England have made extensive changes to their team for Saturday’s final Six Nations match against Wales, including recalling Marcus Smith at full-back.
A week after being dropped, Smith returns as one of four personnel changes with head coach Steve Borthwick making three further positional switches despite last Sunday’s seven-try rout of Italy.
Tommy Freeman moves from the right wing to partner Northampton team-mate Fraser Dingwall in the centres after Ollie Lawrence was ruled out with an Achilles injury sustained against the Azzurri. It will be Freeman’s first Test start in the No 13 jersey.
Tom Roebuck fills the vacancy on the right wing created by Freeman’s move infield while Elliot Daly shifts from full-back to left wing.
And there are two changes upfront with Luke Cowan-Dickie coming in for Jamie George at hooker and Tom Willis dropping to the bench to accommodate Ben Curry’s promotion to the back row.
England XV: M Smith; Roebuck, Freeman, Dingwall, Daly; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Itoje (capt), Chessum, T Curry, B Curry, Earl.
Replacements: George, Baxter, Heyes, Cunningham-South, Pollock, Willis, Van Poortvliet, Ford.
02:36 PM GMT
‘Even Welsh grannies give you the finger’
Ollie Chessum, who starts at lock against Wales on Saturday, has played once at the Principality Stadium but has already been fully immersed into the historic England-Wales rivalry...
“We sort of start out by the quay, and then work our way into the centre of Cardiff. If you look out the bus window, you’ll see a young lad with his old man, and he’ll give his dad a tap. His dad gives him the approval, and they turn around, and they both give you the middle finger. That’s the kind of thing that sticks out in my memory. And then, that last stretch as you go into Cardiff and the streets are just packed. There’s no other stadium like it really, in that sense. Everywhere else is out in the sticks, the Principality’s slap bang in the mixer.
“I don’t think they can see us, that’s what makes it even better. They’re just shooting in the dark. But they know we’re watching, but it’s special.
“There’s one that sticks out. My memory, it wasn’t even game day. It was the day before and we’re driving through, we pull up at a roundabout; a few vans go by and you get the odd beep and what have you. A car pulls up next to us. There’s mum and grandma in the front seat, and there’s a kid – can’t have been more than five. Grandma winds down the back window, and the kid just gives us the middle finger.
“I enjoy it. Whenever I step out at Twickenham I am a ‘headphones out’ type of guy and I want to embrace that stuff. It does rev you up a little bit. For me, it is probably the best away day as a player that you can have – Cardiff away in the Six Nations and with the nature of the fixture, being in the final round, we are champing at the bit to get down there.”
02:29 PM GMT
Here comes the hotstepper
Think Will Stuart is a one-dimensional tighthead prop? Think again! This is why he is about to earn his 50th cap for England...
02:19 PM GMT
‘I love aggressive side of rugby’
In case you are not overly familiar with Henry Pollock, the 20-year-old Northampton Saints force of nature who has been named on the bench against Wales, Telegraph Sport interviewed him in December and he is certainly not lacking in confidence:
“I was always competitive as a kid, even in the garden with my mates or my brother and sister. I wanted to be the best at… probably everything. I love the aggressive nature [of rugby] and thrive in it, I think. I’m at my best when I’m confrontational and on the edge.
“There’s a fine line there. I don’t want to be over the top and getting sent off. But you want to be in a state in your mind and body where you’re able to go out there and perform.”
To read the full interview, click here
02:08 PM GMT
‘A testament to hard work’
Borthwick on Will Stuart’s milestone:
“Reaching 50 caps is a well-deserved milestone for Will and a testament to the hard work he’s shown throughout his career. We’re excited to see him reach this landmark on Saturday and look forward to seeing him continue delivering performances at the highest level.”
02:07 PM GMT
‘The atmosphere will be electric’
Steve Borthwick on playing in Cardiff:
“We’re excited to face Wales at the Principality Stadium this weekend, one of the most iconic venues in rugby.
“The atmosphere will be electric, and we know we’ll need to be at our very best to get the result we’re aiming for.”
02:01 PM GMT
England team: Marcus Smith returns
Steve Borthwick has named his starting XV to play Wales at Principality Stadium on Saturday.
There are four changes to the XV that defeated Italy in round four with Luke Cowan-Dickie, Marcus Smith, Tom Roebuck and Ben Curry all included.
Cowan-Dickie takes his place in the front row at hooker, alongside vice-captain Ellis Genge at loosehead prop and Will Stuart at tighthead. Stuart is set to earn his 50th cap, having made his debut against France in 2020.
At lock, England captain Maro Itoje is partnered once again with Ollie Chessum.
The back row features Tom Curry on the blindside flank, his twin brother Ben at openside and Ben Earl at No 8 to complete the pack.
An unchanged half-back combination sees Alex Mitchell at scrum-half with Fin Smith at 10.
In midfield, Fraser Dingwall is named at inside centre, with Tommy Freeman moving to 13.
In the back three, Elliot Daly shifts to the left wing, with Roebuck on the right to make his first start of the Championship and Marcus Smith is brought into the starting line-up at full-back.
Henry Pollock, 20, is set to earn his first senior England men’s cap from the bench, joining England Test centurion Jamie George, as well as Fin Baxter, Joe Heyes, Chandler Cunningham-South, Tom Willis, Jack van Poortvliet and George Ford on a 6-2 split replacements bench.
England starting XV
15. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 43 caps)
14. Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, 3 caps)
13. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 19 caps)
12. Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
11. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 72 caps)
10. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 22 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 70 caps) – vice-captain
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 48 caps)
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 49 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 92 caps) – captain
5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 27 caps)
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 60 caps)
7. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 10 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 41 caps)
Replacements
16. Jamie George (Saracens, 100 caps) – vice-captain
17. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 10 caps)
18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 11 caps)
19. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 14 caps)
20. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
21. Tom Willis (Saracens, 5 caps)
22. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps)
23. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 98 caps)
01:50 PM GMT
Race for the title: How England can win
France’s stunning win against Ireland in Dublin has blown the Six Nations Championship wide open for the final weekend.
Fabien Galthie’s side are now in pole position to claim the title, if they can beat Scotland in the final round. However, England and Ireland both remain in contention with Scotland still, technically, in the running too.
What England need to win...
After beating Italy in a bonus-point win, England now need to beat Wales in the same fashion to give themselves the best possible chance of winning the tournament. If they did that, their total would be 20 points, which Ireland cannot reach and France could only reach with victory against Scotland. England will therefore be cheering on Gregor Townsend’s side.
A win against Wales without a bonus-point would take England to 19 points. That could be a high enough total to win the tournament, but Ireland are also expected to end on 19 points with a bonus-point win against Italy. Points difference would then decide the title. France could also end up on 19 points if they were to draw with Scotland and score four tries.
England play earlier in the day than France on ‘Super Saturday’ and therefore can pile the pressure on Galthie’s team.
01:38 PM GMT
Borthwick to make some big calls
Will Tommy Freeman be moved to centre after Ollie Lawrence’s Achilles injury? Will Marcus Smith start, be named on the bench or dropped completely?
These are the main questions ahead of Steve Borthwick naming his England team today to take on Wales in Cardiff this Saturday.
As exclusively revealed by Telegraph Sport, Tom Roebuck, the Sale Sharks wing, will make his first Test start against the Welsh with Freeman likely shifting to outside centre in another bold selection call by England head coach Borthwick.
Even accounting for 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.
Will there be any other selection bombshells? Stick here to find out...
