Bold opening: England’s shock shake-up in Rome puts a brand-new spine in place to salvage their Six Nations campaign. But here’s where it gets controversial: can a wholesale midfield and backline overhaul translate into a revival against Italy, or does it risk more cohesion issues at the Stade Olímpico?
England head coach Steve Borthwick has swung the selector’s axe, making 12 personnel changes and reshuffling the backline for the Italy game. The plan is ambitious: a completely fresh back line with nine new forwards positions also altered, signaling a radical attempt to arrest a slide after losses to Scotland and Ireland.
Key changes and how they unfold
- Tommy Freeman moves to outside-centre, with Ben Earl back to No. 8 and Tom Curry to openside. Fin Smith steps in at fly-half, while Henry Pollock has been dropped after one start.
- Seb Atkinson, Cadan Murley, and Elliot Daly earn their first Six Nations caps this year, and Guy Pepper returns to the back row. Only Maro Itoje and props Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes keep their previous positions, underscoring the degree of disruption.
- In the pack, Jamie George starts at hooker, Pollock returns to the bench, and Alex Coles partners Itoje in the second row. Ollie Chessum, touted as one of England’s most effective players this championship, is among the replacements after missing training on Monday.
- The selection follows two heavy defeats, with George Ford, Fraser Dingwall, Henry Arundell, and Freddie Steward omitted from matchday duty. Ben Spencer starts at scrum-half due to Alex Mitchell’s injury absence.
- Smith’s selection marks only his second start of the current Six Nations, despite a recent spell away from training through illness. Atkinson, Gloucester’s rising star, is set for his Six Nations debut at inside-centre, having previously appeared on last summer’s Argentina tour.
Starting XV overview
- 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Ben Spencer, 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George, 3 Joe Heyes, 4 Maro Itoje (captain), 5 Alex Coles, 6 Guy Pepper, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Ben Earl
- Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Trevor Davison, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Henry Pollock, 22 Jack van Poortvliet, 23 Marcus Smith
Context and meaning
- Smith and Atkinson have not previously played together for England, and both were formerly at Worcester before the club’s demise in 2022. Freeman re-emerges at outside-centre after Ollie Lawrence’s injury, while Tom Roebuck reclaims the right-wing slot. Murley replaces Arundell on the left wing, and Daly steps in at full-back for Steward, who exited early against Ireland.
- Rugby statistician Russ Petty notes this marks England’s most changes to a back line for a Six Nations game, surpassing any prior record in the competition.
Coach’s outlook
- Borthwick insists the trio of changes and strategic repositioning are about meeting a stern challenge in Rome. He’s confident the selected squad will deliver the performance level England aspire to, acknowledging the test Italy presents at the Stadio Olimpico.
Discussion prompts
- Will this maximalist approach restore the balance England seeks, or will it highlight cohesion gaps among a largely rebuilt unit?
- If you were picking the team, would you prioritize continuity or a bold reimagining to spark a losing run? Share your thoughts below and tell us where you’d strike the balance between experimentation and stability.
