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Steve Borthwick’s England squad are heading west on Tuesday for two tests against Argentina, and one against the USA Eagles.
Borthwick is short of 13 players who are on Andy Farrell’s British and Irish Lions tour to Australia, and there are 10 uncapped players in the 36-man squad.
Co-captain George Ford is likely to hit the 100-cap mark, and wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso travels despite missing the first two tests due to being suspended after receiving a red card for a dangerous tackle in the 26-24 defeat to a France XV on Saturday.
England face Los Pumas in La Plata on 5 July, in San Juan on 12 July, and the USA in Washington DC on 19 July.
Here’s five things ATR think will be on Borthwick’s mind while flying over the Atlantic.
PROP IDOLS
Ellis Genge and Will Stuart started all five England matches in the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, but they are both away with the Lions.
Fin Baxter and Joe Heyes were their understudies and started against France. They held their own and are likely to add to their 11 and 12 caps, and further their claims as second choice loose and tight head.
After them, Borthwick can deepen his options. Asher Opoku-Fordjour will be able to share tales from his time with the Lions, Bevan Russ can reach double figures, and Northampton Saints pair Trevor Davison and Emmanuel Iyogun will be better for the experience.
COOKING WITH COLES
Speaking of Northampton, these are good times for Alex Coles.
Two tries in the Investec Champions Cup Final, and another against France on Saturday.
First-choice pair Maro Itoje and Ollie Chessum are with the Lions, and Borthwick has a preference for second rows who are as adept on the flank as the engine room.
Coles ability to play on the blindside – as he did in the Champions Cup Final – marks him out as some who fits Borthwick template to a tee.
Expect Coles and Chandler Cunningham-South - another capable of covering both roles - to push each other hard to be next in line behind Itoje and Chessum.
JVP – STAYING OR GOING?
There is a possibility that multiple England players will be called up as Lions tour replacements.
Chief among them is scrumhalf Jack van Poortvliet.
The Leicester Tigers player was called up to boost numbers in their pre-Argentina training week, and with reports of Jamison Gibson-Park continuing to struggle with a glute injury then he may be back with them again.
Ben Spencer and Harry Randall are the other scrumhalves in the party, so Borthwick is well covered, but it won’t be so comfortable if Farrell wants replacements for other positions, notably the centres and back three which lack experience.
RECHARGING HIS FORD
George Ford wasn’t at his sharpest against France, most notably missing three kicks, and being ponderous in attack.
Considering that his understudies are Henry Slade, who has minimal time as a test 10, or the uncapped Charlie Atkinson, then he is going to have a lot of gametime on tour.
However, whatever the reasons for Ford’s muted display – end of season blues, fatigue, or sunstroke – Borthwick needs to find something to spark him into life as this team needs his leadership like no other.
PUMAS THE FAVOURITES
Let’s not be in any doubt, Argentina are the favourites to win these tests.
They’re at home, and now their confidence is through the roof after their 28-24 win over the Lions in Dublin.
Their play was on point, which was amazing as it was their first match since November, and with multiple first choice picks missing.
Afterwards coach Felipe Contepomi talked about matching the November levels. It’s fair to say they’ve bettered them.
In attack and defence, few would have lived with them. Can England?