Quilter Nations Series: England v Australia
Venue: Allianz Stadium, Twickenham Date: Saturday, 1 November Kick-off: 15:10 GMT
Coverage: Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds, follow live text commentary on the BBC Sport website and app
A significant autumn for the future of English rugby kicks off on Saturday against Australia at Allianz Stadium.
Two years before the Rugby World Cup, Steve Borthwick’s England will look to kick on and show they have what it takes to beat the very best.
With a number of young players in good form, an exciting new era for the team beckons – if Borthwick can find a way to unleash their potential.
Here are five players who have been hailed as having X-factor skills.
Noah Caluori
Noah Caluori dominated in the air against Sale Sharks this month
One Prem start was enough for the teenage sensation to gain a spot in Borthwick’s squad.
Five tries against Sale Sharks on his first Prem start was as big of an impact as you can hope to make.
The 19-year-old Saracens wing is a potential new star of English rugby and was immediately brought into the England training camp as a development player.
He clearly impressed and was picked ahead of in-form Leicester Tiger Adam Radwan in the final squad for the four Tests.
Caluori’s point of difference – his ability in the air – has earned him rave reviews from players and pundits.
The way 6ft 4in Caluori can hang high and take a ball over his head could prove a powerful weapon on the biggest stage, but he also has pace and power in abundance, twice leaving George Ford flailing at thin air as he motored past him.
“His raw athleticism is unreal,” former England wing Ugo Monye told BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly.
“The law changes with escorting has removed the protection for the catcher, so we are now seeing the most proficient and athletic guys in the air, which is being celebrated.”
Borthwick has two years until the World Cup and it is clear he wants to fast-track Caluori’s development.
England’s opposition this autumn – Australia, Fiji, New Zealand and Argentina – are all teams who made the quarter-finals of the last World Cup.
The easiest fixture on paper is against Fiji on 8 November, but could Caluori be set for more than just a brief run-out this autumn?
“I know we’ve got good wingers and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Tommy Freeman will probably start, but he [Caluori] is not too far away,” former England wing Chris Ashton added.
“It would not be an issue if he did play as he has been that good. Every bit of his game is worthy of a cap.”
Henry Pollock
Henry Pollock impressed on this summer’s British and Irish Lions tour
It was only at the start of this year that Pollock, 20, was playing for England in the Under-20 Six Nations.
The Northampton Saints back rower ended up making his England senior team debut in March, scoring twice off the bench against Wales.
A standout performance for Saints in an Investec Champions Cup semi-final win over Leinster helped Pollock get picked for the British and Irish Lions, where he ended up disappointed not to make the matchday 23 for the Test matches.
It seems hard to believe now that Pollock as a high-profile name is yet to start a Test for England.
Having played across the entire back row since making his professional debut, Pollock has not settled in one position.
Following Tom Willis’ decision to play in France next year, England have a vacancy to fill at number eight.
Pollock started there against Saracens on Friday and his explosive speed and endless work-rate could make for a perfect fit this autumn.
