Maro Itoje Benched for England's Six Nations Opener Against Wales

Maro Itoje Named Among Replacements for England's Six Nations Opener

In a significant team announcement, England captain Maro Itoje will start on the bench for his side's Six Nations Championship opener against Wales at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham this weekend. The decision comes as Itoje recently returned from Nigeria, where he attended his mother's funeral, leading to his late arrival at England's pre-tournament training camp in Girona.

England head coach Steve Borthwick expressed sympathy for Itoje's situation, stating: "He is in Nigeria for the funeral of his mother and we are all deeply saddened for him. When I have talked to him I sense emotionally he has found it very tough, very challenging. I also sense from him that his family all going to Nigeria for the funeral is an important aspect for him."

Jamie George Takes Captaincy as England Seek Six Nations Revival

With Itoje among the replacements, hooker Jamie George will captain England from the start, preferred over Luke Cowan-Dickie in the number two jersey. Itoje is expected to assume the captaincy if and when he enters the fray from the bench during Saturday's encounter.

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England are aiming to claim their first Six Nations title since 2020, facing a Welsh side that has endured back-to-back wooden spoons in the championship. Wales have not won a Six Nations fixture since their victory over Italy in March 2023, which may have influenced Borthwick's selection strategy, potentially allowing for some rotation within the squad.

Midfield and Backline Selections Revealed

The Northampton Saints duo of Fraser Dingwall and Tommy Freeman have been selected as the centre pairing, seeing off competition from Max Ojomoh, Ollie Lawrence, Seb Atkinson, and Henry Slade. This midfield combination previously featured in England's emphatic 68-14 victory over Wales on the final day of last year's Six Nations, as well as the autumn win against Australia.

Freeman's ongoing transition from winger to outside centre has created an opportunity on the wing, where Bath speedster Henry Arundell earns his first England start since the 2023 World Cup. Arundell's inclusion comes after Tom Roebuck struggled with a toe injury, completing a back three that also features Freddie Steward and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.

Forward Pack and Bench Strategy

In the forwards, Alex Coles starts in the second row alongside Ollie Chessum, with Itoje's absence from the starting lineup creating this opportunity. The back row sees Ben Earl continue at number eight, flanked by Sam Underhill and the increasingly influential Guy Pepper, who has become a mainstay of the England starting XV.

Borthwick has opted for a 6:2 split on the bench, with Ben Spencer and the versatile Marcus Smith providing the only specialist backs cover. This selection means that Earl and replacement back row Henry Pollock may be called upon to cover positions in the backline if required during the match.

England's propping injury crisis has resulted in Bevan Rodd and Trevor Davison being named as replacement props, behind starters Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes. Davison gets the nod ahead of uncapped 20-year-old Vilikesa 'Billy' Sela as the backup tighthead prop.

Borthwick's Pre-Match Comments

Speaking ahead of the championship opener, Borthwick emphasised the significance of the England-Wales rivalry: "England versus Wales is always a special occasion in the rugby calendar. It's a fierce rivalry with a long history, and one that brings a huge challenge every time we meet. We expect Wales to bring a kicking game, so we'll need to be accurate in how we respond to that challenge. For us, our focus is on executing our game plan and maintaining discipline throughout the match."

The England coach added: "We're excited to get the Championship underway at a packed-out Allianz Stadium. The support we receive at home is outstanding and always gives the players a huge lift."