. He remains a go-to man when England need a calm, creative head in midfield.

He might not make it to 2027, but don’t rule him out just yet — class is permanent.

Few players divide opinion like Elliot Daly. On his day, he’s a match-winner — a backline Swiss army knife with a rocket boot and a sharp eye for space.

However, Daly now finds himself under pressure from younger, hungrier options in every position he can play. His versatility has always been his biggest strength, but it could now be working against him as England look to specialise heading towards the next World Cup.

Still, no one will forget his ability to land penalties from halfway.

This one’s up for debate. Is George Ford actually past his prime — or just entering it?

Borthwick clearly planned to phase him out in favour of Fin Smith and Marcus Smith, but Ford’s game management, experience, and composure have kept him firmly in the starting XV.

That said, England’s head coach is still thinking about the future. Ford remains the general for now, but there’s no question the next fly-half era is being prepared right behind him.

Different story here — this isn’t about form or age, but circumstance.

Willis looked set for a long England career after earning a central contract, but his decision to move to Bordeaux has changed everything. With the RFU sticking to its “England-based” selection policy, his international future suddenly looks bleak.

A big loss for Borthwick — but a huge gain for the Top 14.