Steve Borthwick's Shocking England Overhaul: 12 Changes for Italy Clash!
In a bold and unprecedented move, Steve Borthwick has made a staggering 12 changes to the England rugby team for their upcoming match against Italy. This drastic decision comes after a disappointing dip in performance, leaving Borthwick determined to shake things up.
No other England head coach in the Six Nations has ever made such extensive changes mid-tournament. Borthwick's overhaul includes nine player substitutions and three positional switches, sending a strong message to those who underperformed in recent losses to Scotland and Ireland.
The last time an England coach made a similar move was back in 2007 when Brian Ashton changed eight players between games against France and Italy. Now, Borthwick is making his mark with an even more dramatic transformation.
But here's where it gets controversial... Among the forwards, only Ellis Genge, Joe Heyes, and captain Maro Itoje retain their positions from the 42-21 loss to Ireland. Jamie George takes over at hooker, Alex Coles steps into the second row, Ben Earl shifts to No.8, and Tom Curry adjusts his flanker position to accommodate Guy Pepper's return.
The back line has been completely refreshed, with The Times revealing on Monday that Tommy Freeman is the sole player remaining from the Ireland defeat, moving to outside centre. Freeman previously played centre in the wins over Wales and Scotland. Ben Spencer and Fin Smith form the new half-back duo, Seb Atkinson makes his Six Nations debut at inside centre, and the back three consists of wings Cadan Murley, Tom Roebuck, and full-back Elliot Daly.
And this is the part most people miss: The list of dropped players is extensive, including Cowan-Dickie, Chessum, Pollock, Ford, Dingwall, Arundell, and Steward. Mitchell and Lawrence are out due to injuries.
Borthwick's message to his team is clear: he demands a return to their high standards. He emphasized, 'I am going to hold them to those standards... Unfortunately, in the last two games, we've not met those standards.'
While Borthwick maintains a consistent approach to reviewing matches, he privately challenged the team after the Ireland game. He stated, 'Clearly, in the last two weeks, there are some key aspects that weren't good enough. Those have been addressed.'
The head coach expects an increase in physical intensity, acknowledging that Scotland and Ireland dominated in this area. He added, 'I don't think the intensity was at the required level in the last game, but we've drawn a line and are now focused on Italy.'
Borthwick's choice of Daly at full-back is strategic, citing his left-footed kicking skills and experience from 74 caps. Atkinson's selection is based on his ball-carrying power and defensive precision, addressing England's recent shortcomings. Borthwick praised Atkinson's distribution and defensive coverage as significant strengths.
Interestingly, Borthwick's new back line has been training against his starting England team for the past month, with the exception of Freeman. Henry Slade, the outside centre in the opposing training side, is notably absent from the lineup.
Borthwick expressed his excitement about the team's talent, stating, 'These players have earned their selection... I value training highly, and I'm thrilled to see how they've performed. Several players have been rewarded for their efforts.'
What do you think about Borthwick's radical changes? Are they a necessary shake-up or a risky move? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
