England team to play Wales: Borthwick Late change revealed

Wednesday, 12 March 2025 at 11:24

byRugby Rucker

Steve Borthwick names his England team to play Wales with his side still in contention for the 2025 Six Nations title.

Find your local Greene King and settle in to the Six Nations!

Saturday’s Test match in Cardiff will be the 143^rd meeting between England and Wales, with their first match taking place in 1881.

There are four changes to the starting XV who defeated Italy in round four of the 2025 Guinness Six Nations with Luke Cowan-Dickie, Marcus Smith, Tom Roebuck, and Ben Curry all included.

Cowan-Dickie takes his place in the front row at hooker, alongside vice-captain Ellis Genge at loosehead prop and Will Stuart at tighthead. Stuart is set to earn his 50^th cap, having made his debut against France in 2020.

At lock, England captain Maro Itoje is partnered once again with Ollie Chessum.

The back row features Tom Curry on the blindside flank, his twin brother Ben at openside, and Ben Earl at No.8 to complete the pack.

An unchanged half-back combination sees Alex Mitchell at scrum-half with Fin Smith at 10.

In midfield, Fraser Dingwall is named at inside centre, with Tommy Freeman moving to 13.

In the back three, Elliot Daly shifts to the left wing, with Roebuck on the right to make his first start of the Championship, and Marcus Smith is brought into the starting line-up at full-back.

20-year-old Henry Pollock is set to earn his first senior England men’s cap from the bench, joining England Test centurion, Jamie George, as well as Fin Baxter, Joe Heyes, Chandler Cunningham-South, Tom Willis, Jack van Poortvliet, and George Ford on a 6-2 split replacements bench.

Six Nations title race: What England need to win it all

With just two rounds to go, England, France, Ireland, and Scotland all remain in the hunt for the 2025 Six Nations title—though some have a clearer path than others.

For England to lift the trophy, the simplest route is to beat Wales with a bonus point while France fail to beat Scotland.

If France edge past Scotland without a bonus point, England would need a big points difference swing—plus a bonus-point win—to snatch the title.

There’s also an outside chance for Steve Borthwick’s side even if they draw with a bonus point or lose while picking up two bonus points, but only if both France and Ireland fail to win.

BORTHWICK SAID:

“We're excited to face Wales at the Principality Stadium this weekend, one of the most iconic venues in rugby,” said Borthwick.

“The atmosphere will be electric, and we know we’ll need to be at our very best to get the result we’re aiming for.”

Commenting on Will Stuart’s milestone, he added:

"Reaching 50 caps is a well-deserved milestone for Will and a testament to the hard work he’s shown throughout his career. We’re excited to see him reach this landmark on Saturday and look forward to seeing him continue delivering performances at the highest level."

Possible late change:

England have confirmed they have contingency plans in place should Ellis Genge be unavailable for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations clash against Wales. The Bristol prop’s partner, Megan, is expecting their third child in the coming days, with the possibility of the birth coinciding with match day.

If Genge, who has 70 caps, is unable to feature, Harlequins’ Fin Baxter is expected to start, while 20-year-old Sale prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour would provide cover from the bench.

Genge trained with the squad at the Principality Stadium on Friday, but England scrum coach Tom Harrison acknowledged the situation. “Obviously, his wife is due, but we have plans in place if he needs to shoot off,” Harrison said. “We are all ready for that.”

Previous encounters

2024: England 16-14 Wales

2023: England 19-17 Wales

2023: Wales 20-9 England

2023: Wales 10-20 England

2022: England 23-19 Wales

England team to play Wales (Expected)

15. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 43 caps)

14. Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, 3 caps)

13. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 19 caps)

12. Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)

11. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 72 caps)

10. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)

9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 22 caps)

1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 70 caps) – vice-captain

2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 48 caps)

3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 49 caps)

4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 92 caps) – captain

5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 27 caps)

6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 60 caps)

7. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 10 caps)

8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 41 caps)

Replacements:

16. Jamie George (Saracens, 100 caps) – vice-captain

17. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 10 caps)

18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 11 caps)

19. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 14 caps)

20. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, uncapped)

21. Tom Willis (Saracens, 5 caps)

22. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps)

23. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 98 caps)

Four surprise contenders for the 2025 British & Irish Lions tour

The 2025 British & Irish Lions tour might seem a long way off, but the Six Nations is already shaping the selection race.

While established names dominate predictions, a few unexpected players are forcing their way into contention.

Whether it's experienced heads rediscovering form or rising stars making a statement, here are four potential bolters who could book a ticket to Australia next year.

Elliot Daly (England) – The veteran bolter

A "bolter" is usually an uncapped or emerging star, but Elliot Daly is flipping that narrative. Already a two-time Lions tourist (2017, 2021), the England utility back wasn’t in many early squad predictions.

However, his composed performances this Six Nations have made Farrell take notice. With five Lions Test caps and the ability to cover multiple positions, Daly’s experience could prove invaluable when selection time comes around.

Jac Morgan (Wales) – The Welsh warrior

Jac Morgan is one of the few Welsh players making a genuine case for Lions selection. Despite Wales' struggles, the dynamic flanker has shone, earning praise from Sam Warburton, who even tipped him as a potential tour captain.

Tough at the breakdown, relentless in defence, and an intelligent leader, Morgan is proving he belongs at the highest level. If he keeps performing, his Lions ticket could be a certainty.

Jamie Ritchie (Scotland) – The late surge

Scotland’s former captain is finding form at exactly the right time. Ritchie has been immense in recent games, showcasing his breakdown prowess, defensive solidity, and lineout ability.

While Scotland's back-row competition is fierce, his relentless work rate and leadership qualities set him apart. If he maintains this level, Farrell could see him as a crucial piece of the Lions puzzle, particularly against Australia’s physical pack.

Tommy Freeman (England) – The rising star

Freeman is going from strength to strength in this Six Nations. His latest display against Italy highlighted his work rate, power, and eye for the try-line.

Currently sitting second in the tournament’s try-scoring charts, he is proving to be one of England’s most dangerous attacking threats. With his blend of pace and physicality, Freeman is making a serious case for a Lions spot—if he keeps this up, he’ll be impossible to overlook.

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