England's Six Nations campaign is in crisis, and Steve Borthwick has taken drastic action with a staggering 12 changes to his starting lineup for the upcoming Italy match. This bold move, the most radical of his tenure, sees an entirely new backline take the field as Borthwick desperately seeks to turn things around after humiliating defeats to Scotland and Ireland. But here's where it gets controversial: is this a masterstroke of tactical genius or a panicked overreaction? Borthwick’s selection has sparked debate, with some praising his willingness to shake things up and others questioning the wisdom of such wholesale changes mid-tournament.
Nine personnel swaps, coupled with positional shifts like Tommy Freeman moving to outside-centre and Ben Earl returning to No. 8, highlight the extent of Borthwick’s overhaul. Fin Smith, despite missing training due to illness, gets the nod at fly-half, marking only his second start since last year’s Six Nations. Seb Atkinson, Cadan Murley, and Elliot Daly all make their tournament debuts, while Guy Pepper returns to the back row. And this is the part most people miss: only captain Maro Itoje and props Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes retain their positions from the Ireland match, underscoring the sheer scale of Borthwick’s gamble.
In the pack, Jamie George replaces Luke Cowan-Dickie at hooker, with Alex Coles partnering Itoje in the second row. Notably, Ollie Chessum, arguably England’s standout performer this championship, is benched after missing training. George Ford, Fraser Dingwall, Henry Arundell, and Freddie Steward are all dropped from the matchday squad, while Ben Spencer steps in at scrum-half due to Alex Mitchell’s injury.
Here’s a thought-provoking question: Can this untested combination gel quickly enough to deliver the performance Borthwick craves? Smith and Atkinson, former Worcester teammates before the club’s collapse in 2022, will need to forge an instant understanding at 10 and 12. Freeman returns to outside-centre in place of the injured Ollie Lawrence, while Tom Roebuck is reinstated on the right wing. Murley, looking to bounce back from a difficult debut against Ireland last year, replaces Arundell on the left, and Daly takes over at full-back from Freddie Steward, who was substituted before halftime against Ireland.
According to rugby statistician Russ Petty, Borthwick’s backline changes are unprecedented in England’s Six Nations history, surpassing the previous record of four. Up front, Genge and Heyes remain the props, with Tom Curry and Ben Earl joining Pepper in the back row. The bench features Cowan-Dickie, Bevan Rodd, and Trevor Davison as front-row cover, alongside Chessum, Pollock, and Sam Underhill among the forwards. Jack van Poortvliet and Marcus Smith complete the replacements.
“We’re expecting a big test in Rome, and the players are relishing the challenge,” said Borthwick. “We’re well aware of what Italy will bring at the Stadio Olimpico, and we’ve selected a team we believe can deliver the performance we’re striving for.”
What do you think? Is Borthwick’s bold selection the right move, or has he gone too far? Will this new-look England side rise to the occasion, or will the changes backfire? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
