England’s Six Nations campaign has reached a boiling point, and Steve Borthwick has thrown the rulebook out the window with a jaw-dropping 12 changes to his lineup ahead of the Italy clash. This isn’t just a tweak—it’s a full-scale overhaul, with an entirely new back line and a radical reshuffle that’s left fans and pundits alike scratching their heads. But here’s where it gets controversial: is this a desperate gamble or a bold masterstroke to salvage England’s tournament?
Borthwick’s axe has fallen hard, with nine personnel changes and three positional shifts that defy convention. Tommy Freeman moves to outside-centre, Ben Earl returns to No. 8, and Tom Curry shifts to openside flanker. The most eye-catching move? Fin Smith steps into the fly-half role for just his second start since last year’s Six Nations, while Henry Pollock is dropped after a single outing.
New faces abound, with Seb Atkinson, Cadan Murley, and Elliot Daly making their first appearances of this year’s tournament. Guy Pepper returns to the back row, but the real shock is how few players have kept their spots: only captain Maro Itoje and props Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes remain in their previous positions from the Ireland game.
In the pack, Jamie George replaces Luke Cowan-Dickie at hooker, Alex Coles partners Itoje in the second row, and Ollie Chessum—arguably England’s standout performer this championship—is benched after missing training on Monday. And this is the part most people miss: Borthwick’s selection isn’t just about form; it’s a statement of intent after crushing defeats to Scotland and Ireland.
George Ford, Fraser Dingwall, Henry Arundell, and Freddie Steward are all axed from the matchday squad, while Ben Spencer steps in at scrum-half due to Alex Mitchell’s injury. Smith’s inclusion at fly-half is particularly bold, given he missed training due to illness. Meanwhile, Atkinson, who debuted in Argentina last summer, gets his Six Nations bow at inside-centre.
Here’s the full lineup to face Italy:
15. Elliot Daly
14. Tom Roebuck
13. Tommy Freeman
12. Seb Atkinson
11. Cadan Murley
10. Fin Smith
9. Ben Spencer
1. Ellis Genge
2. Jamie George
3. Joe Heyes
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Alex Coles
6. Guy Pepper
7. Tom Curry
8. Ben Earl
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Bevan Rodd
18. Trevor Davison
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Sam Underhill
21. Henry Pollock
22. Jack van Poortvliet
23. Marcus Smith
The untested partnership of Smith and Atkinson raises eyebrows, but both share a Worcester connection before the club’s collapse in 2022. Elsewhere, Freeman replaces the injured Ollie Lawrence at outside-centre, Tom Roebuck returns on the right wing, and Murley—who had a nightmare debut against Ireland last year—replaces Arundell on the left. Daly steps in at full-back after Freddie Steward’s early hooking against Ireland.
According to rugby statistician Russ Petty, this is the most drastic backline change in England’s Six Nations history, surpassing the previous record of four alterations. Up front, Genge and Heyes anchor the scrum, while Curry, Earl, and Pepper form a dynamic back row. The bench offers depth, with Cowan-Dickie, Rodd, and Davison providing front-row cover, and Chessum, Pollock, and Underhill among the forward replacements.
“We’re expecting a big test in Rome, and the players are relishing the challenge,” Borthwick said. “Italy at the Stadio Olimpico is no easy task, but we’ve picked a team we believe can deliver the performance we’re striving for.”
But here’s the burning question: Is Borthwick’s gamble a stroke of genius or a risky roll of the dice? With England’s Six Nations hopes hanging by a thread, this match could define his tenure. What do you think? Is this the shake-up England needs, or has Borthwick gone too far? Let us know in the comments—this is one debate you won’t want to miss!
