Five players Steve Borthwick should DROP – and who should play against Ireland

Rugby News
Saturday, 11 March 2023 at 19:44
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Steve Borthwick will surely look to make changes after France produced a ruthless display to condemn England to their heaviest home defeat.
Victory with the full quota of five points means France will take the title race into the final weekend, regardless of Ireland's result against Scotland on Sunday.
England's title challenge is over in humiliating fashion and it is a first Six Nations with two home defeats, following their opening-game loss against Scotland.
It was France's first Twickenham win over England since 2005.

FIVE POSSIBLE ENGLAND CHANGES:

#1. Jack van Poortvliet

Evening Standard 4/10: "Failed to take control at the base of the ruck in a messy performance."
Telegraph 3/10: "His job was to quicken the tempo but instead presided over a slow ruck and shanked a horrible box kick. Was hauled off for Mitchell minutes into the second half."
Rugby Pass 4/10: "Very much a case of master and the apprentice, the rookie England scrum-half getting schooled by his oppsite number Dupont. Gone on 46 and not before time."
Planet Rugby 3/10: "He was taken off just six minutes after half-time, and Borthwick would not have been blamed for doing it before then. The French pack put him under immense pressure, but he also made a few daft decisions on attack and made silly errors."
Mail Online 3/10: "Too ponderous from base and replaced early in second half."
Replacement: Alex Mitchell
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#2. Marcus Smith

Telegraph 5/10: "A promotion too soon? Probably. Solid enough in front of the uprights but gifted too many kicks to the waiting arms of Ramos and struggled to manipulate space."
Rugby Pass 3.5/10: "Looked confused from the off, disorientation summed up by his head-scratching punt after England win a free at a scrum. That gave the French a soft mark to clear from their 22. His puzzled effort continued right the way through on a miserable evening capped by that gaffe of not touching down behind his line, allowing Ollivon to burgle his second try."
Planet Rugby 3/10: " Outplayed, couldn’t get the attack ticking over. The effort was there in so many instances, but it just wasn’t his night. Given the chance to swim with Owen Farrell on the bench but Smith just sunk."
Mail Online 4/10: "Different player in an England shirt from the one who runs it for Quins."
Replacement: Owen Farrell
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Marcus Smith of England during the Guinness Six Nations match between England and France at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on Saturday 11th March 2023 | Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK.

#3. Henry Slade

Telegraph 4/10: "Got caught out of position for France’s opener. Never really alleviated any of the kick pressure off Smith. Made way for Farrell earlier than he would have liked."
Rugby Pass 3.5/10: "No one could quibble that he didn’t deserve his place, but he was blown away here and hooked on 46 for Farrell. His display was summed up by how he was roadkill as Flament blasted over for his first try."
Planet Rugby 2/10: "Slade was sloppy with ball in hand and didn’t make use of his boot, either."
Replacement: Joe Marchant
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#4. Kyle Sinckler

Telegraph 4/10: "Had a poor first half, leaking three penalties and blotted his report card by missing a few tackles. Packed down better after the break."
Rugby Pass 4/10: "Caught in first-half penalty trouble away from the set-piece, conceding three. Another taken off on 65 with the result long since decided."
Planet Rugby 2/10: "He may have won a penalty or two but five missed tackles and three penalties conceded makes for dreadful reading."
Replacement: Dan Cole
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#5. Alex Dombrandt

Telegraph 5/10: "Hardly his sharpest performance. Spilled the ball as England looked to counter after fine work from Smith, which led to Ollivon’s try."
Rugby Pass 3.5/10: "Took the guts of 35 minutes for him to finally carry the ball but was soon giving away a meek knock-on that sucked whatever enthusiasm was left from home fans. An awful day ended with Penaud leaving him for dead for the first of his late tries."
Planet Rugby 3/10: "He had some success with his carries but not enough to steer his team into the game. He made his tackles for most of the game until asked to defend on the wing. In the end, he was part of the pack that was well and truly on the back foot."
Evening Standard 4/10: "Must have hated being moved to outside centre, but had struggled earlier in any case."
Mail Online 4/10: "Best England game in Cardiff but miles off it and handed ball over."
Replacement: Sam Simmonds
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