Dingwall backed to plot course through the midfield maze for England

Even Steve Borthwick admits that picking his team to face Australia on Saturday was tricky. And even after he had made his mind up, there was a training ground snapshot which underlined the slim margins involved. “There was a piece of play where the skill showed by the team not starting was absolutely incredible,” said Borthwick. “I couldn’t praise them highly enough for the way they tested the team that is starting.”

Which neatly sums up England’s intensifying backline debate. Ollie Lawrence, Marcus Smith, Henry Arundell, Henry Slade, Cadan Murley and Max Ojomoh are all fit and can’t even make the matchday 23. Not to mention the up-and-coming Noah Caluori. Nor Owen Farrell. Let alone the injured Elliot Daly, George Furbank, Seb Atkinson, Ollie Sleightholme and Will Muir.

In the end, though, it is less a question of individuals than of horses for courses and identifying the most effective combinations. Which makes perhaps the least discussed player on England’s teamsheet a vital cog. Forget, for a moment, the rationale for choosing George Ford at fly-half or Tommy Freeman at outside-centre and consider the merits of the frequently unsung Fraser Dingwall.

The Northampton captain does not particularly relish the phrase “glue player”, with its slight connotations of faint praise, but that is how Borthwick views him in the context of England’s remodelled midfield. If Freeman is to succeed in the 13 jersey, who better than his good mate from Saints to guide him through the midfield maze? And if the hosts are to maximise their firepower further out, they need a reliable, smart platform from which to do so.

It is still a significant call to back the determined Dingwall, who missed England’s summer tour through injury. In his absence Atkinson – now injured himself – impressed at 12 and there was always the option of reuniting Lawrence and Slade, both of whom offer class and no shortage of experience. But in the end Borthwick rewound to the end of last season’s Six Nations when England ripped it up against Wales, winning by a record 68-14 margin in Cardiff.

Who started in the visiting midfield that day? None other than the Dingwall-Freeman combination, at least until the latter was replaced by Henry Pollock in the second half. And how good did England look as they poured forward, brimming with intent, physicality and pace? Borthwick would love to see something similar against the Wallabies, even given his squad’s limited preparation time this autumn.

From the 26-year-old Dingwall’s perspective that means prioritising his usual unselfish game and leaving others to supply the fireworks. “One of the things I always strive to do is to bring out the best in the people around me. Whether it’s doing simple jobs or just feeding information, that’s something I’ll go after. If I can have an effect by lifting the backline and the team then I’ll be pretty pleased with that performance.”

The Fraser Dingwall (left) and Tommy Freeman combination at centre helped England crush Wales in last season’s Six Nations. Photograph: Dan Mullan/The RFU Collection/Getty Images

It helps that the Northampton connection within the England squad is so tight, with Fin Smith and Pollock set to feature off the bench at some stage. Dingwall believes that link can only be beneficial: “Playing alongside Freemo is really nice. And it is cool because we are good mates off the pitch as well.

“That said, I would be fortunate to play with any of the centres in this squad because there is so much talent. Each one of us brings something slightly different. How you fit two centres together who complement each other can have some really good benefits for the side.”

With England also aerially strong in the form of Freeman, Tom Roebuck and Freddie Steward, and with British & Irish Lions lurking on their bench to supply a powerful finish, Borthwick is clearly hoping to pile pressure on Australia in multiple ways and, in doing so, further enhance how his team is perceived.

“I know you guys will criticise me for different things and the depth I go into regarding my preparation,” said the head coach this week, offering a rare glimpse of the man behind the normally implacable facade. “[But] if I was an England supporter I would want the head coach to be thorough. I’m thorough.” His midfield selection has certainly not been done on a casual whim.