For the upcoming match against Ireland on Saturday, England’s team has been reshuffled by Steve Borthwick, providing a debut start for Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and role changes for Alex Mitchell and George Martin. Despite playing for the Taunton Titans in the National League One a year ago, Feyi-Waboso has demonstrated exceptional prowess in two substitute appearances, earning him the left-wing position.
Post-recovery from a knee injury, Mitchell takes on the role of scrumhalf, while Martin steps into his new position of lock as Ollie Chessum moves to the blindside flanker position, resulting in Ethan Roots’ removal from the squad. George Ford retains his outhalf spot, with Marcus Smith awaiting his championship debut from the bench after recovering from a calf issue. Fin Smith, who has been dealing with an injury since the last week, gets replaced, allowing Alex Dombrandt to make his first appearance in this year’s Six Nations.
Feyi-Waboso, the Cardiff-born 21-year-old who had caught Wales’s attention before the Six Nations, has opted for England and scored his first Test try against Scotland in the previous match. He steps in for Elliot Daly, mirroring Borthwick’s decision to choose Henry Arundell on wing in Dublin’s game against Ireland last year.
Mitchell’s comeback strengthens the team, following his winning performances against Italy and Wales. Despite being sidelined for the Scotland match, he now dons the No 9 jersey, as Danny Care steps onto the bench, earning his 100th cap if he gets playtime.
Martin, having missed matches against Italy and Wales owing to a knee injury, had demonstrated an impressive ball-carrying capability off the bench at Murrayfield and is tasked with replicating this against Ireland, in pursuit of a consecutive grand slam. This marks his first starting position since an exceptional performance in the World Cup semi-final against South Africa.
In another part of the globe, Borthwick has remained firm in not implementing modifications as Smith has to settle for a position amongst the substituted players, having not participated since the Harlequins’ triumph in the Champions Cup over Ulster on the 20th of January. George Furbank too maintains his role as the full-back after showing variable levels of performance against Scotland, in which he was able to mark the first try. Centres Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence haven’t been shaken up, while Tommy Freeman take his position on the wing.
In terms of the forward line, Jamie George, the team skipper, Ellis Genge, and Dan Cole are persistent in their front row placement as Maro Itoje pairs up with Martin in the lock position. Ben Earl and Sam Underhill are also sticking to their respective positions at number, and open-side flanker. The front row substitutes include Theo Dan, Joe Marler, and Will Stuart with Roots, Chandler Cunningham-South, Care, Marcus Smith and Daly rounding up the replacement team.
Borthwick has expressed his confidence in the strength of the team, saying, “Unquestionably, we’ve picked what we regard as our mightiest squad to give us the edge in the competition”. He foresees the game against Ireland, one of the currently best performing teams globally, to be a tough challenge. High expectations surround the upcoming Six Nations match in Twickenham as the team prepares thoroughly for the event.
A special accolade was reserved for Danny Care who will mark his hundredth cap in Twickenham this coming Saturday. As Borthwick showered praise on the player for his significant contribution to English rugby, he underscored Care’s dedication to putting his team’s welfare above all. Borthwick also anticipates the upcoming match to be a sentimental and unforgettable moment for Care and his family, as well his teammates who are equally proud of his achievements.
The roster for the England team that will face off against Ireland includes George Furbank; Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, and Tommy Freeman; George Ford and Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Jamie George (captain), and Dan Cole; Maro Itoje and George Martin; Ollie Chessum, Sam Underhill, and Ben Earl. Meanwhile, bench strength includes Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Chandler Cunningham-South, Alex Bombrandt, Danny Care, Marcus Smith, and Elliot Daly.