NICK CAIN
READ HIS EXPERT OPINION EVERY WEEK

WHEN Steve Borthwick picked his 33man England squad for the 2023 World Cup this week there were 17 players included from the 2019 squad which reached the final – and none of them are better players now than they were four years ago.
Most have declined significantly in form and consistency, and there are precious few who are even level-pegging. The reality, whether it is a consequence of Premiership ring-fencing drastically lowering elite competitive standards, or Eddie Jones making a complete botch of rebuilding the team after their dusting i...