Thing is while there are great young players you also need experience and a balanced team. Summer tour is great for seeing who has potential and if they can show they are world class like Curry for example then age shouldn't matter. However, world class for me means performing at a high level consistently week in week out. There are always highlight reel players or players who have a great game now and again, but the best do it consistently every time.
Looking at the 6N's squad this year and thinking about 2023 and who might be there this is how I see it.
1: Mako's scrummaging has been shown up over the last 2 years since the world cup and he hasn't had a massive impact in the loose either. he will be 32 at the next WC and tbh I think he needs to find some form or you can't justify his selection. Genge has been very hot and cold and too inconsistent to be a reliable starter. Obano is tipped for big things, but it's definitely an area of concern. Mako shouldn't be anywhere near the summer tour and I'd start Obano to give him plenty of game time with Genge coming off the bench. For 2023 you could have any of these 3 depending on form/injuries. I think it will be too soon for Rodd. West might be another option though if he continues to play in form.
Summer - Obano/Genge
2023 - Obano/Genge/Mako (depending on form)
2: George in form is one of the best and LCD was one of the better players this tournament imo. This is an area that isn't of major concern, especially with Dunn in the wings and potentially Barbeary if he does actually play at 2. Summer maybe LCD and Dunn as I reckon George will go Lions. For 2023 it will still probably be George and LCD, though I feel Dunn deserves more chances.
Summer - LCD/Dunn
2023 - LCD/George
3: Sinckler in form is fantastic and Stuart has looked good coming off the bench. Only question for the summer if Sinckler is on Lions duty is who might be 3rd in line. Williams seemed to be, but Jones could well go for some younger players who have been mentioned. For 2023 barring injuries it will probably be Sinckler and Stuart.
Summer - Stuart + ??? (take your pick of young TH's)
2023 - Sinckler/Stuart
4&5: Tricky here as this selection needs a good balance. Itoje is no.1, though needs to give away less penalties. Hill had some good moments, but also some daft ones as well. Ewels look good, but nothing special. Launchbury & Lawes were pretty much injured for most of it and when Lawes wasn't he played 6. Kruis off in Japan. Martin and Ribbans also around the squad. Kruis and Lawes will be 33 & 34 in 2023 respectively, which for me is on the limit unless they are playing truly amazing rugby. For the summer I think launchbury and Ewels potentially with Hill/Ribbans/Isiekwe in the squad too. This is one area I think needs tidying up on selections as while there are plenty of options, apart from Itoje, it has been too inconsistent.
Summer - Launchbury/Ewels/Hill/Ribbans or Isiekwe
2023- Itoje/Launchbury/Ewels/ ? (this one is very open and dependent on too many factors)
6&7: Assuming Curry is with the Lions and potentially Underhill then who else should get a look in? Earl has looked good when he's come on, Jack Willis when fit again is a must. Hill has good potential. Barbeary can play here. Tom Willis is also an option. Ben Curry. Wilson, though for me he didn't look as good as he did before the WC. Evans for Harlequins. Underhill obviously and also Ludlum has been playing well. That's 11 into 2 really, though a few could also play 8 too. For the summer with Willis out then I'd like to see Ben Curry if fit with Earl. I'll also go Evans as back up as we know what Ludlum and Wilson can do and Barbeary and Willis might be better suited to 8. Hill for me is not quite up at the races. For 2023 we will have at least one curry and probably underhill, so then it's just who will be best to support.
Summer - B.Curry/Earl/Evans
2023 - T/B.Curry/Underhill/J.Willis/Earl
8: Billy just looks unfit and even his best has only been average to good this tournament. This is one of the key positions that needs replacing. Dombrandt and Simmonds have been tearing it up in the Prem. Mercer too, but he's off the France. T.Willis and Barbeary also looking good. For the summer I'd go Dombrandt and Simmonds. However potentially Barbeary for 2023 if he keeps going in the direction he is.
Summer - Dombrandt/Simmonds
2023 - Dombrandt/Simmonds/Barbeary
9: Another area that needs sorting. Youngs is Youngs, but we need something more. Robson didn't really take his chance when he got it, but wasn't given much chance either. I'd like to see Spencer and Randall for the summer as I think it would be good to see what they can do, then have another think for the Autumn based on performances. For 2023 I'd like Robson/Spencer/Randall, but I'm sure Youngs will find his way in. Too soon for JvP.
Summer - Spencer/Randall
2023 - Robson/Spencer/Randall
10: Yet another area that is an issue. Ford was an improvement on Farrell, but either he's not brave enough to stand up to Eddie or he's not confident enough against different opposition. Farrell was just crap. Smith and Simmonds need to be given a shot simple as that. I'd maybe have Ford on tour though for experience.
Summer - Ford/Smith
2023 - Smith/Simmonds
12&13: Issues again as there isn't a whole lot of talent for 12. Eddie has butchered this area allowing players to be capped by other countries. Farrell was crap, Lawrence not really given a chance. Slade looked good in attack, but poor defensively. Marchant and Odogwu in the squad but not used properly. I'd go Lawrence, Piers O'Conor, Marchant and Slade for the summer tour. Slade again provides experience and continuity. Northmore though could be in contention. No idea for 2023, depends if Farrell is dropped tbh.
Summer: Lawrence/O'Conor/Marchant/Slade
2023: No idea, need others to be given time to prove themselves. Slade is the only player currently who I think should definitely be there.
11&14: Watson looked great, May good, but not his best. No one else got a look in. For the summer there are some good young wings who could come through. Odogwu, Loader, Hassell-Collins, Thorley. Also Nowell if fit, McConnochie and Cokanasiga. For the summer I'd go with Hassell-Collins and Odogwu with McConnochie. For 2023 I think Watson and May hold the shirts, but form could play a part.
Summer - McConnochie/Hassell-Collins/Odogwu
2023 - Watson/May/McConnochie
15: Last big area. Daly is not a 15. Malins had some good moments, but didn't do enough to take the shirt. De Glanville, Steward, Hodge all looking good. Summer I'd take Malins and then one of the young 3. Tough to pick as they all look good. However I think Steward has been the most consistent.
Summer - Malins/Steward
2023 - Malins/one of the young 3
For me 2,3,4,5,6,7,11&14 have experience and depth enough that the summer tour should only be really about identifying backups and cementing those positions. 1,8,9,10,12,13 & 15 all need sorting and for me are areas of concern.
