England XV travel to Vannes on Friday to face France XV in a key warm-up fixture ahead of the upcoming Nations Championship.
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Now that the squad has been confirmed, attention turns to selection, with this predicted team including a debut for Benhard Janse van Rensburg in midfield as England look to fine-tune combinations and build momentum.
15 Marcus Smith
At fullback, Marcus Smith is selected. Freddie Steward has just returned from injury for the semi-final, so picking him again only a week later in a low-stakes match does not really make sense.
With few natural alternatives in the position, Smith is the most practical option. After a difficult season with Harlequins, he will be hoping to rediscover his international form.
14 Tom Roebuck
On the wing, Tom Roebuck is expected to feature. His aerial ability appears to be a key reason for his selection. While his season with Sale Sharks has not been exceptional, it has still been steady overall.
Borthwick tends to reward players based on what he values in their game, and this may be another example of that approach.
There is also the possibility of Noah Caluori being given a chance, which would be popular with supporters.
13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg
At outside centre, Benhard Janse van Rensburg comes into the side. Although he cannot yet play in a capped match until Fiji in July, he is available for this uncapped fixture.
This gives Borthwick a useful opportunity to assess him properly. With limited specialist options at 13 in the wider squad, his selection in this role makes sense.
12 Max Ojomoh
Inside centre is likely to go to Max Ojomoh. After impressing against Argentina in the autumn, he was surprisingly left out of the England setup, probably due to club form and competition around him.
Now back in the squad, he is in contention with Seb Atkinson for the 12 shirt if Janse van Rensburg starts at 13. Given Atkinson’s inconsistent form for Gloucester, Ojomoh edges it.
11 Cadan Murley
On the other wing, Cadan Murley is a fairly settled pick. He is a dependable option who seems to have the trust of Borthwick. While players like Adam Radwan and Caluori offer more excitement, Murley provides consistency and structure.
10 George Ford
At fly-half, George Ford is expected to play a key role. He is likely to sit behind Fin Smith in the pecking order this summer, but brings valuable experience to a squad full of Prem talent still adapting to Test rugby.
His influence will be as much about leadership as on-field control.
9 Raffi Quirke
At scrum-half, Raffi Quirke is predicted to feature alongside Ford. Jack van Poortvliet is probably ahead of him generally, but having played in the semi-final last week he may need rest.
Harry Randall is another option, although his form for Bristol has not been at its best this season.
