"Clean slate" - Sir Clive Woodward selects five players who MUST start for England

Number eight Billy Vunipola and prop Kyle Sinckler were among the notable omissions by head coach Steve Borthwick.

Centre Henry Slade and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, who both missed out on the Rugby World Cup, are recalled. 

Exeter Chiefs wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, born and brought up in Cardiff, is among seven uncapped players in the squad.

Chandler Cunningham-South, Ethan Roots, Oscar Beard, Fraser Dingwall, Tom Roebuck and Fin Smith are the others who have yet to play for England.

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Marcus became the second-youngest Premiership debutant in history, behind George Ford, when making his Harlequins bow against London Irish aged 18 years and 200 days in September 2017. The fly-half made 28 appearances for Harlequins in all competitions during the 2017/18 season, scoring three tries on his way to 208 points.

He was named as an apprentice in the England party for the Old Mutual Wealth series that autumn and continued in that role during the 2018 Six Nations. He made his Test debut in 2021 against the USA and contributed 13 points, including a try, to their 43-19 victory.

In 2021 he was called up to the British & Irish Lions squad and kicked all seven conversions in their game against the Stormers. Recently, Smith was named in Steve Borthwick’s squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France before retaining his place for the 2024 Six Nations.

Woodward wrote: "He should be given an extended chance to run the show and the freedom to play his way. Owen Farrell is out of the picture so it’s a clean slate."

They were not to be disappointed as the scrum-half continued to display a high level of performance and leadership in Blue, Black and White akin to his time in north London.

His world-class skillset, which includes his speed of service, and accuracy of kicking game have seen his performances in the Premiership and Europe consistently standout over the years, earning international recognition with England.

He featured in the 2019 Rugby World Cup final just months after winning his third Champions Cup winning medal.

With five Premiership titles and an Anglo-Welsh Cup under his belt, Spencer's experience is vitally important within the Bath squad.

Woodward wrote: "The chance he deserves and I’d love to see him start at scrum-half. That’s tough on Alex Mitchell but Spencer was unlucky to miss out on the World Cup. He’s a good, experienced leader — I would make him vice-captain and play him every game. The team would benefit from some consistency in selection."

He possesses excellent distribution skills, and his left foot is particularly valuable as it effectively spreads the play across the field, posing challenging questions to the opposing backfield.

Despite facing some adversity, he has shown resilience and a competitive edge that should not be overlooked as he returns to the squad following World Cup snub.

Including the in-form Saints star in the squad was a must. He boasts a strong physical presence, adept ball-handling skills, and is capable of making tackles with both shoulders. It seems like Steve Borthwick should be willing to take a gamble on him.

If everyone is fit, Steve Borthwick will want the Marler-George-Cole front row.

Woodward wrote: "I can see why they’ve appointed him (George as captain). He’s clearly a good communicator, a good bloke and most importantly a great player.

"He’s also been England’s most consistent performer through a difficult period, superbly manages the referee and is the best player in his position. All massive ticks on my captaincy checklist.

"I hope George starts and finishes the Six Nations opener in Rome. That would help change the current mindset of rugby, where the front-row is taken off with 30 minutes to go.

"Really? England took Joe Marler and Dan Cole off when they were dominating South Africa’s scrum at the World Cup and it arguably cost them the game. Coaches must use their eyes — not rely on data."

This historic win, the team's first Grand Slam in 13 years under Eddie Jones' leadership, marked a significant milestone.

Now, lace up your virtual boots and see if you can recall the rest of the XV from the final match of the Six Nations.

We've already revealed Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell's names to give you a head start on this virtual rugby challenge.