Selection has and likely always will be the most contentious issue in any sport at any level. When it comes to the international stage, the level of debate is at its zenith. Pubs across the land are provided with endless background noise, as we debate the pros and cons of our favourites. Whenever a Six Nations or a Rugby Championship rolls around, we agonise over every position. We are inevitably disappointed when our favourite club player does not make his debut, despite the 1000-1 odds. There is one position, however, that this year will cause more debates than any other. The wing spot has been a focal point of selection for a long time in New Zealand, after Jonah Lomu made it the most iconic jersey in Rugby history. This year it is England’s turn to agonise over the wings.

The talent produced by the premiership over the last few years has created a wealth of available options for new coach Steve Borthwick. There is so much talent, young and old, that it will be almost impossible for Borthwick to select the best options. It will definitely be impossible to please everyone. 

The debate should begin with the incumbent. Johnny May is the only player with any consistent involvement with the side recently. Often we can be a prisoner of the moment, buying into the new hot prospect and ignoring old talent for simply because we are used to it. This is not one of those cases. May has lost a step both in his general play and more simply in his pace. He is no longer the number 11 who can turn on the afterburners and skin defenders on the outside. At international level this rift is clear, wing is a young man’s position, and at 32 years of age, May is likely over the hill. However the magic he has produced in the past, along with his veterancy, might make him a valuable squad member to help ease the transition between coaches. This sort of role should be left to the traditional leaders in the team however. With the volume of talent coming through the ranks, keeping May in the team is not available option. 

So now to the young bucks. Here we enter the meat of the debate. Who is the front-runner? On recency, the obvious place to start is Cadan Murley. The bowling ball in Quins quarters has been exceptional this season. He brings a marauding physical style to the game that England may well need if Tuilagi does not return fully to the national set up as many predict.  His defense is outstanding, regularly being assigned the role of tackling the forward carrier off lineouts, halting opposition momentum. None of this physicality comes at the cost of finishing ability. The chemistry between Murley and Smith could be valuable if England decide to adopt a more attacking framework in the lead up to the world cup. 

A short jaunt along the North Circular from Twickenham to Brentford, from a physical specialist, to the best all-rounder in English rugby. Olli Hassel-Collins has timed his rise to prominence impeccably. Tied with Murley at 8 tries, Hassel-Collins tops the premiership scoring leader board. At 6’2” and 100kg, he is a deceptively large prospect to tackle and has genuine pace to burn. Whilst not considered a speedster, he is undoubtedly up there and has the ability to run away from the opposition. His frame allows him excellent ability in the air, something that will undoubtedly be valuable at international level. His defence is perhaps not what it could be, but he is far from a liability. For Borthwick he is perhaps the most complete package available. The only barrier to his selection is Tommy Freeman’s success in the national side. Hassel-Collins is Freeman with a higher upside and better physical attributes, but he may not get a look in with Freeman’s international quality already proved.

Amongst the explosion of talent across the premiership a couple names have been lost in the shuffle. The first is at the other end of the country. Adam Radwan. The appeal? Pace, sheer, unadulterated, pace. Radwan is the man that most would have money on as the fastest English rugby player. To go with this pace, a dynamic first step that seems almost impossible for defenders to track. This skill set gives him the best counterattacking game of any player in England at the moment and it is the sword that he will live and die by. If Borthwick wants to counterattack with flair, he need look no further, but it is likely he will go for a player more suited to traditional international rugby. 

The second of the forgotten gems? Joe Cokanasiga. Full disclosure, this writer loves Joe Cokanasiga. The gigantic winner has been up and down for bath it is true. But there are some days when the Jonah Lomu clone is simply unstoppable. His high ball work leaves something to be desired. You would not be able to select another limited weapon on the other wing as a result. But the danger presented by his personal cocktail of athleticism, strength, and speed, is simply game breaking at points. He has the ability to bring a bite to the English backline, filling a similar role to that which Van de Merwe fills for Scotland. Cokanasiga has also, despite intermittent playing time, shown he can do it at the international level. He is yet to have a game for England where he does not look like one of the most dangerous men on the pitch and Borthwick will ignore his talent at his own peril. 

With all these options, who else could stand a chance at selection? Well, there is the small matter of the wonderkid. Henry Arundel lit the European stage and then the international one alight. Arundel thrived in the England under 20s and has continued that form into his professional career. Arundel is perhaps best at 15, but with Freddie Steward chasing down the best player in the world title, it seems unlikely that Arundel will dethrone him at 15. His chance to slot into the team is definitely on the wing then. He offers the ace and finishing ability, with the aerial nous of a Hassel-Collins… so far. ‘Hype train’ is a term that seems almost designed for Arundel. What remains to be seen is if he is able to put together a significant run of form uninterrupted. Injury has obviously put a question mark over his selection as well as more importantly his development. Until he is able to put together a healthy set of games, demonstrating that the flashes of talent are more than just that, this writer will stick to more known quantities.

Who will Borthwick pick then? This writer’s mind is made up. Murley and Cokanasiga will bring a bite to an England attack sorely lacking weapons. But Borthwick’s selection may well be different. Any number of combinations may make an appearance. May is more likely to stick around than any pundit wants to see. It would also be unsurprising to see a call up for the likes of Potter from Leicester considering the coaching connection. Amongst the options available to him, I believe that Borthwick will have the sense to build around his full-back’s skill set and pick a speedster like Radwan, if fit, and an all-rounder in Hassel-Collins. Cue him picking May and Nowell.