England team: Five takeaways as ‘chosen duo’ backed to ‘nail down’ partnership while Pom Squad ‘value’ clear to see
Tommy Freeman (left) and Fraser Dingwall (right) will reunite in midfield this weekend
Following the confirmation of England’s 23-man squad to face Scotland this weekend, here are our five key takeaways from Steve Borthwick’s selection.
The top line
England have made just one change to their wider 23-man squad to take on Scotland, with Fin Smith replacing Marcus Smith.
Within it, though, the boss has made two swaps within his starting XV, with Luke Cowan-Dickie and captain Maro Itoje coming into the run-on group and Jamie George and Alex Coles moving to the bench.
As a result, that leaves the starting backline intact from the 48-7 win over Wales, with Freddie Steward, Tom Roebuck, Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Henry Arundell, George Ford and Alex Mitchell all included.
Itoje and Cowan-Dickie are the only two changes from last weekend’s starting pack, too, with Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Guy Pepper, Ollie Chessum, Joe Heyes and Ellis Genge retained.
Borthwick has once again adopted a 6:2 split on the bench, with George, Coles and F. Smith joining Bevan Rodd, Trevor Davison, Tom Curry, Henry Pollock and Ben Spencer.
Stability, stability, stability
Borthwick’s decision to make just one change within his 23 has gone somewhat against his plans in November, where changes were made at will and en masse, but it suggests he is pretty content with what he saw out of his players.
Steward continuing at full-back, even with George Furbank picking up a head knock last week, is a sign that he is once again the incumbent at 15, and the same can be said for both Arundell and Roebuck, too. The continuation of half-back duo Ford and Mitchell suggests that this will also be Borthwick’s long-term pairing, but the insurance of F. Smith is there in case the game calls for a slight change in attacking output, too.
Even with Itoje and Cowan-Dickie coming into the starting pack, the 14 forwards within the wider match-day squad remain the same from last weekend’s win over Wales, which further shows how content Borthwick was with the performance.
Within that, it also suggests they could look to play a similar style to what they did last weekend, and will only be one week better off as well. Ford’s imperious control on this side’s attack and kicking game was clear to see last week, with the wingers also playing a key role in that with their aerial threat and pace on the chase. The pack also should operate in a similar way, offering genuine ballast ball-in-hand and aggression in defence too.
Sweeping changes weren’t massively expected, but keeping them to just the lone swap suggests Borthwick knows this combination fits this new-look gameplan.
Here to stay
The midfield combination has chopped and changed a lot in Borthwick’s tenure. Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence were his go-to pairing for the early part. Slade has also featured next to Dingwall, Seb Atkinson and Max Ojomoh, while Dingwall and Lawrence have also been tested out.
Now, though, it seems Dingwall and Freeman are becoming his chosen duo.
While they might be a new pairing on the Test stage, featuring just four times together in midfield at this level, they regularly start at 12 and 13 for club side Northampton Saints and have also featured in the same backline for the past few years with Freeman on the wing and Dingwall in the centres.
Yes, the PREM is not the cauldron of Test-match rugby and indeed a visit to Murrayfield, but it builds connections, and that’s likely why Borthwick has picked them. With a team that is still fairly fresh and learning a new style of play, having pre-existing connections is so important. It just helps get a little bit more continuity within the attack and could even give a platform to then build off.
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That seems to be the case for England, at least if last weekend was anything to go by. Freeman’s direct running back against the grain, almost like a rugby league centre, was so important in getting consistent front-foot ball to play from, but it was also built off that connection with Dingwall as well. The inside centre seemed to almost instinctively know where and when his partner would pop up, even when shifting into first receiver, and just hit him exactly when he hit top speed.
Their selection once more suggests they are in pole position in midfield at this moment in time, but Saturday is a chance to finally nail down their spots for good.
Pom Squad key, again
England’s bench has become a talking point all of its own in recent Tests, especially during the autumn, but the changes this weekend suggest it could once again be used as England’s big weapon.
George’s experience in the final few minutes will be such a crucial asset for England to lean on, particularly as they look to end a five-year wait for a win in Scotland. He will also be needed to bring a touch more stability into the front-row, given Rodd and Davison are only just making their returns to the Test arena. Coles’ work in the lineout could cause Scotland some real issues in those closing stages. Importantly, both men have been in the Pom Squad before and know what is required of it.
Around them, Pollock and Curry have both been given free rein to come on and cause chaos, with the Saints star possibly covering the backline too.
Picking two half-backs as the back options also suggests Earl is set for a switch to midfield at some point, which again will could just add rocket fuel to England’s hunt for a win in enemy territory.
There’s a lot to like about Borthwick’s bench selection, and it again shows just how much value he puts into it.
What to do with Marcus Smith
Once again, and potentially through no fault of his own, Marcus Smith finds himself on the fringes of the England squad. His versatility, almost forced upon him, has left him unable to properly lay a claim to either the 10 or the 15 shirt, but now he finds himself in a battle for the 23 shirt that almost seemed his by default.
Smith ace held a vice-grip over the England side in 2024, commanding a start and potentially even leading the ‘best player in the squad’ conversations, so the dramatic drop away since then is quite something. Ford has laid his own claim to the number 10 shirt, with the attack seemingly built around his pinpoint kicking and composed marshalling of the squad, while F. Smith fits that mould a bit more than the joue joue Quins ace.
There could be a multitude of reasons for his absence in this selection, but it again paints the picture that he is viewed more as the versatile swing in the cast now, rather than the leading man.
