Steve Borthwick believes England only have FIVE guaranteed starters, places up for grabs

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The journey kicks off with a captivating clash against Japan in Tokyo, followed by two electrifying tests against the formidable All Blacks in New Zealand.

In a historic first, England and the Brave Blossoms will lock horns in Tokyo for the Lipovitan D Challenge Cup on June 22, 2024. Despite having crossed paths three times before, this encounter marks Japan's maiden opportunity to enjoy home advantage against their English counterparts.

Subsequently, the Roses brace for showdowns against New Zealand in Dunedin on July 6 and at the iconic Eden Park a week later. These encounters promise riveting action as England aims to outshine last year's Rugby World Cup runner-up.

Assessing the current squad, Borthwick faces pivotal decisions across as many as ten positions with the England boss rotating his squad numerous times through the Six Nations.

Even the stalwart Freddie Steward found himself on the sidelines, replaced by George Furbank in the team.

Below, we delve into the five indisputable starters set to spearhead England's campaign.

Henry Slade burst onto the senior rugby scene with a debut against France at Twickenham, a stepping stone to his inclusion in England's Rugby World Cup 2015 squad, culminating in a memorable try-scoring appearance against Uruguay in the final match.

His journey continued with successive appearances for England, facing Fiji and Argentina in November 2016, and showcasing his versatility in a Six Nations encounter against Italy in February 2017. Throughout the summer of 2017, Slade left an indelible mark on the tour to Argentina, featuring prominently in both matches, and later excelled against the same opposition during the autumn internationals, securing his second try against Samoa.

The momentum persisted into 2018, as Slade earned selection for the summer tour, where he started all three matches against South Africa. His consistency led to another call-up in early 2019, participating in all of England's Six Nations fixtures. Despite overcoming injury hurdles, Slade clinched a spot in the 2019 Rugby World Cup squad, making a significant impact off the bench in the final showdown.

Maintaining his form, Slade remained a vital presence in the 2023 Guinness Six Nations Championship and recently earned a recall to Steve Borthwick's squad for the 2024 tournament, once again leaving a lasting impression with his stellar performances.

Already England's starting playmaker, his position in the team is only made safer by Danny Care's recent international retirement.

In 2023, Mitchell answered the call to join Steve Borthwick’s Rugby World Cup squad, stepping in seamlessly as an injury substitute for Jack van Poortvliet. Since then, he's firmly secured his place as England's starting scrum-half.

Renowned for his standout performances, Mitchell shone brightly during the tournament, becoming one of England's top performers. The undeniable truth is that England noticeably feels the void when Mitchell isn't in action.

Arguably the epitome of consistency for England, the captain continues to be the linchpin of the team, often the first name penned onto the team sheet.

It's essential to acknowledge and commend his leadership, which has played a pivotal role in England's rejuvenation under the guidance of Steve Borthwick.

Renowned as one of the game's fiercest competitors, Itoje stands tall among rugby's elite.

A natural winner, Itoje's performances consistently reach heights of excellence, rarely dipping below an eight out of ten rating.

Despite facing scrutiny stemming from his early-career accomplishments, he continues to assert his place as a guaranteed starter for England in our view.

In the 2024 Six Nations, Earl emerged as England's standout player of the tournament. His impact was never more evident than in England's stunning victory over Ireland.

Earl's contributions were unmatched, leading the pack with an impressive 73 carries throughout the Guinness Men's Six Nations, and topping the charts for carry metres (419), metres in contact (127), and defenders beaten (24) among forwards.