Steve Borthwick’s first England debutant sparked debate with his painted nails

Adding to the frustration, reports now suggest that his very first debutant could be set to jump ship and represent another country — and he’s not even in the squad anymore. Here are five of Borthwick’s biggest selection disasters so far…

Zach Mercer’s return to the Premiership was met with serious hype. After being named Top 14 Player of the Year at Montpellier, it seemed inevitable that he would finally be given a proper shot in an England jersey.

A call-up to a World Cup training camp suggested Borthwick was keen to reintegrate him, but Mercer never added to his two caps. His stint at Gloucester has been frustrating, and with reports suggesting he’ll leave at the end of the season, his England career looks all but over.

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

At 25, Pearson is still an exciting prospect, but he has only managed a single England cap to date. His physicality makes him a standout performer at club level, yet Borthwick clearly doesn’t see him as the answer to England’s back-row dilemma.

While other uncapped players have leapfrogged him into recent squads, Pearson remains on the outside looking in. With England’s back-row options constantly evolving, his wait for another chance could be a long one.

It wasn’t long ago that Freddie Steward was considered a guaranteed starter for England. A defensive rock under the high ball and a reliable last line of defence, he played a crucial role in England’s World Cup campaign.

Yet, in a shocking turn of events, Borthwick has axed him in favour of Marcus Smith—a player who isn’t even a specialist fullback. This drastic move highlights just how far Steward has fallen in the pecking order. Nobody saw this coming.

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

Hassell-Collins is a fan of jewellery, and having his nails painted helps soften the blow of not being able to wear jewellery when he is on the pitch.

"Also, I used to bite my nails so I was painting them clear. I decided to jazz them up a little bit.

"They’re usually white and green for Leicester but obviously red and white for England."