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The Independent
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
George Ford and Jamie George add experience to youthful England facing France XV
Fly half Ford, who is one away from bringing up the 100-cap milestone, will have to wait until Test matches against Argentina and USA this summer to reach the magic number but is tasked with providing veteran nous to a line-up that is otherwise giving an opportunity for plenty of inexperienced heads to make a statement to head coach Steve Borthwick. With 13 England players heading Down Under for the British and Irish Lions tour, Borthwick is shorn of many of his biggest names this summer, although given the non-cap nature of Saturday afternoon's warm-up clash, the matchday 23 he has named is surprisingly strong. Even so, Ford, his 101-cap co-skipper George and outside centre Henry Slade (72 caps) are the only players in the starting XV with more than 15 international appearances. However, regular squad players such as winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who is returning from injury, and props Fin Baxter and Joe Heyes will also play from the start. Full back Joe Carpenter of Sale Sharks, inside centre Seb Atkinson of Gloucester and flanker Guy Pepper, who was named man of the match in Bath's Premiership final victory over Leicester last weekend, are the three uncapped players starting, while Harlequins duo Jack Kenningham and Oscar Beard are in a similar situation on the bench. Another Premiership champion with Bath, scrum half Ben Spencer, will hope to change a dismal record that has seen him lose seven and draw one of his eight games for England, while Ted Hill and Tom Willis join Pepper in an exciting-looking back row. Borthwick will select his squad to travel to Argentina and the US on Monday, meaning this fixture is the perfect opportunity for many fringe players to impress the head coach. 'We're excited to be playing at Allianz Stadium and to test ourselves against a strong French side,' said Borthwick. 'I'm really looking forward to seeing this young team get out there and show what they're capable of. 'It's a great opportunity to take another step forward ahead of the summer Tour to Argentina and the US.' The RFU have made tickets available from £25 pounds – less than a third of normal Six Nations prices – in the hope of attracting thousands of first-time supporters, particularly youngsters. England XV to play France: 15. Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks), 14. Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks), 13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) 12. Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby), 11. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), 10. George Ford (Sale Sharks) - co-captain, 9. Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby); 1. Fin Baxter (Harlequins), 2. Jamie George (Saracens) - co-captain, 3. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), 4. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), 5. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), 6. Ted Hill (Bath Rugby), 7. Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby), 8. Tom Willis (Saracens) Replacements: 16. Theo Dan (Saracens), 17. Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks), 18. Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints), 19. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins), 20. Jack Kenningham (Harlequins), 21. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins), 22. Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks), 23. Oscar Beard (Harlequins)
Telegraph
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Telegraph
Five key takeaways from England team to face France XV
British and Irish Lions tours are exciting in themselves without the concurrent fixtures that allow nations to experiment and build depth. England 's summer begins this weekend with an uncapped game against France before a two-Test series against Argentina and one more meeting with USA in Washington. Steve Borthwick has assembled his first match-day 23 of the campaign, and here Telegraph Sport highlights five things to watch out for: Lions watch In a strong balance of youth and experience, there are starts for Jamie George and George Ford. The concept of multiple co-captains does not sit well with everyone, but this signals Borthwick's intention for the older heads to lead from the front – and, in the process, to keep themselves in the shop window for British and Irish Lions call-ups. Like Ford, Henry Slade is a survivor from this tour in 2017, when England beat Argentina 2-0 in an exciting Test series. Others who will surely pique the interest of Andy Farrell with assertive performances are the starting wings, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Tom Robuck, as well as Ted Hill and Tom Willis in the back row. Jack Conan and Ben Earl are the Lions two No 8s, so Willis would be particularly attractive with a strong outing. Farrell is evidently coveting commitment in the aerial contest, given his selection of tall back-three players, which bodes well for Feyi-Waboso and Roebuck. Without a game since dislocating his shoulder on December 17, restoring match-fitness will be foremost in Feyi-Waboso's mind. Joe Heyes could be the next cab off the Lions rank at tighthead as well, notwithstanding the versatility of Asher Opoku-Fordjour. Atkinson and Carpenter refresh the backline... An injury to Fraser Dingwall opens the door for Seb Atkinson at inside centre, presenting an opportunity for the 23-year-old to translate his consistent excellence for Gloucester to a grander stage. Atkinson, preferred to Max Ojomoh for this run-out, is a strapping and skilful midfielder. George Skivington has impressed his Test credentials for a long while. Expect him to be a first-phase focal point when England launch from scrums and line-outs. Borthwick has Freddie Steward and Joe Carpenter in his wider squad, but the sparky Carpenter will wear 15. He is a fizzing threat on the counter who is brave under the high ball and brings familiarity with Ford and Roebuck. Slade, one would expect, will cover fly-half in case Ford has to make way. …with Coles and Isiekwe in the engine room The absence of Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum and George Martin, with the first two on Lions duty and the third injured, requires a revamp at lock. Alex Coles comes into this campaign on the back of some fine performances for Northampton Saints, especially in the Investec Champions Cup. He was outstanding against the Bulls in Pretoria, and then against Castres, Leinster and Union Bordeaux-Bègles in the knockout rounds. His England career to date has been rather bitty, so this is a chance to stay in the mix when the established names return. There is a sense of symmetry in the selection of Nick Isiekwe, who made his Test debut as a teenager eight years ago. Perhaps more interesting, though, will be to see which of Hill or Chandler Cunningham-South move to lock later on. Both have been earmarked by Borthwick as stand-in second-rows and Cunningham-South spent most of the recent victory over Wales in that position. The development of Arthur Clark and other young locks will be a priority for England. Bath silverware rewarded Occasionally, you need to play a hot hand and Borthwick has kept Ben Spencer and Guy Pepper, as well as Hill, rolling on from Twickenham. Bath supporters will hope that Will Muir and Ojomoh are used at some point over the coming weeks, but Spencer and Pepper are trusted in key roles. The openside pile-up is quite remarkable. With Sam Underhill still suspended, Pepper has produced back-to-back man-of-the-match displays. A third could lead to a Test cap. Six-two bench a template for the Tests? The back-row resources at Borthwick's disposal are extraordinary, and may well mean that three backs on the bench will be the exception, rather than the rule. Here, for the visit of France to begin a seminal summer, he has chosen Bevan Rodd, Theo Dan and Trevor Davison to cover for a strong starting front row of Fin Baxter, George and Heyes. Curtis Langdon must be close. It gets intriguing with the back-five forwards. We have already mentioned Cunningham-South and there is a strong Harlequins accent on the rest of the bench as Jack Kenningham and Alex Dombrandt join Oscar Beard. Such cohesion is valued by Borthwick as a means of maintaining fluency late in games. Raffi Quirke is Spencer's deputy here. In England's behind-the-scenes video content, there have been hints of the scurrying Sale Sharks scrum-half on the wing. Could he become a Cobus Reinach-type utility man who allows England to pick a seven-one split? That would be something.
The Independent
05-03-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Marcus Smith dropped as England shake up backline for Italy clash
England have dropped Marcus Smith and Henry Slade in a dramatic shake-up of the backline for Sunday's Guinness Six Nations clash with Italy at Allianz Stadium. Smith is demoted to the bench to make way for the recall of Elliot Daly at full-back, while Slade is jettisoned from the 23 altogether, with Fraser Dingwall making his first Test appearance since last year's Championship. The reshaped midfield sees Dingwall slot in at inside centre, with Ollie Lawrence remaining in the number 13 jersey. Despite compiling victories over France and Scotland, head coach Steve Borthwick has made a third change by opting for Jamie George over Luke Cowan-Dickie at hooker. George marks his return to the front row after two replacement appearances by winning his 100th cap.
Telegraph
18-02-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
‘Going again after you've achieved your dream is pretty special'
For most professional rugby players, the journey begins long before the stadium lights and international caps. The road to the top is paved with sacrifice, self-belief and an unwavering commitment to improvement. For England captain Maro Itoje and his team-mates Ben Earl and Henry Slade, the dream started in different ways – some from childhood aspirations, others from the simple joy of playing – but their paths converged in the shared pursuit of excellence. A long road to success Back row Ben Earl's vision was clear from the outset. 'I think anyone's dream is to represent their country,' he says. 'Once you turn professional, you think about where you can go with your career, and playing for England was always the goal.' Methodical, skilled and determined, Ben Earl's passion for rugby is fuelled by the honour of representing his country Credit : Shutterstock His path was methodical, compartmentalising each stage of progress. 'You play for your club first,' he says. 'Then you start thinking, can I push to higher honours? Realising it's a slow process is half the battle.' Henry Slade earned his 70th cap in England's opening match of the 2025 Guinness Men's Six Nations. He remembers the precise moment his ambition crystallised. 'I first played rugby just because I enjoyed it,' The Exeter Chiefs player says, 'but then I watched the 2003 World Cup and thought, 'I want to play for England and I want to win a World Cup.'' No way through as Henry Slade puts in a dominant tackle against Ireland in this year's Guinness Six Nations Credit : Shutterstock Slade spent countless hours in his garden, perfecting his kicking and playing one-on-one games against his childhood friend Leon Fricker. 'We'd go hammer and tongs at each other, first to 50 in any sport – tries in rugby, goals in football, you name it,' he explains. 'He's a pro golfer now, so I guess we were always going to end up in sport.' Captain Itoje's beginnings were more understated. 'My dream was just to have fun, to play for my school, to make friends. Later down the line, the dream evolved and became something bigger,' says the Saracens lock. Their methods for improvement varied, but the one common thread was their relentless drive. For Itoje, growth was an obsession: 'I just wanted to get better. I worked hard at where I was weak and made my strengths even stronger. It all came from a deep love of the game.' Maro Itoje leads the England team from the front with his pure strength and determination Credit : Getty Making sacrifices For all three, a love for the game alone wasn't enough. Each player had to make tough choices along the way. Itoje acknowledges the personal cost of playing rugby at the elite level. 'The professionalism required means you miss a whole load of social gatherings – weddings, birthdays, engagements, holidays. Until this day, it's a sacrifice I continue to make,' he says. Slade, who by his own admission had to work harder than some naturally gifted peers, has no regrets. 'I missed a lot of parties growing up, but I don't look back and think, 'I wish I went to that party.' I'm so glad I stuck by what I believed in.' Earl takes a more lighthearted approach, noting even the small indulgences he's had to forego. 'A milkshake at the cinema, New Year's Eve, Christmases: there are little things you can't have if you want to make it to the top.' For Itoje, Slade and Earl, sacrifice is imperative for greater rugby success Credit : Getty Unexpected hurdles Challenges, both expected and unexpected, shaped their careers. For Slade, the biggest hurdle came just as he was about to embark on his professional journey. 'I was 18, about to start at Exeter Chiefs, and I got diagnosed with diabetes. Within a month, I was living on my own with Jack Nowell and Luke Cowan-Dickie – neither of whom had any idea what diabetes was. It took a lot of adjusting, but it made me stronger.' Earl acknowledges that setbacks are part of the game. 'Dealing with failure – when you don't deliver on something you expected – is half the battle.' For all three, achieving their dreams was both fulfilling and fleeting. Earl describes it as 'a day, a week, a year of fulfilment, but then you have to go again. That's pretty special, going again once you've reached your dream'. Slade recalls his first professional paycheck, a milestone that signified more than just financial independence. He says: 'I'd worked on my granddad's farm for years and got paid with a can of Coke and a pat on the back. That first paycheck was special – not for the money, but for the opportunity to fulfil my dreams.' Itoje's attitude, unsurprisingly, reflects his status as a captain. Having won multiple trophies, he still wants more. 'I've been fortunate enough to win trophies on the field so far. I want to win more. I want to win more trophies for England and for Saracens. I want to win in any environment that I'm involved in.' Future dreams The hunger for more fuels all their future aspirations. For Slade, a place on a Lions tour remains a burning ambition. 'I got close in 2019, but it's still a dream. Winning a World Cup was the first goal. The Lions is the next one.' Earl agrees: 'Winning the Six Nations with this young England team would be awesome. And selfishly, making the British and Irish Lions this summer is a big goal of mine.' Their journeys remind us that dreams evolve, but the pursuit remains the same. Whether it's a childhood dream sparked by watching the 2003 Rugby World Cup, a slow realisation built through years of hard work or an ambition that grew from pure enjoyment, rugby is as much about the grind as it is about the glory. For Earl, Slade and Itoje, the dream continues – one match, one goal, one victory at a time. Dream big. Win big Honda is Performance Partner to England Rugby. Join the Honda Rugby Club to be in with a chance of winning rugby prizes.* Discover more, at *Terms and conditions apply
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Steve Borthwick out to spring biggest surprise on France since Edward III
There has been an understandable reluctance bordering on a collective amnesia within the England camp to confront the reality of France's last visit to Twickenham. 'We haven't mentioned it, actually,' Henry Slade, the centre, said earlier this week. 'It's a very different squad, and it's a very different team to who played that weekend. That's the first time I've thought about it actually.' Another survivor from that game, captain Maro Itoje, appears to have had his mind wiped by one of those flashing devices from the Men In Black films. So as a public service announcement, let the record show that the last time Antoine Dupont and company came to town they ran in seven tries with almost embarrassing ease to inflict a 53-10 defeat, a record home loss in 154 years of English rugby history. No wonder a form of PTSD has emerged among the survivors where either it has been entirely forgotten or deemed a minor scrape rather than a deep scar. Immediately after the rout, head coach Steve Borthwick repeatedly referred to the gap between England and the leading nations. 'Coming into this role I knew this was going to be a big challenge,' Borthwick said. 'I've been very clear there's a gap and the job is to try to close the gap as quickly as we can and I think you see how big the difference is.' Privately he was even more scathing about the physical conditioning of his players. This was supposed to be rock bottom from which English rugby could only ascend upwards; the line in the sand past which they would never go backwards. And yet here we are two years on and Borthwick's side stand on the cusp of making some more, unwanted, history. A loss on Saturday would confirm England's worst run of eight successive defeats against Six Nations and Rugby Championship teams. When you compare this current Borthwick side to the starting XVs of the dog days of the Andy Robinson era or even further back to the barren 1970s, it is difficult to subjectively say this the worst England team of all time. But statistically that is how they will be remembered. Unless of course they spring the biggest surprise on the French since Edward III invaded Normandy at the start of the Hundred Years' War. Borthwick, too, must rely upon English misdirection and a dash of Gallic arrogance to overcome what would appear to be overwhelming odds (actually a six-point handicap with most bookmakers). So once again, Borthwick has reorganised his forces. 'The early signs are that France persisted with their long kicking game to push [teams] back as far as possible. So that then leads to making decisions about your counter-attack and your run-back strategy, versus your kicking strategy,' Borthwick said. Marcus Smith shifts to full-back and will need to be given the role of Harry Hotspur in initiating rapier attacks with any sniff of broken field. In comes Fin Smith – potentially the Black Prince? – and Tom Willis, who looks every bit the spit of a 14th century English longbowman, for first starts at fly-half and No 8 respectively. These are bold calls, perhaps the most striking since Borthwick promoted Marcus Smith ahead of Owen Farrell at fly-half in this corresponding fixture two years ago, which as we know, did not end too well. Does the fact Borthwick altered the key cogs in his line-up from the 27-22 defeat by Ireland indicate a weak-minded vacillation? Or is it a sign of hard-nosed pragmatism opposite a superior force, much as Edward III did at the Battle of Crecy? Yet this in itself indicates that the gap remains between England and the top tier of countries. Certainly, it is no longer a chasm. Borthwick's team knocked off Six Nations champions Ireland at Twickenham last year and came within a long-range Thomas Ramos penalty of claiming the scalp of France in Lyon. This was the start of a now familiar pattern of England failing to hold on to second-half leads, which continued through to Dublin last week. It has become a self-reinforcing narrative that England are desperate to shatter. There is hope. France are missing some key men, including fly-half Romain Ntamack. His replacement Matthieu Jalibert is equal parts talented and temperamental. Last year England severely stressed France's defence with their high-tempo attack, encapsulated by Tommy Freeman's beautifully constructed try that looked to have snatched victory. The pessimists will remember Dupont was missing that day. And those with shorter memories will look at the results in the Champions Cup this season in which the aggregate score between Toulouse and Bordeaux, who supply the bulk of France's starting XV, against English opposition is a staggering 255-78. Or even to last Friday night when Les Bleus demolished Wales 43-0 without seeming to get out of third gear. From defence to attack to set-piece, it is very hard to make a case that England are stronger in any department than France. Which is why Borthwick has been forced to shuffle his playmakers in the hope of catching France off guard. A blowout French victory seems just as probable as a tight English win. Another home loss to France – no matter how gallantly fought – would not be forgotten so quickly this time, particularly when Bill Sweeney, the Rugby Football Union chief executive, is desperately scrambling to save his own skin. And another humiliation on the scale of two years ago might spell the end for both Borthwick and Sweeney.
