Bath Rugby star Alfie Barbeary was a notable absentee from Steve Borthwick’s Six Nations squad, and the England boss has explained the reasoning for his exclusion.
Barbeary made the move to Bath following Wasps’ collapse and, having enjoyed an injury-free run of matches this season, has impressed to push his claim for a Test recall.
He has been a driving force in Bath’s success, with Johann van Graan’s side winning seven of their 11 Premiership matches and have gone three from three in the Investec Champions Cup, beating Ulster, Cardiff and Racing 92.
Despite his fine form, he was not able to claim a spot in
‘s 36-man squad for the championship, even had caught the eye of the head coach.
“I rate very highly, and he knows that I have said that to him,” Borthwick explained .
“We met a couple of weeks ago at a health food cafe in Bath, and we had a good chat then; I spoke to him a week ago and yesterday and have been in regular contact with him.
“It is a competitive position, and I think he has done really well.”
The England boss’ comments suggest that the Bath star was nearing a call-up but missed out due to the competitiveness of the England back-rower.
But that was not the only reason, as he could be sidelined for some time through suspension after a double citation from his two yellow card incidents in Bath’s victory over Racing 92 last weekend.
“The disciplinary hearing tonight is a factor; I want certainty around the squad going forward,” Borthwick added.
“He has had some injury setbacks, and it has tested his character. I think he is going to feature in the England team in the near future. If he continues the way he is going, I think he is going to have a big part to play for English Rugby.
“I was recalling when I was coaching Leicester at the time, and we were playing against Wasps. We were looking to equal a record for consecutive wins, and we lost that day, and Alfie’s performance in the second half of that game was incredible. I remember being sat there watching it and thinking this guy, he is not in the England squad now, but he will be an England regular in the future.
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While Barbeary did not crack the squad for the upcoming tournament, five of his teammates were rewarded for their form with Bath.
Props Beno Obano and Will Stuart were selected, along with flanker Sam Underhill. In the backs, Ben Spencer has been recalled, having last played for England in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, while centre Ollie Lawrence returns having represented his country at the Rugby World Cup.
England open their Six Nations against Italy in Rome on February 3 with their first home game a week later against Wales.
