Tom Roebuck, the Sale Sharks wing, will make his first Test start against Wales with Tommy Freeman shifting to outside centre in another bold selection call by England head coach Steve Borthwick.
Roebuck has won three caps, but all have come as a replacement and the rangy wing has never previously featured in a Six Nations matchday squad.
But Telegraph Sport understands that Borthwick, who dropped Marcus Smith last week, is prepared to give the 24-year-old his full debut in the cauldron of the Principality Stadium.
Meanwhile, Freeman will also make his first Test start in the No 13 shirt to replace Ollie Lawrence who suffered a ruptured Achilles in the 47-24 victory against Italy.
Borthwick is expected to announce his team on Wednesday afternoon with England needing to beat Wales, who are on losing run of 16 Test matches, to remain in title contention for the final round of Six Nations matches.
Roebuck came into the Six Nations as one of the Premiership’s form wings, scoring nine tries in 12 games. He is a similar model of wing to Tommy Freeman and possesses an excellent high ball ability, which is likely to come into sharp focus against Wales.
Born in Inverness in Scotland but growing up in the Wirral, Roebuck was dual-qualified until he made his England debut against Japan in Tokyo last year, making a scintillating break with his very first touch in international rugby. Further replacement appearances came in the autumn against South Africa and Japan again where he registered his first try.
While the injury to Immanuel Feyi-Waboso did create a vacancy on the wing, Ollie Sleightholme was preferred and with Borthwick opting for a split of six forwards and two backs there was no way for Roebuck to get into the matchday squad.
The ruptured achilles suffered by Ollie Lawrence against Italy has necessitated shuffling of the backline and provided the opening Roebuck has been waiting for.
Even in spite of Wales’ losing record, it is a big call by Borthwick to hand Roebuck a first start in the most hostile of environments where several promising England careers have stalled and been sent into reverse. Yet Roebuck does not lack for confidence and it is a testament to his character that Borthwick is prepared to throw him into the deep end of international rugby.
Long-term Freeman plan brought forward
Equally significant is Freeman’s shift to outside centre, which has always been mooted as a long-term project but has been expedited by Lawrence’s injury. Freeman has been in outstanding form on the wing for England and could match France wing Philippe Bernat-Salles’ feat of scoring in every round of the Six Nations if he crosses against Wales.
While Freeman has never featured at outside centre for England previously, the 24-year-old has played there for Northampton, including in the Champions Cup semi-final defeat by Leinster last season. He would benefit from an in-built understanding with Saints half backs Alex Mitchell and Fin Smith as well as inside centre Fraser Dingwall, who came into the starting XV against Italy.
“I have trained there and, in the week, I make sure I know I know all the roles there,” Freeman told the BBC Rugby Union Weekly podcast. “It is definitely on the cards. That option is there.”
England are a point behind France and one ahead of Ireland in the table going into the final round of matches, although Les Bleus boast a far superior points difference. Hence their most realistic route to the title is to beat Wales with a bonus point and hope that Scotland spring a major surprise on France in Paris.
