Sir Clive Woodward loved something we all missed about Steve Borthwick's England XV

Rugby News
Friday, 03 February 2023 at 08:46
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 Brown, Bhatti, Berghan, J Gray, Dempsey, Horne, Kinghorn, Harris.
Former England boss Sir Clive Woodward loved something we all missed about Steve Borthwick's England XV.
Praising Steve Borthwick's selection, the 2003 World Cup winner wrote in his column for the Mail Online: "I think this could be the best Calcutta Cup ever. I’m very pleased with England’s selection, particularly Ollie Hassell-Collins on the wing.
"Scotland have a fine team too. It all points to a potential classic.
"If I was Borthwick, my message to the players would be the same one I delivered all those years ago — to go out there and get the crowd truly excited by the way they play.
"England need to play with pace and style and go at Scotland. It won’t be easy because Scotland have excellent players — any team that can leave out Hamish Watson and Chris Harris is a strong one. They should have beaten New Zealand in autumn."

SMITH/FARRELL PARTNERSHIP

Owen Farrell captains the side from inside centre and is joined in the midfield by Joe Marchant. Marcus Smith is at fly-half with Jack van Poortvliet at scrum half.
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Owen Farrell will captain England once again during the 2023 Six Nations
He added: "I’ve been consistent in my belief that Owen Farrell should be No 10. But I can see why England are going with Marcus Smith at fly-half and Farrell at centre.
"I feel sorry for Farrell because he is a wonderful player who isn’t playing his best position. But England have had lots of midfield injuries with Elliot Daly, Henry Slade and Dan Kelly all out and Manu Tuilagi not selected.
"It makes sense for Farrell to play 12."

SUBTLE CHANGE

During his time in charge, Eddie Jones labeled the players coming off the bench as finishers. However, this has been put in the bin by the new England boss.
Woodward commented: "’m also delighted he ditched the dreaded word ‘finishers’ when announcing his team. That may sound a minor thing but for me it was a significant statement of a new era.
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COMPETITION

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If prize is not claimed by 3pm 10th February 2023, another winner may be selected at random. Charles Tyrwhitt reserves the right to cancel or terminate this campaign at any time. The tickets and gift voucher will be digitally transferred to the winner prior to the event and subject to following subsequent instructions and are not permitted to be resold. By participating in this contest, you have agreed to accept these terms and conditions.

England vs Scotland teams:

England: Steward; Malins, Marchant, Farrell (capt), Hassell-Collins; Smith, Van Poortvliet; Genge, George, Sinckler, Itoje, Chessum, Ludlam, B Curry, Dombrandt.
Replacements: Walker, M Vunipola, Cole, Isiekwe, Earl, Youngs, Lawrence, Watson.
Scotland: Hogg; Steyn, Jones, Tuipulotu, Van der Merwe; Russell, White; Schoeman, Turner, Nel; R Gray, Gilchrist; Ritchie (capt), Crosbie, M Fagerson.
Replacements:

Three players who won’t play for England again under Steve Borthwick

Steve Borthwick has been brutal In his short time in charge of England, dropping a number of major stars ahead of the 2023 Six Nations.
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Below, we look at three established stars who are unlikely to win another cap.

#1. Joe Marler

Age: 32
Position: Loosehead-prop
Caps: 83
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Joe Marler of England Rugby during the Six Nations Championship match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on February 26th 2021. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
Marler is unlikely to return to the England team during the 2023 Six Nations after he breached one of Steve Borthwick’s main rules.
The new England boss has a “no sh**talking policy” with England, whereby he expects players to behave appropriately on the pitch.
As a result, Marler was left out of the Six Nations squad despite his fine form with Harlequins this season.
Marler’s latest ban was for six weeks – four of them suspended – after accepting a charge regarding comments made to Bristol flanker Jake Heenan about his mother.
At this stage, an international return looks very unlikely.
DID YOU KNOW? Marler started his career at Haywards Heath RFC in Sussex where he played in the same side as fellow England international Billy Twelvetrees

#2. Billy Vunipola

Age: 30
Position: Number 8
Caps: 64
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Billy Vunipola of England in possession ahead of Kazuki Himeno of Japan during the Autumn International Series match between England and Japan at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on Saturday 12th November 2022 | Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK.
Borthwick excluded Powerhouse No8 Vunipola from the Six Nations squad, opting for Alex Dombrandt from Harlequins and Sam Simmons from Exeter as specialists.
Vunipola made a return to the England squad last summer under Eddie Jones and played in the autumn Test series.
However, in Borthwick's first selection, he made significant changes, resulting in Vunipola being among several experienced players left out.
With Zach Mercer set to return to England this summer, yet another recall for Billy is starting to look very unlikely.
DID YOU KNOW? He is the nephew of two other former international players, Manu and 'Elisi Vunipola, who both represented Tonga in the 1990s

#3. Jonny May

Age: 32
Position: Winger
Caps: 72
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Luke Cowan-Dickie of England, Kyle Sinckler of England, Jonny May of England and David Ribbans of England looks dejected after losing during the Autumn Nations International Series match between England and South Africa at Twickenham, London on 26 November 2022 (Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK)
The Gloucester speedster, who is England's second top try-scorer of all-time with 35, was another veteran who was unceremoniously axed by Borthwick. h
With injury problems becoming more and more frequent, May will need a significant upturn in form to have any chance of a recall.
Ollie Hassell-Collins is primed to start for England this weekend with the likes of Max Malins, Adam Radwan, Cadan Murley and Henry Arundell all vying for a place in the England team.
DID YOU KNOW? studied at Hartpury College, where he was a member of Hartpury College R.F.C., coached by Allan Lewis in a team that included future Wales and Lions wing Alex Cuthbert
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