With barely any time to prepare, Borthwick must choose between embracing Premiership chaos and playing it safe, and Courtney Lawes may be the clue.
Courtney Lawes, the England forward of British-Jamaican heritage and a proud face of the Caribbean diaspora in rugby, could be the key to reading Steve Borthwick's thinking this autumn. A possible recall for the veteran would say plenty about which direction England's head coach wants to take.
The timing shows how tight things are. Borthwick is due to name his training squad within minutes of the final whistle at Harlequins on Sunday, because there is simply no time to waste. After the Premiership's derby weekend he will have his players for only a couple of days before they return to their clubs for a domestic fixture.
It is a squeeze he knows well. In previous years England's coaches got an extra week with the group, but just as 12 months ago, this preparation window has been cut short. Every selection call, and every minute on the training pitch, now carries extra weight.
That leaves the big question. The Premiership has been a high-scoring, helter-skelter league lately, and Borthwick could pick players who thrive in that chaos. But with the Rugby World Cup the real target, the scoring spree is likely to be forgotten, and the pull toward prudence, experience and control is strong. A Lawes comeback would point firmly toward the cautious route.
