"Vunipola's Replacement" - 5 England Hopefuls Who Impressed in Last Weekend's Premiership Matches

Bath and Gloucester kicked off the weekend at Kingsholm, as Finn Russell's visitors achieved the bragging rights in the West Country derby. Sale Sharks returned up to the North West with the winning spoils, after handing Bristol Bears a 27-13 defeat at Ashton Gate. Harlequins secured a narrow four-point away win over Leicester Tigers, before Saracens ran out one-way traffic for a landslide win up in Newcastle.

Sunday's fixture saw Exeter's winning form curtailed in their trip to Northampton Saints. The hosts at Franklins' Gardens were the only home side to record a victory this weekend, as they ran out a 34-19 triumph over the Chiefs. The next stop in the international calendar is the 2024 Six Nations, with just over three months to go before England begin their campaign against Italy.

These five England hopefuls all impressed in last weekend's Premiership matches, and will be pushing to impress Steve Borthwick with more of the same into.the New Year. Here are five England hopefuls who impressed in Round 5 of the Gallagher Premiership.

Northampton Saints' versatile back Tommy Freeman had an impressive outing in his side's win over Exeter Chiefs. Freeman has had a fiery start to the 2023/24 season, and entered the match with seven tries across the Premiership Rugby Cup and his league campaign. Freeman added his eighth try in all competitions in the match's early goings, as he was quickest to react to Fin Smith's well weighted grubber kick through the Chiefs defence.

Freeman gathered the bouncing ball well, and muscled his way through the tackle attempt of Tom Cairns to score after just two minutes. The 22-year-old had a flying performance along the right wing, as Northampton established a healthy 17-point unanswered first-half lead. Freeman's second half showing was equally as impressive, as he contributed a try-assist for Alex Mitchell's score.

Coming against the run of play, Freeman supported Sam Matavesi's carry, and executed a nice two-on-one for the England halfback to score. Freeman was last seen in an England jersey in the 2022 Autumn Internationals defeat to South Africa, and could well be on his way back into the fray. The international retirement to Jonny May has opened up a vacancy along the wing, and England fans would be more than happy to see Freeman slot in for the 2024 Six Nations.

One of the newest arrivals at the StoneX Stadium, Tom Willis has wasted no time in establishing himself amongst the top Saracens stars. Willis entered the weekend with three tries to his 2023/24 campaign, all of which came at the expense of Gloucester. The back-row scored against the Cherry and Whites in the Premiership Rugby Cup back in September, and added two tries away to Kingsholm a fortnight ago.

Willis has continued in his try-scoring form, with his bulldozing power showcased as Sarries clipped the Falcon's wings up at Kingston Park. The former Wasps man had plenty to do, as he collected the ball close to the right touch-line. An explosive first step battered the tackle attempt of Iwan Stephens, and Willis could not be halted by fullback Elliott Obatoyinbo. The highlight of an awesome performance up in the North East, Willis continues on his top form with a return to the England jersey in sight.

Despite his brother Jack writing himself out of future England contention, by extending his contract with Toulouse, Tom Willis wants back in Borthwick's plans for the 2024 Six Nations. The number eight looks like the natural Saracens heir to Billy Vunipola, and has been battering the Premiership defences since arriving from Bordeax-Begles. Left out of the Rugby World Cup squad despite reaching the wider-training group, Willis could well be back in the international fold if he keeps up these performances.

Bath loose-head prop Beno Obano last featured for England in the Summer of 2021, yet with Joe Marler's international career reportedly winding down, the door could well open back up if he maintains this form. Obano impressed all on-lookers in the West Country derby, with set-piece dominance being a highly commended area of his game. England's front row looks set for a re-shuffle in this 'new era', and Obano certainly threw his hat in the ring with a solid performance against Gloucester.

The loose-head prop began the afternoon with a well-taken try from close range, as he ducked down and drove through the red and white wall. Obano also had a key contribution in Bath's penalty try, as he drove the blue, back and white tank towards Gloucester's try-line, before it was illegally halted. An honourable mention is in order to Tom Dunn, who led the up-front battle with Obano in this local clash. A late addition to the England scene in the Eddie Jones era, Obano has not yet gotten the nod from Borthwick.

Obano ensured that Bath won their own scrum on every put in, and even once stole the ball against the head of the Cherry and Whites. The 29-year-old ran out a strong shift, as he was called to the side-lines with just 10 minutes left to play. With three England caps to his name, Obano's international debut came in the 2021 Six Nations against Scotland. Keep up this kind of form, and Borthwick could well return Obano to the international camp and gain some valuable game time in the competition, and England A side.

Despite being just 24-years-old, Will Porter has bountiful Premiership experience and presents a veterans awareness of how to run his back-line. Currently under the tutelage of Danny Care at Harlequins, Porter came through the ranks at Wasps, and notched up over a half-century of appearances before the club entered administration. Porter arrived at the Stoop after a brief run in Bristol, and has been vying for Care's starting jersey with his opportunities arising throughout the Rugby World Cup.

Porter got the go-ahead to start against Leicester Tigers, with Care returning to watch on as a replacement. Porter stamped his intentions to retain the number nine jersey going forward, and push for the same shirt in the England set-up. The scrum half scored a wonderful solo try against Leicester, catching the Tigers defence off-guard with a well sold dummy. With Marcus Smith set to lead an attack, Porter faked the pass to his first receiver, and slipped passed the hard-hitting England lock Ollie Chessum.

Porter then ignited the afterburners, and breezed out of sight for the back-peddling Dan Cole, with Care impressed by what he saw from the side-lines. Now that Ben Youngs has hung up his test match boots, a spot has become available amongst the England halfbacks. Care could soon be set to rival his Harelquins teammate for the jersey, with this try a key example of the underrated talents of Will Porter. Quins perch at the top of the Premiership table, with Porter a top contributor in their early campaign.

Wrapping up our picks for the five England hopefuls who impressed this past weekend, is Sale Sharks winger Arron Reed. The 24-year-old caught the attention of Premiership fans with two tries against Gloucester last weekend, and has continued on this impressive run of form. Reed presented an exhilarating turn of pace early on against Bristol, to score his side's openning try at Ashton Gate.

After the Sharks driving maul was halted in the right corner, the ball went through the hands before George Ford sent a looping pass out wide to Reed. The winger caught the ball at pace, and could not be stopped on his way through to the try-line, despite the covering tackle attempt of Max Malins. Reed grounded the ball nicely, before he was dragged into touch by the fullback. Continuing to impress after graduating the England U20s set-up, Reed is certainly one for Borthwick's radar.

Reed has an impressive strike rate at the AJ Bell, having scored 26 tries in his Sale Sharks tenure. Breaking onto the scene at the end of the 2017/18 campaign, Reed has been steadily progressing with Sale, and could well be on his way to fill the England vacancy left by Jonny May. There are plenty of talented wingers looking to fill that void, with Reed set to take on the likes of Harlequins' Cadan Murley and Racing 92's Henry Arundell for the back-three spot.