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Steve Borthwick’s England ended 2025 with 11 straight wins and a first unbeaten autumn campaign for four years.
It is clear the national side is on an upward curve. Head coach Borthwick and his players lost just once in the calendar year, with Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina all beaten in November.
Here, Daily Mail Sport’s Alex Bywater looks at the 33 men Borthwick used this month and assesses who impressed and who still has work to do as the countdown to the 2027 World Cup continues...
Steve Borthwick's England won all four of their autumn internationals taking their winning streak to 11 Tests
BACKS
Freddie Steward (full-back): 6/10
He’s improved his attacking game and was a regular this autumn, starting three of the four games and only missing Fiji due to a hand injury. George Furbank is now back fit, so he may well find his position under threat for the Six Nations.
Tom Roebuck (wing): 7.5
He had his injury troubles, but more than showed his worth when starting the big games against Australia and New Zealand. The aerial battle is now one of Test rugby’s most important areas and the Sale wing is outstanding there, as he showed by creating two tries against the Wallabies. Borthwick loves him.
Tommy Freeman (centre/wing): 5.5
He’s a key man but there is still uncertainty over his best position. Started at centre against Australia and then on the wing for Fiji before suffering a hamstring issue. He has to be in the starting team and my view is that should be on the right wing.
Tommy Freeman gave the Fijian defence plenty to think about - but what is his best position, centre or wing?
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (wing): 7
So lively. It was great to see him back in an England shirt, starting all four matches. Wonderful runner with pace to burn and knows where the try line is. Yes he could get involved more but at the same time, he’s still only 22 so still has significant room for improvement.
Henry Arundell (wing): 6
Back on Test duty for first time since 2023 this autumn as he’d been ineligible while in France with Racing 92. Peripheral figure, only playing 13 minutes against Fiji. But he showed in that time he has plenty to offer as he chased on to a kick to score.
Elliot Daly (wing/full-back/centre): 5
Played his first game of the season against Argentina after recovering from a broken arm suffered on Lions duty. He had a quiet game without much involvement but that was unsurprising given how long he'd been out. His versatility and experience means he will remain a key figure and rightly so.
Fraser Dingwall (centre): 7.5
Northampton centre started quietly in the opener, with his pass intercepted for an Australia try. But the man described by Borthwick as a ‘glue’ player responded well. He was excellent in the campaign-defining victory over the All Blacks, scoring a try.
Fraser Dingwall goes over to score a try as England beat the All Blacks at Twickenham
Ollie Lawrence (centre): 8
What a joy it was to see him powering his way around Twickenham again after achilles injury misery. His partnership with Dingwall against Fiji and New Zealand showed plenty of promise before fitness woes struck again. For me, he’s England’s best No 13.
Henry Slade (centre): 6.5
The big-name omission from the last World Cup and has been on England fringes since despite being outstanding for Exeter this season. Only involvement was in the Argentina finale, but he scored a crucial try. Don’t write him off.
Max Ojomoh (centre): 8.5
Was playing for England A earlier this month. But when he was given a chance to impress against Argentina after Dingwall suffered injury, boy, did he take it. Scored a try and created two too. Made big statement to Borthwick. Shout out too for Gloucester’s Seb Atkinson who missed the campaign injured but is highly rated at 12 and should be back for the Six Nations.
George Ford (fly-half): 9
The hero of the All Blacks win. His display in that game was outstanding with two key drop goals summing up his brilliant game management. Very good against Australia too and now England’s undisputed first-choice No 10.
George Ford kicks a drop goal against Argentina. He is England's undisputed first-choice No10
Fin Smith (fly-half): 6
You have to feel for him. Started against Fiji. Didn’t get much praise for that but this observer felt he didn’t do much wrong. He fronted up physically, especially after taking a knock. Now behind Ford in the playmaker pecking order though.
Marcus Smith (fly-half/full-back): 6.5
Looks unlikely he’ll be starting fly-half now and had to mainly be content with bench cover. Started at full-back against Fiji and came on early in that position for New Zealand after Steward failed a head injury assessment. Showed that he can play in that position in big games.
Alex Mitchell (scrum-half): 7.5
The Northampton man doesn’t get as much of a chance to show his running threat in Test rugby where matches are a lot tighter. But he showed this autumn his tactical kicking game is right on the money too. Remains a key figure.
Ben Spencer (scrum-half): 5
Started the Argentina summer Tests with Mitchell on Lions duty but that was reversed this month for all but the Pumas rematch. Spencer didn’t take his chance in that game but he’s still the best option to back-up Mitchell.
Ben Spencer is the best scrum-half back-up option for England despite failing to take his chance against Argentina
FORWARDS
Luke Cowan-Dickie (hooker): 7.5
Hard and abrasive, he sums up the physical nature of this England pack. Sometimes had to be content with a bench role but scored against Australia and Fiji. Impressive.
Ellis Genge (prop): 7.5
After becoming a Lion for the first time, you’d have expected him to be a certain starter but instead he became part of the ‘Pom Squad’. Did captain the team to victory over Fiji but he excelled as a replacement, bringing his snarling energy from the bench.
Will Stuart (prop): 7
In the same position as Genge. The fact the two Lions props can appear in the second half only goes to show the depths of resource Borthwick has at his disposal.
Joe Heyes (prop): 7.5
Leicester front rower really pushed on from impressive summer tour. Showed he is a strong scrummager but also his comfort at operating in the loose. Started the first three games and while it was perhaps a surprise for Australia, it wasn’t by the end.
Jamie George (hooker): 7.5
At 35, there have been just questions as to whether or not he can go on to the 2027 World Cup. But he showed this autumn that seems more than possible. Still dynamic despite advancing years and also reliable at the set-piece. Both he and Cowan-Dickie are great options at No 2.
Fin Baxter (prop): 6.5
Borthwick preferred the baby-faced Harlequins assassin as his starting loosehead with Genge in reserve, although the two did swap. Don’t be fooled by Baxter’s youthful appearance. He is a very, very strong scrummager.
Hooker Theo Dan (left) is a brilliant all-action player and prop Fin Baxter is a strong scrummager despite his youthful looks
Asher Opoku-Fordjour (prop): 5
Bench role for Fiji and didn’t grab chance when starting against Argentina. But he’s still only 21 and Borthwick rates him. Expect him to continue his progression quietly as a squad member but not by being heavily involved.
Theo Dan (hooker): 5
Made the bench for Argentina after George suffered a hamstring injury against New Zealand. But George and Cowan-Dickie dominated the hooking berths. Dan, however, is a brilliant all-action option too and represents the future.
Alex Coles (lock): 7
An unheralded member of the squad. If George Martin and Ollie Chessum are both fit, he’s behind them in the list to play as lock partner to captain Maro Itoje. But Martin missed this campaign and Chessum suffered a foot injury against Fiji. In their absence, Coles did well.
Tom Curry (flanker): 7.5
His autumn ended in controversy with a tackle that injured Argentina’s Juan Cruz Mallia and caused on-field and tunnel dust-ups. But that shouldn’t detract from the impact he had off the bench. I’m sure he would prefer to start like Genge but seemed to enjoy new role. Made it into World Rugby’s Team of the Year.
Henry Pollock (flanker): 7.5
The hype man for the ‘Pom Squad’. Came on as a replacement in all four games, bouncing around on the sidelines like a fizzy drink ready to explode. Hard to get away from the fact that’s where he’s best suited for now but was a key man.
Henry Pollock scores against Australia. He came on as a replacement in all four games having been bouncing around on the sidelines like a fizzy drink ready to explode
Ollie Chessum (lock): 6.5
Started Australia and Fiji matches before suffering a foot injury which ruled him out of New Zealand and Argentina. He’s got plenty of power. Martin hasn’t had much luck with fitness and Chessum is now on the sidelines too.
Maro Itoje (lock, captain): 8.5
He’s had some 2025. Became England captain at the start of the year and the team has won 11 of 12 matches since. He also led the Lions to series victory and got married. His playing talent at second row has never been questioned but he’s quietly become a calm, measured and inspirational leader too. Only other Englishman alongside Curry in World Rugby’s dream team.
Charlie Ewels (lock): 6.5
Key man for Bath. Not helped by injury at the start of the autumn. His only involvement was more-than-fleeting as a substitute against Argentina. But even in a short cameo, he played a key role by putting the Pumas line-out under pressure as they went for the win. Had he not done so, defeat was a very real possibility.
Steve Borthwick will be delighted with England's 2025, with 11 wins on the bounce
Ben Earl (No 8): 9
Outstanding. The news of Tom Willis’ move to France on the eve of the autumn robbed England of a brilliant No 8, but Earl is exactly that too. He’s fast, dynamic and industrious. Player of the match against both Australia and Fiji which says it all.
Sam Underhill (flanker): 8.5
He doesn’t have an enhanced elite player squad contract, so in theory isn’t one of Borthwick’s key men. But that was shown as a nonsense this autumn by the level of the Bath flanker’s performances. Forced Curry, who is excellent, to the bench.
Guy Pepper (flanker): 8
He started all four games, reflecting his status as one of the squad’s coming forces. Played on the blindside flank but comfortable on either side of the scrum. Expect to see more of him, Heyes and possibly the soon-to-return Atkinson in the starting side.
Chandler Cunningham-South (flanker/No 8): 6.5
With Underhill, Pepper and Earl in such good form, his opportunities were limited. Went toe-to-toe with giant Fijians well from No 8. He’s very explosive and if he hits you, you stay hit. Likely to have to be happy with a bench role at best for Six Nations but has versatility in his favour.
