Borthwick's autumn questions as World Cup looms

The upcoming Nations Championship matches present a selection dilemma for Steve Borthwick's England with just nine matches to go until the World Cup. Steve Borthwick's England have won three of their past eight matches With under a year to go until the 2027 Rugby World Cup, the countdown is on, with just nine competitive matches for the home nations until the tournament starts in Australia next October. But while the World Cup spectre looms large, there is plenty to play for between now and then, starting with the resumption of the inaugural Nations Championship in November. Steve Borthwick has named his 36-man training squad ahead of the Tests with Australia, Japan and New Zealand, and it gives a clear indication of the England head coach's thinking on both a long and short-term basis.

England play Australia on 8 November before facing Japan on 14 November and New Zealand on 21 November. There is a recall for Joe Marchant, fellow centre Will Joseph is rewarded for his and Gloucester's excellent start to the season, while uncapped Archie McParland is the third scrum-half and uncapped Kepu Tuipulotu the third hooker. On the whole, though, it is a tried and tested group. "If we look at this training squad, it's not picked on form, is it?" former England wing Chris Ashton said on