With England's rugby ship hitting turbulent waters after consecutive defeats to Six Nations rivals, head coach Steve Borthwick is on the brink of shaking up his squad for the upcoming clash against Italy. Following a particularly bruising 42-21 defeat to Ireland, Borthwick didn't mince his words about the need for change. "Unfortunately, for two weeks now, we have given ourselves a mountain to climb and given the opposition too many points early in the game, and we’ve not got scoreboard presence," he stated, hinting at significant adjustments to his lineup.
One potential shake-up could see Fin Smith reclaiming his spot in the starting XV. Last year's leading man at fly-half has seen limited action recently, but with the new attack style introduced by coach Lee Blackett, Smith's quick-play expertise could be pivotal. "My job over the next couple of days is to be really clear about that," Borthwick emphasized, underlining his commitment to revamping team strategies.
"We will be looking closely at that and how I set the team up to make sure it doesn’t happen again."
The hooker position might also see fresh blood with Theo Dan poised to step up. As stalwarts like Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie edge towards the latter stages of their careers, Dan's dynamic style could inject much-needed vitality against a sturdy Italian side.
Meanwhile, the backline could witness the introduction of Marcus Smith or George Furbank at fullback, replacing Freddie Steward who faltered against Ireland. With both players known for their playmaking abilities, Borthwick's strategy seems inclined towards leveraging their skills to revitalize England's attack.
In the centers, Seb Atkinson and Max Ojomoh are contenders to bring new energy and creativity, especially after the midfield vulnerabilities exposed by Ireland. Both players have shown promise in their limited international appearances and could now be granted a more extended run to establish themselves.
Finally, the pack could be bolstered by the inclusion of Greg Fisilau, a powerhouse ball-carrier whose performances for Exeter have not gone unnoticed. At just 22, Fisilau represents both the present and future of English rugby, potentially offering the robustness Borthwick’s squad needs to regain its footing.
As England looks to reforge its identity and strategy, these potential inclusions could mark the beginning of a new chapter under Borthwick's stewardship. With the Italy match on the horizon, it's clear that the time for change is now, possibly setting the stage for a resurgence of English rugby prowess on the international scene.
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With England's rugby ship hitting turbulent waters after consecutive defeats to Six Nations rivals, head coach Steve Borthwick is on the brink of shaking up his squad for the upcoming clash against Italy. Following a particularly bruising 42-21 defeat to Ireland, Borthwick didn't mince his words about the need for change. "Unfortunately, for two weeks now, we have given ourselves a mountain to climb and given the opposition too many points early in the game, and we’ve not got scoreboard presence," he stated, hinting at significant adjustments to his lineup.
One potential shake-up could see Fin Smith reclaiming his spot in the starting XV. Last year's leading man at fly-half has seen limited action recently, but with the new attack style introduced by coach Lee Blackett, Smith's quick-play expertise could be pivotal. "My job over the next couple of days is to be really clear about that," Borthwick emphasized, underlining his commitment to revamping team strategies.
"We will be looking closely at that and how I set the team up to make sure it doesn’t happen again."
The hooker position might also see fresh blood with Theo Dan poised to step up. As stalwarts like Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie edge towards the latter stages of their careers, Dan's dynamic style could inject much-needed vitality against a sturdy Italian side.
Meanwhile, the backline could witness the introduction of Marcus Smith or George Furbank at fullback, replacing Freddie Steward who faltered against Ireland. With both players known for their playmaking abilities, Borthwick's strategy seems inclined towards leveraging their skills to revitalize England's attack.
In the centers, Seb Atkinson and Max Ojomoh are contenders to bring new energy and creativity, especially after the midfield vulnerabilities exposed by Ireland. Both players have shown promise in their limited international appearances and could now be granted a more extended run to establish themselves.
Finally, the pack could be bolstered by the inclusion of Greg Fisilau, a powerhouse ball-carrier whose performances for Exeter have not gone unnoticed. At just 22, Fisilau represents both the present and future of English rugby, potentially offering the robustness Borthwick’s squad needs to regain its footing.
As England looks to reforge its identity and strategy, these potential inclusions could mark the beginning of a new chapter under Borthwick's stewardship. With the Italy match on the horizon, it's clear that the time for change is now, possibly setting the stage for a resurgence of English rugby prowess on the international scene.