A crucial injury concern has emerged for England's rugby team ahead of their upcoming Autumn clash against Fiji. The absence of full-back Steward, a key player renowned for his aerial prowess, could significantly impact England's strategy.
Steward sustained a hand injury during England's impressive 25-7 victory over Australia last weekend, a win that kicked off their Autumn Nations Series campaign. Despite finishing the match, he hasn't trained since, raising doubts about his availability for Thursday's match against Fiji.
But here's where it gets controversial... With two other full-backs, George Furbank and Elliot Daly, also injured, England's options at the back are limited. Players like Marcus Smith, Tommy Freeman, and Tom Roebuck are now in the frame for the No. 15 shirt, but none of them are natural full-backs.
Roebuck, usually a winger, and Freeman, an outside centre, featured against Australia, while Smith, primarily a fly-half with some full-back experience, didn't even make the matchday squad. This highlights the depth issue England is facing at the moment.
Fiji, ranked ninth in the world, presents an opportunity for England to experiment and build depth. However, with New Zealand and Argentina also on the November schedule, a weakened England side could face an uphill battle.
England coach Borthwick might use this match to test out some positional changes. One idea is to move No. 8 Ben Earl to inside centre, a move that could add versatility to England's lineup ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Another option is to deploy back-row Henry Pollock, who scored a crucial try against the Wallabies, on the wing. Pollock's performance off the bench has caught the eye, and he could be a valuable asset out wide.
Earl, who was named player of the match against Australia, is open to the idea of a positional switch. "It's a strength of our squad, and I hope it's a strength of mine too," he said. "We have players who can adapt and do a good job in multiple positions. It's an exciting prospect."
Earl continued, "If I were to play at inside centre, Steve (Borthwick) would want me to be true to myself and bring my unique skills. You can't lose your identity when you change roles; it's about finding a balance."
So, will England experiment with their lineup against Fiji? And can they afford to do so with tougher opponents on the horizon? These are the questions on everyone's minds as England prepares for a crucial period in their Rugby World Cup build-up.
What do you think? Should England take risks against Fiji, or play it safe? Let us know in the comments!
