OI OI SAVVY BOYS

Borth's shrewd move to pick his wise quys

- ADAM HATHAWAY

STEVE BORTHWICK has revealed the reason he has given his old dogs of war another Six Nations outing – even if they will not make the next World Cup. 

The England head coach has given props Dan Cole, 36, and Joe Marler, 33, plus 37-year-old scrum-half Danny Care a spot in the party as they prepare for the opener against Italy in Rome on Saturday week.

And at 33 himself, new skipper Jamie George is no certainty to be at Australia 2027.

Borthwick was a rookie lock at Bath, making his debut in 1998, when the England squad was ripped apart by retirements and players leaving.

Stars who left around that time and in the early 2000s included Jerry Guscott and Mike Catt, leaving the rookies to fend for themselves.