Love Final: Emmanuel Faye-Waboso and Alex Mitchell could make a comeback

As part of the extended Elite Player Squad (EPS) contract introduced in 2024, England have the final say on the treatment, conditioning and match availability of their top stars.

In the past, this has led to conflict. Medical staff in England and Exeter openly disagreed The treatments Faye-Waboso received for a previous shoulder injury, one for rehabilitation and the other for immediate surgery.

Phil Dawson, Northampton’s director of rugby, has Speaking of his “frustration” over Mitchell’s injury,, outsider That happened at an alignment camp, three months after suffering a similar injury against Ireland in the Six Nations.

However, Borthwick says the process is more collaborative than portrayed and, even with a summer schedule that includes matches against South Africa, Fiji and Argentina, he is keen for his England players to be at the highest-profile club games.

“I want the players to play in big games; games where there are trophies on the line, games where there are results, games where they are going to perform with an incredible amount of pressure on them,” he said.

“That’s the best preparation for Test match rugby. I always believe that.”

The returns of Faye-Waboso and Mitchell are both timely for their teams.

Exeter wing Campbell Riddle picked up an apparent injury during their semi-final win over Bath, which saw Fay-Waboso among the away fans at The Wreck.

Twenty-one-year-old Archie McParland has performed admirably in Mitchell’s absence, but the experience of England’s first-choice scrum-half, potentially off the bench, would be welcome as back-up in such a big match.