England v Wales Saturday 7/2/2026, ITV, 4.40pm

[Danno]

Steward; Feyi-Waboso, Freeman, Dingwall, Arundell; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, George (capt), Heyes, Coles, Chessum, Pepper, Underhill, Earl

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Rodd, Davison, Itoje, T Curry, Pollock, Spencer, M Smith

Happy enough with that. Would prefer we had options that aren't Davison and Spencer, but since we don't really, then fine.

[FKAS]

JvP is a viable alternative to Spencer and would be preferable as an impact option but Spencer's form for Bath is hard to ignore.

It's a bench with plenty of impact. Itoje coming on fresh in the second half is a flex.

[Puja]

That is a very early team naming! I wonder if that's a deliberate mind-games thing or if the hand has been forced by the leak to the press.

Itoje on the bench is a decision of some kind. I wonder if that's based on wanting to have more experience coming on with the subs, if it's about rotation against a weaker team and giving him a rest, or if it's to do with him still recovering from his mother's death and having missed training/not being up to the responsibility of captaining from the start this soon? I wouldn't be keen on the former, but the latter two make a lot of sense (and the last seems most likely now that I think about it).

Very happy with the backline! Not thrilled about Davison or Spencer, but the former is what we've got left without throwing a baby prop to the wolves and the latter probably deserves to keep his spot given JVP's up-and-down form this season and Spencer having slightly improved for England (while still being a massive handbrake every time he comes off the bench).

Puja

[Danno]

Last time Itoje came on as a sub he scored within 2 mins of his arrival, so I'm not too worried about him, albeit very sad to hear about his mother.

[TheDasher]

Not much chat anywhere about Ojomoh - not sure one could drop him after his performance vs the Argies. I thought we'd probably found our all rounder 12 after many years... but no, apparently not.

[Which Tyler]

I'd still like Freeman to have played more matches at OC before getting caps there in matches that matter - though with Lawrence injured there's a little less choice, and IIRC he's getting there. My choice would have been 2 from SAtkinson, Dingwall & Ojomoh (probably the latter 2).
"Interesting" to see Itoje on the bench*. Also interesting that we're not splitting the first choice props to have 1 starting, and 1 on the bench (that said, neither Rodd nor Davison ought to need babysitting).

Generally though, we're at a stage where I can disagree with some of the selections, but none feel outright wrong, just I'd go differently with a couple of more-or-less 50:50 calls.

I'm glad that Sela hasn't been thrown in - tempting though it may have been.



*ETA: Forgot that his mother passed away during the week. Given that, I'd probably give him the weekend off, given that, rather than benching him (also showing willing on managing the game time of a player who is almost nailed on to exceed the 30 match limit)

[fivepointer]

Wow that is early.

No shocks. I thought Dingwall would come back in and pairing him with Freeman does make sense. Likewise George as captain with Itoje benching seems like a logical choice.

Davison as a stop gap is fine enough.

Some good players miss out, Atkinson, Ojomoh, Fin Smith, JvP and CCS.

[Mellsblue]

Arundell and IFW on either wing… there is a god and he’s a lineout nause, spreadsheet loving Cumbrian.

[Puja]

"We all feel for Maro and his family after the very sad loss of his mum,” Borthwick told the BBC. “Maro was out in Nigeria and arrived back in camp a day or two after everybody else. We made the decision for this game it’s best for him to start on the bench.

“I think he is going to have a massive impact. I am excited by the impact the whole bench is going to have. I also know the crowd when Maro comes to the touchline, I’m sure he will get a big roar. Maro and I talk a lot as you would expect. It is the right thing for him and the team this week.”

Borthwick added: “Maro is good. As you would expect, he has thrown himself into the preparation here and has been a role model and an example to the other players, as he always is.

Fair enough and sounds like good man-management to me. Also underlies the improvement in our leadership cadre that we can put our captain on the bench and no-one's even mentioned about George having to step up.

Not much chat anywhere about Ojomoh - not sure one could drop him after his performance vs the Argies. I thought we'd probably found our all rounder 12 after many years... but no, apparently not.

See, I think I watched a very different Argentina game to you - he had some fantastic highlight reel moments, but also a number of mistakes, making the performance as a whole no more than a solid 7/10. That's not a criticism of a young player on his first real England test at all, but it wasn't a performance that made him undroppable, nor one that demanded the ousting of the incumbent Dingwall on his return to fitness. Fraser's the man in possession, deservedly so after playing well in his 5-game run in 2025, and he has the added advantage of offering an understanding with the inexperienced Freeman in the other centre berth. Right call by Beatboxer, to my mind.

Puja

[Puja]

Arundell and IFW on either wing… there is a god and he’s a lineout nause, spreadsheet loving Cumbrian.

You're so easily bought! All it takes is for someone to provide an 11-match winning run and then select the two most exciting and speedy wingers to start for England, and you're all over him like it's something unprecedented!

Puja

[Mellsblue]

Arundell and IFW on either wing… there is a god and he’s a lineout nause, spreadsheet loving Cumbrian.

You're so easily bought! All it takes is for someone to provide an 11-match winning run and then select the two most exciting and speedy wingers to start for England, and you're all over him like it's something unprecedented!

Puja

If we don’t win the grand slam he’s dead to me.

[FKAS]

Arundell and IFW on either wing… there is a god and he’s a lineout nause, spreadsheet loving Cumbrian.

You're so easily bought! All it takes is for someone to provide an 11-match winning run and then select the two most exciting and speedy wingers to start for England, and you're all over him like it's something unprecedented!

Puja

If we don’t win the grand slam he’s dead to me.

It's amazing how unpopular Spreadsheet Boringpick was a couple of years back when every selection was lamented to now when he benches England's best player and everyone still thinks it's a great selection.

That being said he does need a 6N Championship to his name if he wants to really cement his place as the beloved coach if England rugby. A Grand Slam would be fantastic but it's a tough set of fixture this year.

[TheDasher]

"We all feel for Maro and his family after the very sad loss of his mum,” Borthwick told the BBC. “Maro was out in Nigeria and arrived back in camp a day or two after everybody else. We made the decision for this game it’s best for him to start on the bench.

“I think he is going to have a massive impact. I am excited by the impact the whole bench is going to have. I also know the crowd when Maro comes to the touchline, I’m sure he will get a big roar. Maro and I talk a lot as you would expect. It is the right thing for him and the team this week.”

Borthwick added: “Maro is good. As you would expect, he has thrown himself into the preparation here and has been a role model and an example to the other players, as he always is.

Fair enough and sounds like good man-management to me. Also underlies the improvement in our leadership cadre that we can put our captain on the bench and no-one's even mentioned about George having to step up.

Not much chat anywhere about Ojomoh - not sure one could drop him after his performance vs the Argies. I thought we'd probably found our all rounder 12 after many years... but no, apparently not.

See, I think I watched a very different Argentina game to you - he had some fantastic highlight reel moments, but also a number of mistakes, making the performance as a whole no more than a solid 7/10. That's not a criticism of a young player on his first real England test at all, but it wasn't a performance that made him undroppable, nor one that demanded the ousting of the incumbent Dingwall on his return to fitness. Fraser's the man in possession, deservedly so after playing well in his 5-game run in 2025, and he has the added advantage of offering an understanding with the inexperienced Freeman in the other centre berth. Right call by Beatboxer, to my mind.

Puja

Maybe I should rewatch it, I can't remember every detail so I'm sure you're right. Dingwall is better than I thought he was. He was way better for England in the Autumn than I thought he'd be. He seemed to have become a lot stronger physically and looked more composed, understandably so, having gained experience etc. But I remember Ojomoh doing more against the Argies than Dingwall has in an England shirt ever... quick, strong, great fit, good hands, lovely crossfield kick etc. I think Ojomoh might have a higher ceiling... But no great problem with Dingwall either at this moment.

I really wish Finn Smith were starting, that would make me happy. Is Quirke injured? If not, I'd have him over Spencer (who I also don't mind at all, unlike some fellows on here). I think I might also have gone balls to the wall and gone for Iyogun and Sela, or at the very least, Iyogun and Davison... I like Iyogun.

Anyway, should be a decent win if we play to our abilities.

[Oakboy]

In pure emotional terms, I'm excited by the back line apart from Steward but I'm disappointed by the back row. I think SB needs to at least try starting Curry and Pollock.

In phlegmatic/logical terms, I think SB has got things pretty much right in developing his type of team. I doubt this match will be a fun watch. A functional but decisive ugly win will do fine.

[Scrumhead]

I’m not sure I understand your POV here? Underhill and Earl are effectively like-for-like for Curry and Pollock. I wouldn’t say one combination is particularly more exciting than the other unless you’re a paid up member of the Henry Pollock fan club.

I also don’t see this as a team set up to play in a phlegmatic way? It’s an exciting lineup and should be a ‘fun watch’.

[pjm1]

In pure emotional terms, I'm excited by the back line apart from Steward but I'm disappointed by the back row. I think SB needs to at least try starting Curry and Pollock.

In phlegmatic/logical terms, I think SB has got things pretty much right in developing his type of team. I doubt this match will be a fun watch. A functional but decisive ugly win will do fine.

I think it would be worth us coining some sort of "grading" of disappointment with these calls. I'd have liked to have seen Furbank start, but I understand why he's gone this way around. Am I disappointed? Mildly non-plussed, perhaps. Which is a fantastically better place than seeing a centre combination of Farrell and Slade start!

I agree with you that Slowly Building has demonstrated his plan is working, and some of that is luck (a couple of close games going the right way - after previous close games, not) but he has to get credit from me for making some strategic calls on selection, coaches and overall tactical development.

The most positive part of that for me is that this all feels cohesive. He isn't selecting players and trying to change the way they play. He isn't flipflopping tactics based on results or coach changes. He isn't bringing in the next available coach and trying to get them to work to a system that isn't "them". Instead, all of these separate actions seem coherent with each other. I honestly can't remember the last time that happened, save for toxic Eddie's initial run when it was all just about bedding in Lancaster's team with a bit more ferocity and bite, whilst playing to the latent strengths he'd inherited.

[Oakboy]

I’m not sure I understand your POV here? Underhill and Earl are effectively like-for-like for Curry and Pollock. I wouldn’t say one combination is particularly more exciting than the other unless you’re a paid up member of the Henry Pollock fan club.

I also don’t see this as a team set up to play in a phlegmatic way? It’s an exciting lineup and should be a ‘fun watch’.

In return, I'm surprised by your like-for-like comment.

I see Underhill as a good negative presence i.e. he is excellent at disruption, tackling and stopping the opposition. Curry, IMO, makes things happen around him. He gels well with other forwards and the back row as a unit functions much better with him on the pitch.

Earl is slightly more constructive but I see him more as functional than inspirational. Pollock has more to offer in every aspect of the game but he needs to be trusted for 80. I don't like the pressure he is under to produce in 20, no matter how good at it he is.

That's all just my personal take. I am excited by a back row of Pepper, Curry and Pollock, thinking longer-term. I am disapponted that it never gets the lion's share of the game. The starting trio are OK.

[TheDasher]

I’m not sure I understand your POV here? Underhill and Earl are effectively like-for-like for Curry and Pollock. I wouldn’t say one combination is particularly more exciting than the other unless you’re a paid up member of the Henry Pollock fan club.

I also don’t see this as a team set up to play in a phlegmatic way? It’s an exciting lineup and should be a ‘fun watch’.

Earl is slightly more constructive but I see him more as functional than inspirational. Pollock has more to offer in every aspect of the game but he needs to be trusted for 80. I don't like the pressure he is under to produce in 20, no matter how good at it he is.

That's all just my personal take. I am excited by a back row of Pepper, Curry and Pollock, thinking longer-term. I am disapponted that it never gets the lion's share of the game. The starting trio are OK.

A bit brutal here I think... Earl and Underhill are phenomenal players now, I think the starting trio is more than OK. Underhill is absolute class and Earl is way stronger than Pollock at the hard yards, he's incredibly powerful into contact. I am a huge fan of Pollock and Curry, love them both, but I wouldn't say Underhill and Earl are 'ok', they're bordering on world-class players.

[Scrumhead]

Like-for-like in terms of performing similar roles in the back row unit. I think you are underrating Underhill’s ability as a carrier and link player. Is he better than Curry? No, probably not, but I think Curry’s injury struggles are potentially pushing him more towards the ‘finisher’ role.

I find it very strange that you refer to Earl as ‘functional’ when I think most people would regard him as a very dynamic player with a pretty similar style to Pollock. I’d go so far as to say that without Earl paving the way for a lighter, quicker 8, Pollock might not have had the swift elevation he’s experienced.

I know you really, really love Pollock but I think it’s a stretch to say that ‘he has more to offer in every aspect of the game’ than Earl. He has an uncanny knack of making things happen for sure, but I don’t think he is currently a better all round player than Earl. IMO, the bench role is perfect for him right now and I think the evidence suggests that he revels in the expectation of the impact role rather than feeling under ‘pressure’ from it.

[TheDasher]

I’m not sure I understand your POV here? Underhill and Earl are effectively like-for-like for Curry and Pollock. I wouldn’t say one combination is particularly more exciting than the other unless you’re a paid up member of the Henry Pollock fan club.

I also don’t see this as a team set up to play in a phlegmatic way? It’s an exciting lineup and should be a ‘fun watch’.

Earl is slightly more constructive but I see him more as functional than inspirational. Pollock has more to offer in every aspect of the game but he needs to be trusted for 80. I don't like the pressure he is under to produce in 20, no matter how good at it he is.

That's all just my personal take. I am excited by a back row of Pepper, Curry and Pollock, thinking longer-term. I am disapponted that it never gets the lion's share of the game. The starting trio are OK.

A bit brutal here I think... Earl and Underhill are phenomenal players now, I think the starting trio is more than OK. Underhill is absolute class and Earl is way stronger than Pollock at the hard yards, he's incredibly powerful into contact (I say this in reference to you say Pollock offers more in every aspect of the game). I am a huge fan of Pollock and Curry, love them both and would be delighted with them starting too, but I wouldn't say Underhill and Earl are 'ok', they're bordering on world-class players.

[Scrumhead]

In pure emotional terms, I'm excited by the back line apart from Steward but I'm disappointed by the back row. I think SB needs to at least try starting Curry and Pollock.

In phlegmatic/logical terms, I think SB has got things pretty much right in developing his type of team. I doubt this match will be a fun watch. A functional but decisive ugly win will do fine.

I think it would be worth us coining some sort of "grading" of disappointment with these calls. I'd have liked to have seen Furbank start, but I understand why he's gone this way around. Am I disappointed? Mildly non-plussed, perhaps. Which is a fantastically better place than seeing a centre combination of Farrell and Slade start!

I agree with you that Slowly Building has demonstrated his plan is working, and some of that is luck (a couple of close games going the right way - after previous close games, not) but he has to get credit from me for making some strategic calls on selection, coaches and overall tactical development.

The most positive part of that for me is that this all feels cohesive. He isn't selecting players and trying to change the way they play. He isn't flipflopping tactics based on results or coach changes. He isn't bringing in the next available coach and trying to get them to work to a system that isn't "them". Instead, all of these separate actions seem coherent with each other. I honestly can't remember the last time that happened, save for toxic Eddie's initial run when it was all just about bedding in Lancaster's team with a bit more ferocity and bite, whilst playing to the latent strengths he'd inherited.

And a big plus one on all of the above.

[FKAS]

In pure emotional terms, I'm excited by the back line apart from Steward but I'm disappointed by the back row. I think SB needs to at least try starting Curry and Pollock.

In phlegmatic/logical terms, I think SB has got things pretty much right in developing his type of team. I doubt this match will be a fun watch. A functional but decisive ugly win will do fine.

I think it would be worth us coining some sort of "grading" of disappointment with these calls. I'd have liked to have seen Furbank start, but I understand why he's gone this way around. Am I disappointed? Mildly non-plussed, perhaps. Which is a fantastically better place than seeing a centre combination of Farrell and Slade start!

To be fair Furbank played a whole 25 mins of rugby in January. Fitness is a significant issue for him.

[pjm1]

In pure emotional terms, I'm excited by the back line apart from Steward but I'm disappointed by the back row. I think SB needs to at least try starting Curry and Pollock.

In phlegmatic/logical terms, I think SB has got things pretty much right in developing his type of team. I doubt this match will be a fun watch. A functional but decisive ugly win will do fine.

I think it would be worth us coining some sort of "grading" of disappointment with these calls. I'd have liked to have seen Furbank start, but I understand why he's gone this way around. Am I disappointed? Mildly non-plussed, perhaps. Which is a fantastically better place than seeing a centre combination of Farrell and Slade start!

To be fair Furbank played a whole 25 mins of rugby in January. Fitness is a significant issue for him.

Agreed. I think what he can do might have been worth a gamble (especially against Wales) but I get why he's gone the route he has. Steward has also been playing well, which is a nice bonus. All in all, very pleased with almost all of the selections... when can we normally say that?!

[Stom]

"We all feel for Maro and his family after the very sad loss of his mum,” Borthwick told the BBC. “Maro was out in Nigeria and arrived back in camp a day or two after everybody else. We made the decision for this game it’s best for him to start on the bench.

“I think he is going to have a massive impact. I am excited by the impact the whole bench is going to have. I also know the crowd when Maro comes to the touchline, I’m sure he will get a big roar. Maro and I talk a lot as you would expect. It is the right thing for him and the team this week.”

Borthwick added: “Maro is good. As you would expect, he has thrown himself into the preparation here and has been a role model and an example to the other players, as he always is.

Fair enough and sounds like good man-management to me. Also underlies the improvement in our leadership cadre that we can put our captain on the bench and no-one's even mentioned about George having to step up.

Not much chat anywhere about Ojomoh - not sure one could drop him after his performance vs the Argies. I thought we'd probably found our all rounder 12 after many years... but no, apparently not.

See, I think I watched a very different Argentina game to you - he had some fantastic highlight reel moments, but also a number of mistakes, making the performance as a whole no more than a solid 7/10. That's not a criticism of a young player on his first real England test at all, but it wasn't a performance that made him undroppable, nor one that demanded the ousting of the incumbent Dingwall on his return to fitness. Fraser's the man in possession, deservedly so after playing well in his 5-game run in 2025, and he has the added advantage of offering an understanding with the inexperienced Freeman in the other centre berth. Right call by Beatboxer, to my mind.

Puja

Maybe I should rewatch it, I can't remember every detail so I'm sure you're right. Dingwall is better than I thought he was. He was way better for England in the Autumn than I thought he'd be. He seemed to have become a lot stronger physically and looked more composed, understandably so, having gained experience etc. But I remember Ojomoh doing more against the Argies than Dingwall has in an England shirt ever... quick, strong, great fit, good hands, lovely crossfield kick etc. I think Ojomoh might have a higher ceiling... But no great problem with Dingwall either at this moment.

I really wish Finn Smith were starting, that would make me happy. Is Quirke injured? If not, I'd have him over Spencer (who I also don't mind at all, unlike some fellows on here). I think I might also have gone balls to the wall and gone for Iyogun and Sela, or at the very least, Iyogun and Davison... I like Iyogun.

Anyway, should be a decent win if we play to our abilities.

Dingwall is one of those glue players. He just makes the whole back line function better.

His debut lacked that, and because he couldn’t offer physicality or pace, he got seen as meh. When he was really just suffering from his first cap being meh.

[SixAndAHalf]

Happy with that selection - like the consistency which will enable combinations to build and has rewarded form going back to the Argentina tests (whereas under prior coaches we have looked great in Lions years and then jettisoned players afterwards).

I'm nervous about the reserve props, and still unsure about Steward's ability at the very top level, but am excited to see Freeman at 13 with Arundell and IFW on the wings. Lots of weapons for Ford and Dingwall to use.