Steve Borthwick's first England call-up wants to quit and play for Six Nations rival

Moreover, there's already talk of one player contemplating a switch to represent another nation.

Next summer marks seven years since Joe Cokanasiga received his initial call-up to the England squad, an auspicious moment for the gifted teenager whose potential drew comparisons to the legendary Jonah Lomu.

Despite the high hopes surrounding him, Cokanasiga's journey to becoming a formidable international force has encountered obstacles. With just 14 caps earned over five years, he has yet to fully realize his potential on the international stage. However, his consistent presence within the squad under the tenures of both Eddie Jones and now Steve Borthwick underscores his value as a unique talent, even if his appearances have been infrequent.

Excitement surged among fans when Cokanasiga was recalled ahead of the Rugby World Cup; however, his performance against Wales in a warm-up match failed to leave a significant mark, resulting in his omission from the tournament squad.

Though the 26-year-old has since showcased his prowess for Bath this season, earning praise for his disruptive play, he has yet to receive a recall from Borthwick.

Following his exclusion from the World Cup squad, national head coach Borthwick outlined areas for improvement to Cokanasiga, motivating the Fijian-born player to redouble his efforts.

Verdict: Time is running out

The formidable player wearing number 8 seemed poised to become a pivotal player for Borthwick's England team, having earned a call-up by the national coach ahead of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Making his Test debut for England against Wales in August, Willis replaced Alex Dombrandt with 26 minutes left on the clock. Despite his efforts, England suffered a defeat to Wales in Cardiff.

His much-publicised transfer to Saracens hinted at a significant role post-World Cup, but he was omitted from the squad for the Six Nations due to a knee injury and has only earned a single cap to date.

Verdict: Still has time to turn it around

he Leicester Tigers winger, who was given his debut by Borthwick in 2023, has expressed his willingness to potentially represent Wales in 2026.

Despite earning two caps for England during last year's Six Nations, the 25-year-old hasn't been included in Steve Borthwick's squad since then with neither performance particularly impressive. Notably, he was event left out of England A's recent triumph over Portugal.

Ahead of this year's Six Nations, Gatland had mentioned Hassell-Collins several times, especially during the discussion surrounding another dual-qualified winger, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

“I have seen Gatland’s interview,” Hassell-Collins told the Telegraph.

“I’ve got two caps for England, and obviously I’m English. But if I don’t see anything in the next few years then it’s definitely something that I would consider.

“I would qualify [for Wales] the year of the World Cup – that is, if he still wants me. Wales is still part of who I am.

Verdict: Flop