With England heading into July's Nations Championship Tests against the Springboks, Fiji and Argentina, Planet Rugby has ranked the backline depth chart under a Borthwick squad that appears to be shifting toward a faster, more expansive attack under Lee Blackett. The piece argues that Blackett's system — showcased against France in the final Six Nations outing — is now the key filter for selection: silky playmaking at half-back, dynamic 12s who can double as first receivers, and back-three threats who mix aerial work with ground-level danger. Furbank leads at 15 ahead of Steward and Marcus Smith; Feyi-Waboso is a certain starter on the wing despite recent surgery; Fin Smith edges Ford at 10; and Ben Spencer is likely to cover for the injured Mitchell at 9. The most pointed selection call is the fast-tracking of Bristol's Benhard Janse van Rensburg at 12 — unavailable for the Boks opener but earmarked as Blackett's ideal ball-carrying playmaker once eligible — with Seb Atkinson set to face the Springboks in his place. Borthwick supporters will find the optimism tempered by real injury concerns across the squad.
England's backline depth chart for the July Springbok Tests — who starts, who's the bolter
Planet Rugby ranks England's full backline depth chart ahead of July's Tests against the Springboks, Fiji and Argentina — with Blackett's expansive new attack system driving selection logic and Benhard Janse van Rensburg's fast-tracking the headline call.
Boks remain top but All Blacks close gap to 2.90 points after Nations Championship opener
South Africa stay top of the World Rugby Men's Rankings at 93.94 points but New Zealand have cut the gap to 2.90 after beating France, while Scotland climb to equal their all-time high of fifth following a record 47-38 win over Argentina in Córdoba.
Springboks lead World Rugby rankings by 3.61 points ahead of Nations Championship
South Africa top the World Rugby rankings on 93.94 points, 3.61 clear of New Zealand, as the Springboks head into the inaugural Nations Championship. World Rugby has also confirmed the removal of home weighting from the rankings system from 1 July 2026.
Smith vows England will 'leave it all out there' against Springboks
Marcus Smith says England's 36-man squad, arriving in Johannesburg on Thursday, are targeting a historic win over the Springboks in the Nations Championship opener, having trained in oxygen masks to prepare for the Highveld.
Van der Merwe eyes Scotland recall after Townsend lifeline
Van der Merwe opens up on a brutal season of injury and form loss, and how a Townsend phone call — offering him the Barbarians gig against the Boks — has him targeting a Scotland recall for the Nations Championship.
England's backline depth chart for the Nations Championship — and what it means for the Boks
Planet Rugby ranks England's full backline depth chart ahead of the Nations Championship Tests against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina, with Blackett's new expansive system the central selection filter. Key for Bok fans: Janse van Rensburg misses the SA opener, Atkinson starts at 12, and Spencer likely wears 9 with Mitchell injured.