Steve Borthwick revamps England squad for Wales clash
Sale's Tom Roebuck will start on the wing with Tommy Freeman shifting to centre as part of England's back-line reshuffle
©Sale Sharks
England head coach Steve Borthwick has made nine changes to his squad for the Six Nations match against Wales in Cardiff.
The adjustments include a reshaped backline and a refreshed forward pack, with Marcus Smith returning to the starting lineup at full-back.
Smith will be taking over from Elliot Daly, who moves to the left wing. Tommy Freeman, traditionally a winger, will start at outside centre in place of the injured Ollie Lawrence.
Tom Roebuck earns his first England start on the right wing, bringing a fresh dynamic to the back three.
Freeman will pair with Henry Slade in the midfield, forming a new centre combination. Scrum-half Alex Mitchell and fly-half George Ford retain their places, maintaining continuity in the half-back partnership.
The forward pack also sees several changes, with Luke Cowan-Dickie returning to start at hooker. In the back row, Ben Curry joins his twin brother Tom Curry, adding a new dynamic to England’s loose forwards.
On the bench, 20-year-old Henry Pollock has been named and could make his Test debut.
“We’re excited to face Wales at the Principality Stadium this weekend, one of the most iconic venues in rugby,” Borthwick said.
“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.
“Reaching 50 caps is a well-deserved milestone for Will and a testament to the hard work he’s shown throughout his career,” added Borthwick.
“We’re excited to see him reach this landmark on Saturday and look forward to seeing him continue delivering performances at the highest level.”
England: 15 Marcus Smith, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Ben Curry, 6 Tom Curry, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 3 Will Stuart, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 1 Ellis Genge
Reserves: 16 Jamie George, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Chandler Cunningham-South, 20 Henry Pollock, 21 Tom Willis, 22 Jack van Poortvliet, 23 George Ford
