Breakthrough teenage wing Noah Caluori scored a try and caught the eye with a mazy run as England A earned a hard-fought 29-25 win over Spain in Valladolid.
The game was played in wet conditions, making it difficult to produce an eye-catching performance to break into Steve Borthwick’s senior squad to play Argentina on 23 November.
Caluori, 19, took advantage of a dropped ball from his chip through to score England’s first try.
Having scored five tries on his first Prem start for Saracens last month, Caluori was named in England’s initial autumn internationals squad.
Known for his aerial threat, Caluori also went on a mazy run to cut right through Spain’s defence and set up George Hendy – but the try was ruled out after the Saracens wing dropped the initial kick.
Caluori’s star quality remains clear as he continues to develop the finer details of his game, while Northampton’s Hendy did regather a kick and finished brilliantly to push his case forward.
The 23-year-old, who set up Alex Mitchell’s winning try in the 2024 Premiership final, showed the bravery and physicality in the air that Borthwick likes in his wingers.
Injuries have stalled Hendy’s progression but he looks like yet another back-three option to Borthwick.
England A were 25-15 down but scored late tries through Bath hooker Kepu Tuipulotu and Ben Redshaw to seal the win.
Henry Pollock and Fraser Dingwall both played for England A last November and are now both regulars in the senior squad, with centre Dingwall scoring a try in Saturday’s 33-19 win against New Zealand at Allianz Stadium on Saturday.
England A were defeated 31-14 by New Zealand XV in Bath last weekend.
