By Mitch Phillips
BAGSHOT, England (Reuters) -England coach Steve Borthwick has unveiled a radical, new-look team for Saturday’s Six Nations game against Wales, with prolific winger Tommy Freeman switching to outside centre alongside Northampton club mate Fraser Dingwall.
Freeman, who has scored a try in all four England games in the Championship, had been earmarked as a possible centre option for a while and replaces the injured Ollie Lawrence in yet another midfield combination.
Specialist centre Henry Slade, a regular alongside Lawrence – who will have surgery on his torn Achilles next week and will be out of action until next season – over the last year before being dropped against Italy, again misses out.
In the team revealed on Wednesday, Tom Roebuck makes his first start on the right wing after three replacement appearances, with utility back Elliot Daly moving to the left wing and Ollie Sleightholme, who scored two tries in Sunday’s win over Italy, dropped from the squad.
With Alex Mitchell at scrumhalf and Fin Smith at flyhalf, it means 9, 10, 12 and 13 are all from Northampton Saints.
Marcus Smith starts at fullback with a third flyhalf in the squad in the shape of George Ford, who is in line for his 99th cap from the bench having not featured in the Championship to date.
“I think it’s a really exciting backline,” Borthwick told reporters. “It’s full of pace, athleticism, skill. It’s a really good position to be in.
“We’ve been looking at Tommy as a possible centre for a good period of time. He’s moved to 13 within many games and he’s been covering that centre position a lot for us.
“Clearly him and Fraser and the relationship they have from playing 12 and 13 together at the same club and playing some big games together, that understanding and togetherness is important for us.
“And Elliot’s played really well. His experience and the leadership he brings is excellent. With Tom Roebuck coming on the right wing and you see pace, a left foot option, guys that find space really well. It’s a combination I’m looking forward to seeing play on Saturday.”
In the pack Luke Cowan-Dickie returns to the starting hooker berth with centurion Jamie George back on the bench. Ben Curry comes in to start in a mobile back row alongside twin brother Tom, with Ben Earl, who ended Sunday’s match at centre, reverting to Number Eight and Tom Willis dropping to the bench.
Prop Will Stuart will win his 50th cap, while exciting uncapped 20-year-old Northampton flanker Henry Pollock is on the bench, which has a 6-2 forwards/backs split.
England will aim to beat Wales in Cardiff with a bonus point then hope table-topping France fail to beat Scotland in Paris in the last game of the Championship to open the door for their first title since 2020.
England team to play Wales in Cardiff on Saturday:
15. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 43 caps)
14. Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, 3 caps)
13. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 19 caps)
12. Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
11. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 72 caps)
10. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 22 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 70 caps) – vice-captain
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 48 caps)
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 49 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 92 caps) – captain
5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 27 caps)
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 60 caps)
7. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 10 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 41 caps)
Replacements:
16. Jamie George (Saracens, 100 caps) – vice-captain
17. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 10 caps)
18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 11 caps)
19. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 14 caps)
20. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
21. Tom Willis (Saracens, 5 caps)
22. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps)
23. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 98 caps)
(Reporting by Mitch Phillips, editing by Christian Radnedge)
