Six Nations 2024: The challenges facing Steve Borthwick's England
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Steve Borthwick has named Jamie George as his new England captain in Owen Farrell's absence
When Steve Borthwick named his squad for the 2023 Six Nations - his first as England boss - he had been in charge for just four weeks.
A year later, and Borthwick's feet are firmly under the Twickenham table after 16 Test matches, a five-month World Cup campaign and a respectable third-placed finish in France.
"We know so much more about the players," Borthwick said on Wednesday as he announced his revamped squad.
With seven of the starting XV from the World Cup semi-final unavailable, some never to return, this feels like the start of a new era for England - as it is for many of their rivals.
But by Borthwick's own admission, their Six Nations form of late has not been good enough, with a 40% win record across the last three championships and 50% across the last six. The pressure is on to turn this around.
There is new leadership, there may be a new style of play and there will almost certainly be new personnel.
So what can supporters expect from Borthwick's England in the coming months?
Personnel
While the squad no doubt has a fresh look, with seven uncapped players, Borthwick has been careful not to dispense with experience. The 36-year old Dan Cole and Joe Marler, 33, will be pillars of the England scrum once more. Jamie George captains from hooker at 33, while 37-year-old scrum-half Danny Care is four caps short of a century.
But there will be new faces in an English shirt this Six Nations, most likely in the back row and back three. While Ben Earl should start at number eight after a superb World Cup, there are opportunities on the flank for Tom Pearson and the uncapped Ethan Roots among others.
Likewise, while Elliot Daly and Freddie Steward remain in the back three from the World Cup, at least one wing spot looks wide open to uncapped pair Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Tom Roebuck, or Northampton's Tommy Freeman who has three caps.
"These 36 players can all play Test rugby for England, let's be clear about that," Borthwick told the Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
"But do I think there is a benefit in having a blend of experience? Yes, I do think that's important. Do I think we have some great young players coming through? Absolutely."
Style
England adopted a territory and kick-pressure plan in France, especially in the semi-final against South Africa. According to the World Rugby website, they kicked 93% of their possession against the Springboks, an extraordinary statistic even accounting for the wet conditions.
This plan was executed to near-perfection though, with England's kickers superbly accurate and their wingers brilliant in the air. But do England need to develop more of an attacking edge going forward, especially with the players at their disposal behind the scrum?
Borthwick says "without question" the gameplan will be tweaked, while relying on the strong foundations built in France.
"There are a few things that I look at [with regards a gameplan]," he explained.
"One is the players you have available. The second part is almost the DNA of the team and understanding what is the foundation of the team's success in the past. And it's very clear what's been the foundation of England's success in the past.
"And the third is what wins in the competition you are part of. In international rugby that is different to club rugby and the Six Nations is different to the World Cup.
"My role is to bring these things together and give players real clarity. Go on to the field and bring all your talents, my job is to give them a real plan to go after."
Leadership
England's leadership group has also needed an overhaul, with captain Owen Farrell and vice-captain Courtney Lawes unavailable. Another vice-captain from the World Cup, prop Ellis Genge, is touch-and-go for their opener in Italy on Saturday 3 February.
The experienced Saracen George is a popular choice as captain, an impressive figure on and off the field and fully deserving of the honour.
Borthwick has urged him to be his authentic self and, despite the vacuum left by Farrell and Lawes, the coach says he is buoyed by the way leaders have developed over the past few months, namechecking Genge, Care, Marler and lock Maro Itoje on Wednesday.
"There will be a different dynamic and it will be a dynamic that will help build this team," added Borthwick.
England's draw - once again - is kind, with Italy first up and a Wales side in transition at Twickenham a week later. Like in 2023 they have managed to avoid the tournament favourites France and Ireland until rounds four and five.
But while last year there was still an adjustment from the seven-year Eddie Jones regime, this is now firmly Borthwick's England team. And with so many nations going through post-World Cup change, the opportunity is there for England, Scotland or Wales to break the Irish and French duopoly.
Not since 2020 have England even had a sniff of the Six Nations title. Being in the hunt again feels overdue.