Whenever I named my starting XV as a coach, I always asked the question: ‘Would the other coach be worried about taking on my team?’ If the answer was yes – which it was on most occasions – then I knew I’d got the right names down.
I don’t think you can say Steve Borthwick’s selection for England’s visit to Italy on Saturday is a gamble – the team he’s picked is still packed with quality and Test know-how. But if you’re Borthwick or anyone with a love for English rugby, it’s now time to cross everything!
I’m not against the side named for Rome, though there’s no doubt the Italian head coach Gonzalo Quesada and his players will look at the England line-up and think they’ve got a genuine chance. What an opportunity this weekend is for them – playing in a game they could all remember for ever.
Make no bones about it, England will be going to Rome under serious pressure to perform. There is so much riding on this game for Borthwick.
Chopping and changing the team a lot is something I don’t fundamentally like, but the reality is England’s players haven’t performed at all in the defeats by Scotland and Ireland. It would have been easy for Borthwick to make minor tweaks to his squad here and there and keep faith with the guys he knows well like George Ford.
I do admire him ripping up the team. But as an international coach, selection is your No 1 skill and Borthwick is holding his hands up and admitting he has got it badly wrong to date.
I admire Steve Borthwick ripping up the team. But as an international coach, selection is your No 1 skill and he is holding his hands up and admitting he has got it badly wrong to date
| 15 | Elliot Daly |
| 14 | Tom Roebuck |
| 13 | Tommy Freeman |
| 12 | Seb Atkinson |
| 11 | Cadan Murley |
| 10 | Fin Smith |
| 9 | Ben Spencer |
| 1 | Ellis Genge |
| 2 | Jamie George |
| 3 | Joe Heyes |
| 4 | Maro Itoje (capt) |
| 5 | Alex Coles |
| 6 | Guy Pepper |
| 7 | Tom Curry |
| 8 | Ben Earl |
| Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Rodd, Davison, Chessum, Underhill, Pollock, Van Poortvliet, M Smith. |
The huge number of changes means Borthwick will now live or die by this team. If England win the game – and it doesn’t matter how – then he will be a hero and his big selection calls will be justified. If England lose to Italy for the first time, he’ll be a zero.
That’s the reality of what’s to come this weekend. I don’t think it’s an exaggeration to say Rome may well prove to be a defining game for Borthwick in one way or another.
There are 12 changes to the side – nine in personnel and three positional – from the side humiliated at home by Ireland. The backline is totally new and it’s the most changes an England coach has ever made in a Six Nations game.
I have to say, it’s not something I can ever remember doing or even considering.
The England team I coached lost a few big games and had some severe setbacks. But I don’t think we ever played that badly that I was forced to turn the side upside down.
Even when we lost three straight potential Grand Slam-clinching games between 1999 and 2001, those games were one-off defeats and all the last matches of the tournament, which meant they were followed by a long break and some much-needed evaluation time.
By acting as he has midway through the championship, Borthwick has sent a very clear message that the past two matches haven’t been good enough. England’s players have to take that on the chin and show him their worth.
When you’re under pressure as a coach, you tend to revert back to what you know and not take a step into the unknown. But Borthwick has gone for the latter and I must admit that does make me a little nervous!
Borthwick has sent a very clear message that the past two matches haven’t been good enough. England’s players have to take that on the chin and show him their worth
Before this Six Nations I was calling for Seb Atkinson (pictured) to come in to the centres alongside Tommy Freeman
It’s really hard to know what to expect from this England team – it’s an exciting prospect on paper, but not necessarily for all the right reasons.
Before this Six Nations, I called for Seb Atkinson and Tommy Freeman to be the starting centres alongside Fin Smith so I’m looking forward to them playing together.
Smith had to start at fly-half ahead of Ford and the prospect of him alongside Atkinson and Freeman is potentially very promising.
But I’m surprised there’s no place for George Furbank at full-back and that there are starts for Cadan Murley on the wing and Elliot Daly at No 15. Atkinson, Daly and Murley haven’t played a second in the Six Nations so far and Atkinson has never appeared in the Championship.
They will all have to hit the ground running because they will be under big pressure in Rome. I’m sure Italy, who have a very settled back line and a powerful scrum, will look to expose any rustiness in England’s side.
England are fielding a raft of new combinations in key positions. What’s positive for the Italians is that their players know each other very well, summed up by their centres pairing forged at Benetton – Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello, who I think is a wonderful player.
Italy are a fine and dangerous team. They’ll be licking their lips at the prospect of a big upset.
Borthwick has been badly let down by his players in the past two matches. So at the Stadio Olimpico, he really, really needs the likes of Ellis Genge, Jamie George and captain Maro Itoje to step up and deliver.
I’m surprised there’s a start for Cadan Murley on the wing after not playing a minute of this Six Nations so far
Italy’s players know each other very well, summed up by their centres pairing forged at Benetton – Ignacio Brex (top) and Tommaso Menoncello
If England’s forward pack goes well, then England should still have enough to win. I’m expecting a big game from Itoje, who hasn’t been at the races so far.
A week’s break between matches should have done Itoje and England the world of good and if the team can’t respond to their most recent disappointments, then there will be serious trouble.
Italy will run them close, but I expect England to deliver and win by five. I’ll be watching from behind the sofa!