England's Plan A is to run at Portugal

STEVE Borthwick left Edinburgh after England’s clash against Scotland last night and set off for the Midlands to ensure he makes it in good time for the A side’s lunchtime encounter with Portugal at Welford Road.

- PAUL REES

His midnight mission shows the importance Borthwick places on the first A fixture for eight years. The England head coach’s vision is for an alignment of the professional game in the country from age-groups upwards to the Premiership, the A team and the senior national side.

“Steve had the overall say in selection and it is the 23 he wants,” said the A side’s head coach, George Skivington, who as a player appeared for England Saxons against Portugal in 2009 at Edgeley Park in a 66-0 victory with one of his assistants for the Portugal clash, Dom Waldouck, among the try scorers. Stuart Lancaster was in charge of the side.

“Steve has gone for lads he believes have the potential to play for the first team in the next few years. The fact that he is leaving shortly after the Scotland match to make sure he is at Leicester in person shows how much the A game means to him and the players know that.

“The significance of this match cannot be underestimated. It is England’s first for eight years and it is part of a concerted move to set up a pathway and put a system in place to ensure that the really exciting crop of young players in England are better able to fulfil their potential.”

The side’s captain, Bath lock Charlie Ewels, played in the last A fixture eight years ago in George against South Africa A when the hosts had the likes of Malcolm Marx, Lukhanyo Am, RG Snyman, Vincent Koch, Thomas du Toit and Stephan Lewies in their ranks.

“I was one of the younger guys then,” said Ewels. “I had played for the Under-18s and Under-20s, but it was the first time I played in a senior team for my country.