"Borthwick lost the plot" - Marcus Smith set for shock position switch

The England head coach will be without captain Owen Farrell for England's first two pool games after World Rugby successfully appealed against the decision to overturn his red card in the win over Wales on 12 August.

The appeal committee said the tackle was "always illegal".

The Telegraph reported yesterday that 'England have been working on a radical ‘plan B’ to deploy fly-half Marcus Smith at full-back' as another one of their key players was ruled out of the World Cup opener.'

They continued: 'Smith trained there in a behind-closed-doors practice match against Harlequins last week and then came on at full-back for the final 10 minutes of England’s 29-10 defeat to Ireland last week.

'Smith’s introduction provided a flicker of life into England’s moribund attack, which has yielded the fewest number of tries of any tier-one country this year.

'It is understood that this option continues to intrigue Borthwick, who has delayed the internal naming of his team to face Fiji this week where he has to balance the need to build cohesion against the risk of incurring further injuries and suspensions.'

One fan wrote: 'Probably the first inventive thing in Borthwick’s tenure. Massive trade-off in solidity but it’s where he sparks many attacks from anyway and we currently offer zero threat returning the ball. Opponents would have to think twice about a blanket chase."

A second commented: "Cue the aerial bombardment!"

Another said: "Smith, as talented as he may be is not the answer at full back. Better served with Steward taking high balls but looking to offload (even if still in the air) to Arundell or Watson. Use resources properly and play with pace. Mitchell, Smith, Arundell, Watson, Lawrence all start."

"Christ on a bike! England were poor and predictable with Ford at 10 Let Smith play with freedom at 10." added a fourth

Here is RUCK's prediction, for the expected England team to face Fiji this Saturday at Twickenham.

15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)

14. Max Malins (Bristol Bears)

11. Elliot Daly (Saracens)

Borthwick will need to find a key balance between first team starters and reinforcements for this match, as he needs to secure a win, yet must avoid picking up any injuries so close to the Rugby World Cup. We've recalled Freddie Steward and Elliot Daly to the starting XV from last weekend, yet swapped out key winger Anthony Watson for Max Malins on the right hand side.

13. Joe Marchant (Stade Francais)

12. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby)

After a career riddled with injuries, we have opted to drop Manu Tuilagi to the bench. This reduces the risk of the Sale centre picking up an injury so close to the trip to France, as he can come on to run riot over the tiring Fijians in the second half. The Ollie Lawrence and Joe Marchant partnership returns from the second test match against Wales, with Marchant a key utility option to push out wide to the wing.

10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)

9. Danny Care (Harlequins)

The Harlequins duo of Smith and Care could be seen as the second string halfback partnership behind Ford and Youngs, with Owen Farrell set to miss the opening two matches of the Rugby World Cup campaign.

Following Jack van Poortvliet's injury, the Youngs-Ford collaboration is Borthwick's most tried and tested method from his days as Leicester Tigers Head Coach, and will need to keep fully fit for the opening rounds in France. The Quins duo get our pick to start on Saturday, with both Smith and Care out with a point to prove.

1 Ellis Genge (Captain) (Bristol Bears)

2. Jamie George (Saracens)

3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears)

With Owen Farrell out for his ban, Borthwick needs leaders across the park on Saturday. We believe that Borthwick will pick Ellis Genge to lead the side out, in an attempt to secure his first win as England captain, in his third attempt (France at Twickenham in Six Nations, and Wales in Cardiff). Jamie George partners him once again, with Kyle Sinckler set to state his claim for the number three jersey after being pushed down the recent pecking order by Will Stuart.

4. Maro Itoje (Saracens)

5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)

Ollie Chessum made his long awaited return to England action last weekend, as he came off the bench for David Ribbans at the Aviva Stadium. We believe Chessum will start from the get-go this Saturday, with Maro Itoje partnering him to re-unite the second row duo that packed down the scrum during the 2023 Six Nations.

6. Courtney Lawes (Vice Captain) (Northampton Saints)

7. Jack Willis (Toulouse)

8. Ben Earl (Saracens)

The back row was the hardest piece of Borthwick's puzzle to put together. With Billy Vunipola now banned, there are no specialist number eights eligible in the England squad for the Rugby World Cup. Tom Curry was in a protective boot just three weeks ago, and Borthwick may not want to risk an early return to action for the Sale Sharks man.

Ben Earl has some experience in the eight shirt, having sporadically played at the back of the scrum for Saracens in recent years. Jack Willis is more of an out-and-out flanker with Toulouse, yet can cover the eight jersey if called upon. Despite his versatility across the locks and flanks, Courtney Lawes is better suited to starting at six than eight, with England's back-row conundrum wrapping up the starting XV for Saturday.

Following the Twickenham victory over Wales a fortnight ago, Joe Marler gave us a secret spoiler as he did not give his shirt to a fan. He understandably wanted to keep the number one jersey, after apologising to the young fan and saying "it's my last one", in what could possibly be referencing a start at Twickenham.

We've kept Marler out of the squad, with third-choice loosehead Bevan Rodd on the bench to get an extended run-out before the Rugby World Cup. Following the same style as last weekend, we have not selected a back-three player on Borthwick's bench. Instead, we have Tuilagi amongst the re-enforcements, ready to turn-around the game if Fiji take the lead.

The halfback duo of George Ford and Ben Youngs are amongst the replacements, with Joe Marchant likely to once again push out to the wing, as the bench is emptied out in the latter stages of the match.

16. Theo Dan (Saracens)

17. Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks)

18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)

19. David Ribbans (Northampton Saints)

20. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints)

21. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)

22. George Ford (Sale Sharks)

23. Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)