England's Perfect Autumn Sets Stage for World Cup Challenge
England concluded their autumn international campaign with a hard-fought victory over Argentina, extending their remarkable winning streak to eleven consecutive matches and maintaining an unbeaten home record throughout 2025. The achievement marks significant progress for Steve Borthwick's squad since their difficult November campaign twelve months earlier.
The winning run began after England's Six Nations defeat to Ireland in Dublin, with the team securing statement victories including a memorable triumph over the All Blacks. The head coach has steadily built depth and competition within the squad, particularly during July's tour of Argentina which ran alongside the British and Irish Lions series in Australia.
Forward Pack Analysis: Strengths and Emerging Concerns
The prop position has emerged as an area of substantial improvement during 2025. Fin Baxter and Joe Heyes have established themselves as genuine Test-level forces, while Will Stuart's outstanding Six Nations performance earned him Lions selection alongside Ellis Genge. England's scrum is developing into a genuine weapon, supported by promising talents like Asher Opoku-Fordjour and developing prospects Afolabi Fasogbon and Vilikesa Sela.
At hooker, immediate strength masks future concerns. While Jamie George continues to perform exceptionally at 35, both he and Luke Cowan-Dickie are approaching the latter stages of their careers. Theo Dan remains a work in progress despite his explosive ball-carrying ability, suggesting Borthwick may need to accelerate the development of Curtis Langdon and Gabriel Oghre.
The second row presents ongoing worries for England's coaching team. While Maro Itoje and Ollie Chessum form an impressive partnership, George Martin's persistent injury issues create problems given England's limited tighthead lock options. Alex Coles has shown promising development with his extensive work rate, while Chandler Cunningham-South has gained experience in the engine room for both club and country.
Back Row and Half-Back Resources
England's back row strategy has evolved impressively, weaponising a group of scavenging specialists despite concerns about the lack of powerful ball carriers following Tom Willis's move to France's Top 14. Ben Earl appears settled at number eight, supported by openside options including Guy Pepper, Tom Curry, Sam Underhill and emerging talent Henry Pollock. The returning Ben Curry and Emeka Ilione will further strengthen competition when fit.
At scrum-half, Alex Mitchell remains the secure first-choice despite Ben Spencer starting against Argentina. Mitchell's impact as a substitute in that match reinforced his importance. Raffi Quirke and Jack van Poortvliet have been in camp throughout the autumn and may challenge Spencer's position once fitness issues resolve.
Fly-half represents a position of considerable strength for England. George Ford reclaimed the starting role impressively, delivering outstanding performances against Australia and New Zealand despite an uncharacteristically error-prone display in the final autumn match. At 32, Ford brings calm authority, while Fin Smith awaits his opportunity after an excellent Six Nations. Marcus Smith's increasing involvement at full-back demonstrates England's depth in creative positions.
Backline Development and World Cup Prospects
England's midfield options have improved dramatically since the start of 2025. Ollie Lawrence has returned strongly from injury, while Fraser Dingwall displayed his organisational qualities in the victory over New Zealand. The experiment with Tommy Freeman at outside centre remains of interest to the coaching staff, and Max Ojomoh emerged as a surprise package during the autumn campaign.
The wing positions offer Borthwick considerable selection wealth. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso provides unique attacking threat, while Tom Roebuck appears Test-ready despite injury disruptions. Tommy Freeman remains world-class when deployed wide, and Elliot Daly's versatility adds valuable coverage across the backline. The importance of kick-chasing ability has increased following law changes, with England well-equipped in this department.
Full-back presents interesting selection dilemmas. Freddie Steward earned three autumn starts after working to enhance his counter-attacking and defensive skills, though Marcus Smith's impact against New Zealand demonstrated alternative attacking options. George Furbank may challenge for the position during the Six Nations if he overcomes injury concerns.
As England look toward the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, Borthwick has constructed a squad showing genuine development and increasing depth. While specific areas require attention, the perfect autumn campaign provides solid foundations for continued progress during the coming seasons.
