England's rugby team is making waves with a dramatic 12-player shakeup for their upcoming match against Italy. With a focus on reshaping their backline, coach Steve Borthwick is taking a bold approach to turn around their Six Nations campaign. This strategic move comes after a string of disappointing defeats, prompting Borthwick to make some controversial choices.
The team's reshuffle includes a new outside center in Tommy Freeman, a return to No 8 for Ben Earl, and Tom Curry moving to openside flanker. Fin Smith steps in as fly-half, with Henry Pollock dropping to the bench after just one start. This selection marks a significant departure from their previous lineups, with only captain Maro Itoje and props Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes retaining their positions from the Ireland match.
In the pack, Jamie George replaces Luke Cowan-Dickie at hooker, Alex Coles starts in the second row alongside Itoje, and Ollie Chessum, England's standout player in the championship, is among the replacements. The backline sees a fresh start with Elliot Daly at full-back, Cadan Murley on the left wing, and Seb Atkinson at inside center. This selection is particularly notable as it includes the most changes to an England backline for a Six Nations game, according to rugby statistician Russ Petty.
Borthwick's decision to roll the dice comes after dismal defeats by Scotland and Ireland. George Ford, Fraser Dingwall, Henry Arundell, and Freddie Steward drop out of the matchday 23, while Ben Spencer starts at scrum-half due to Alex Mitchell's injury. Fin Smith, despite missing training on Monday due to illness, is named for only his second start since last year's Six Nations.
Seb Atkinson, who made his debut on last summer's tour of Argentina, will make his Six Nations bow at inside center. This selection presents an interesting dynamic, as Smith and Atkinson didn't play together for England before, but both shared a connection at Worcester before the club's demise in 2022. The team's reshuffle also includes a strategic move to address the injury to Ollie Lawrence, with Tommy Freeman returning to outside center.
As England prepares for the big test in Rome, Borthwick expresses his confidence in the team's ability to deliver the performance they strive for, acknowledging the challenge Italy will pose at the Stadio Olimpico.
