England's Rugby Revolution: Borthwick Makes 12 Changes for Italy Clash
In a bold and unprecedented move, England head coach Steve Borthwick has wielded the selection axe, making a staggering 12 changes to his team for the upcoming Six Nations fixture against Italy. This radical overhaul, the most extensive of Borthwick's tenure, sees an entirely different back line take the field as England seek to salvage their championship campaign after disappointing defeats.
Unprecedented Back Line Shake-Up
Borthwick's selection includes nine personnel changes, with significant positional shifts adding to the transformation. Tommy Freeman moves to outside-centre, Ben Earl returns to the number eight role, and Tom Curry shifts to openside flanker. Fin Smith has been installed at fly-half, replacing Henry Pollock after just one start. According to rugby statistician Russ Petty, this marks the most changes ever made to an England back line for a Six Nations match, surpassing any previous adjustments.
New faces abound, with Seb Atkinson, Cadan Murley, Guy Pepper, and Elliot Daly all set to make their first appearances of this year's championship. Daly's inclusion is particularly notable as he steps into the full-back position, replacing Freddie Steward, who was substituted before half-time in the previous game against Ireland.
Radical Pack Adjustments and Bench Options
The forward pack also undergoes substantial changes. Jamie George comes in at hooker for Luke Cowan-Dickie, while Guy Pepper returns to the side, with Pollock dropping to the bench. Alex Coles starts in the second row alongside captain Maro Itoje. Notably, only Itoje and props Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes retain their exact positions from the Ireland match, highlighting the scale of Borthwick's reshuffle.
Ollie Chessum, arguably England's most effective player in the championship so far, is among the replacements after missing training on Monday. The bench features six forward options, including Cowan-Dickie, Bevan Rodd, and Trevor Davison providing back-row cover, alongside Chessum, Pollock, and Sam Underhill. Jack van Poortvliet and Marcus Smith complete the bench selections, offering strategic flexibility.
Fresh Combinations and Returning Players
At fly-half, Fin Smith earns only his second start since last year's Six Nations, despite sitting out training on Monday due to illness. Gloucester's Seb Atkinson is poised for his Twickenham debut at inside-centre, having made his England bow on last summer's tour of Argentina. Interestingly, Smith and Atkinson have never played together for England, but both were previously at Worcester before the club's collapse in 2022.
Tom Roebuck is restored to the right wing, while Cadan Murley replaces Henry Arundell on the left wing, hoping to improve on a difficult debut against Ireland last year. Ben Spencer starts at scrum-half in place of the injured Alex Mitchell, adding to the fresh dynamic in the back line.
Borthwick's Statement and Expectations
Speaking about the selection, Borthwick emphasised the challenge ahead. "We're expecting a big test in Rome and it's one the players are really looking forward to," he said. "We know the challenge Italy will bring at the Stadio Olimpico, and we've selected a team we believe will deliver the level of performance we're striving for." This statement underscores the high stakes as England aim to bounce back from losses to Scotland and Ireland, with Borthwick rolling the dice in a bid to reignite their Six Nations hopes.
