Steve Borthwick set to make radical changes as England ditch Ireland tactics ahead of next Six Nations clash
England playmakers Marcus Smith and Fin Smith, and head coach Steve Borthwick.
Steve Borthwick is set to make key changes to his England side to face France with the head coach once again going for some bold selection choices.
It is being widely reported that young fly-half Fin Smith will make his first international start, with Marcus Smith shifting to the full-back jersey.
Should that be confirmed when the team is named on Thursday, it would be akin to their clash with Les Bleus in last year’s Six Nations.
The 2024 Six Nations clash with France
On that occasion, George Ford started at fly-half and Harlequins star Smith came on at 15 early in the match when George Furbank got injured.
Ford, who was named in the wider training squad, could still get the nod at 10, but it appears as though England’s coaching staff are set to trust the younger man.
“He’s obviously another set of eyes that are very opportunistic. ‘Where’s the space? Who can I beat?’ Whether it is with George Ford or with Fin, that’s what it would bring,” attack coach Richard Wigglesworth said.
“We are blessed with three 10s that can all play international rugby to a high level. Fin has had fewer chances than the rest at the moment, but he is really clear with his game, he is confident without being arrogant and wants to get better.
“He has all the things that you associate with top 10s. He is really clear with what he wants and how to best position the team. I’ve been super impressed with him, as I have with Marcus and Fordy. Fordy, I can’t speak highly enough of what he’s done behind the scenes, how he is training, how he is helping all those guys around him. I feel very fortunate to work with all three of them.”
Back-row switch
That is not the only bold choice England are set to make, with Borthwick likely to move away from the three opensides that worked well against Ireland.
The head coach’s decision for that game was brave in itself but he is set to make another one for the France encounter.
According to the Telegraph, Tom Willis, who has been in fine form for Saracens this season, will start at number eight alongside Tom Curry and Ben Earl in the back-row.
That means Ben Curry, despite shining in Dublin, is the unlucky one to miss out on a spot in the starting XV.
Should the head coach opt for a 6-2 bench split, Ben could well join Chandler Cunningham-South and Ollie Chessum among the replacements, but that could change if the Red Rose revert to a 5-3, with Cunningham-South thought to be most at risk.
However, it is the decision to move Marcus Smith out of the pivot role and start Fin Smith which is the big talking point. It also raises questions over Freddie Steward’s role, who has been viewed as a key player since the change in the ‘escorting’ law.
Steward could move out to the wing but, equally, it would not be a surprise if he is dropped with England having plenty of impressive wing options despite Cadan Murley’s injury.
Fin Smith’s vision
“Fin sees space really well. There’s always going to be space on the field somewhere; you can’t defend everything. I feel like he sees it really well,” centre Henry Slade said.
“Obviously, he’s a slightly different 10 to Marcus. Marcus has got that X factor in terms of beating a man one-on-one but Fin is very measured.
“He speaks very well and finds space. That’s a big part of a no 10’s role…moving the team around to where they need to be on the pitch. He feels really confident. I think we’re very lucky we’ve got three 10s who are brilliant communicators and very confident what they’re trying to do for the team.
“And it does give you an extra ball player. When you talk about moving the ball to space, it’s always better to have three people trying to do that than two.”
