Borthwick reveals his hand for Wales clash
TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: England named an unchanged team for the first time in over four years on Thursday when coach Steve Borthwick announced his side to play Wales in the Six Nations.
Saturday’s second-round match at Twickenham is set to see Borthwick keep faith with the same starting XV that featured in England’s narrow opening 27-24 win over Italy in Rome last weekend.
Ellis Genge was the only change to the matchday 23, with the 28-year-old prop recalled to the bench in place of Beno Obano after the England vice-captain missed the victory at the Stadio Olimpico with a foot injury.
England last fielded an unchanged starting team at the 2019 World Cup Final, when a side coached by Eddie Jones suffered a 12-32 defeat to South Africa in Yokohama, Japan.
This weekend’s match will see Jamie George captain England for the first time at Twickenham, with the hooker packing down in a front row featuring Joe Marler at loosehead prop and Will Stuart at tighthead.
Wales coach Warren Gatland, in contrast to Borthwick, made seven changes to his starting line-up.
The New Zealander announced his side on Wednesday following their agonising 26-27 loss to Scotland in Cardiff – a match where the Welsh were 0-27 down before scoring 26 unanswered points of their own.
England have won their last seven matches against Wales at Twickenham since a memorable 2015 World Cup pool defeat, with the Welsh having gone without a Six Nations success in southwest London since 2012.
England: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Ethan Roots, 5 Ollie Chessum, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Will Stuart, 2 Jamie George (captain), 1 Joe Marler.
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Alex Coles, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Danny Care, 22 Fin Smith, 23 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
Date: Saturday, February 10
Venue: Twickenham Stadium, London
Kick-off: 16.45 (16.45 GMT)
Referee: James Doleman (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand), Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
TMO: Brendon Pickerill (New Zealand)
