Every new England international 2017: Every Debutant Ranked From Worst To Best
Top 10s/ListsFriday, 08 December 2017 at 15:39
2017 has seen 11 players make their England debuts, and while some have floundered, others are now quickly becoming regulars under Eddie Jones.
RUCK POLL
11. Don Armand
Chiefs’ outstanding flanker won his solitary cap as a replacement against Argentina in the summer.
There's obviously something that Jones doesn't fancy about the admirable Zimbabwean, which is unfortunate because he looks the real deal week in, week out for Exeter.
His England career so far has to be considered a bust right now.
DID YOU KNOW: He was named man of the match in the Premiership final
10. Will Collier
The 26-year-old made his England Test debut against Argentina on 10 June 2017 and made a second appearance a week later in the deciding match, scoring a try.
He's a great scrummager but his chances of nailing down a regular spot in the England squad seem thin with the tighthead unlikely to shift club teammate Kyle Sinckler from the squad going forward.
DID YOU KNOW: His first club was Rosslyn Park F.C
9. Nick Isiekwe
Saracens have a fast growing reputation for producing world-class second-rows with Isiekwe following in the footsteps of Maro Itoje and George Kruis into the England set-up.
The 19-year-old was called up for their two-test series against Argentina, making his debut against the Pumas before winning his second cap as a replacement against Samoa last month.
Isiekwe's made a decent start but has a lot of work to do if he is to nail down a regular place in the England set-up.
DID YOU KNOW: He was trailed at many positions including Prop, Number 8, Flanker and Centre,
8. Jack Maunder
From National One obscurity to England scrum-half, it has certainly been a whirlwind year for the Exeter Chiefs youngster.
Maunder was sent on loan to Plymouth Albion at the beginning of last season but within two months he was an integral part of an Exeter side that would finish as champions, with injuries forcing him back into the set up.
The scrum-half’s rise at Exeter was so sharp he was selected by England head coach Eddie Jones to tour Argentina last summer, making his international debut in the latter stages of the first Test.
DID YOU KNOW: His dad Andy runs a butchers business and was a former Exeter player.
7. Denny Solomona
Despite scoring a spectacular winning try on debut against Argentina, the cross-code star was at fault for two of the Pumas scores.
Another blot on his Test CV was when he and Manu Tuilagi were sent home early from the England pre-season training camp in Teddington for issues which were understood to be alcohol-related.
The 24-year-old nevertheless is doing enough at club level for Sale to suggest he still has a big international future under Eddie Jones ahead of him.
DID YOU KNOW: He scored 57 tries in 41 games for the Castleford Tigers
6. Mark Wilson
The colossal Cumbrian put in two stellar displays for England against Argentina as Eddie Jones men romped to a 2-0 series win on Pumas soil.
Despite this, he wasn't able to earn a call-up for the Autumn Internationals due to poor form, which is why he isn't further up the rankings.
DID YOU KNOW: He spent time on loan from Newcastle Falcons at Blaydon RUFC
5. Piers Francis
Returning to England to join Saints at the start of the 2017/18 season, Piers Francis has emerged as one of the most exciting talents to be playing in Super Rugby.
Francis was called into the England squad for the current tour of Argentina, alongside fellow Saints Harry Mallinder, Jamal Ford-Robinson and captain Dylan Hartley.
The 26-year-old made his debut from the bench in the first test and created the match-winning try with a great assisting offload before going on to score a try of his own after collecting his first international start the following weekend.
4. Tom Curry
An outstanding man-of-the-match display on his England debut welcomed Tom Curry to the international rugby stage.
The 18-year-old flanker drew huge praise as he starred in a 28-14 win over the Barbarians before making his test debut against Argentina, becoming the youngest forward to represent England in more than a century.
Unfortunately missed the Autumn internationals due to a wrist injury, which saw Simmonds called up and leapfrog the flanker on our list.
DID YOU KNOW: He is the nephew of former England hooker John Olver
3. Sam Simmonds
The term commonly used is ‘meteoric’ – a player who bursts spectacularly on the scene, seemingly from nowhere.
A year ago Sam Simmonds was on loan at Cornish Pirates and he had started just two Premiership matches before the start of this season.
He featured in all three of England's Autumn internationals, particularly impressing on his first start against Samoa.
Strong running and dogged work in the breakdown saw him stand out in the absence of England’s two recognised No 8s.
Appears to be the real deal.
DID YOU KNOW: He was late coming to rugby, only committing properly at 14 having been an avid footballer and Liverpool fan.
2. Alex Lozowski
Lozowski has proved to be an integral part of the Saracens squad since he joined them from Wasps last year, offering quality options at fly-half and centre.
And that form was rewarded with four England caps, including two in Argentina, before scoring his first try in the demolition of Samoa at Twickenham.
Jones is clearly a fan of the versatile back and so are we.
DID YOU KNOW: He went to Leeds University to study a degree in Economics.
1. Sam Underhill
Out of the 11 England debutants in 2017, the Bath flanker appears the most likely to secure a regular place in Eddie Jones starting XV, taking the spot of out of form James Haskell.
One of the defensive leaders, he takes credit for how blunt the Pumas were both in the summer and at Twickenham last month. It is the quality just as much as the quantity of his tackles that also impresses.
It was unfortunate that he was replaced early on against Australia, but the back-rower really does look the real deal.
DID YOU KNOW: Underhill captained England U18s
TRENDING
LATEST NEWS
LATEST COMMENTS
Loading