Daily Mail

STEWARD IS TOP OF THE CLASS

- By NIK SIMON

FRONT ROW JAMIE BLAMIRE

Try-scoring hooker enhanced his reputation against Bomb Squad. Needs to nail starting shirt at Newcastle.

TREVOR DAVISON

Opportunit­ies were few but showed his versatilit­y by switching from tighthead to loosehead.

NIC DOLLY

A remarkable rise from Coventry but Springboks cameo did not go to plan with two missed lineouts.

ELLIS GENGE

Top of the loosehead pecking order. Frustrated at missing two games with Covid.

JOE MARLER

Strongest scrummager seems to have settled for a role from the bench.

KYLE SINCKLER Few real challenger­s for his No 3 jersey. Needs to iron out indiscipli­ne. WILL STUART

Most notable moment was a yellow card against the Boks.

JAMIE GEORGE

Played like a man with a point to prove and showed that he deserves a place in the squad.

BEVAN RODD

Drafted in as cover and showed no fear against Australia and South Africa.

LOCKS CHARLIE EWELS

Yet to make a real impact and will face competitio­n from Joe Launchbury.

JONNY HILL

Grown in prominence since Lions tour and brings raw strength to an arm wrestle. MARO ITOJE Sets the energy levels in the pack but backs stole the spotlight.

BACK ROW TOM CURRY

Gets his head over the ball but his best games have come at flanker rather than No 8.

ALEX DOMBRANDT

Eddie Jones seems unconvince­d by his credential­s yet showed glimpses of his silky handling.

COURTNEY LAWES

Taken game to another level with neat offloads and captained the team with distinctio­n.

SAM SIMMONDS

Raw speed has offered a point of difference, with key interventi­ons in attack and defence.

SAM UNDERHILL

Slipped off tackles and faces long-term competitio­n from Jack Willis.

HALF BACKS ALEX MITCHELL

Helped turn the screw in his substitute cameo against Tonga with a late try.

RAFFI QUIRKE (below)

Cut from a similar cloth to Danny Care and showed his speed to score against Boks.

BEN YOUNGS

Solid option but some kicks lacked accuracy and Quirke looks the long-term successor.

MARCUS SMITH

New poster boy is so assured at Test level and now needs to work out best combinatio­ns.

GEORGE FURBANK

Versatilit­y to cover

No 10 is an asset but seems destined to become a utility player.

CENTRES MARK ATKINSON

Experience­d head in midfield will be frustrated at his lack of game time.

MANU TUILAGI

England are at their best when Tuilagi is at full power but they cannot rely on him being injury-free.

OWEN FARRELL

Missed two out of three Tests and England flourished in his absence — so doubts remain.

HENRY SLADE

Classy operator in midfield and his midfield partnershi­p with Smith shows signs of promise.

BACK THREE JONNY MAY

Looked vulnerable in defence against the Boks and had a limited impact against Australia.

FREDDIE STEWARD

The breakthrou­gh star. So assured under the high ball to finally solve full-back woes.

MAX MALINS

Offers silky skills like Elliot Daly but also showed defensive grit when put under pressure.

ADAM RADWAN

Unlucky not to get more opportunit­ies after his electrifyi­ng runs against Tonga.

JOE MARCHANT

Links up brilliantl­y with Smith and has the energy to pop up all over the field.

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