England’s Six Nations Hopes Rest on Strategic Changes by Steve Borthwick as They Face a Fierce French Challenge at Twickenham

The Pressure of Selection Decisions

When you’re the head coach of a national team, there comes a point where you have to stand firm in your decisions. You choose your team, stick with your choices, and accept the consequences, whether they work out or not. Steve Borthwick, England’s head coach, has clearly made some key changes to the squad for the upcoming clash with France, and I can see the logic behind those adjustments.

England Needs a Win, Not Just a Performance

The reality is, England desperately needs a win this Saturday. Some might say that France is just too strong at the moment, or that England is still in the middle of a rebuilding phase—an idea that’s often used but one I’m not particularly fond of. The truth is, the England team won’t be satisfied with anything less than a victory. I’m sure Borthwick and his players are feeling the pressure, and they’ll be giving it everything they’ve got to secure that win.

After their tough loss to Ireland, playing France at home is the best possible scenario for England. There’s no time to dwell on past defeats or make excuses. This is the moment to step up and face the challenge head-on.

The England Philosophy: “England Expects”

One phrase that still resonates with me from my time as England’s coach is “England Expects.” It was a slogan that appeared in our training camps and dressing rooms, and it always gave us that extra bit of motivation. When you’re at this level of competition, it’s not just about playing well—it’s about winning, and that mindset needs to be front and center.

The Challenge of Squad Changes

In international rugby, especially after a few tough losses, it’s tempting to either overhaul the team or make some small tweaks. Borthwick has chosen the latter approach. He’s not drastically changing the team from week to week, but there are some notable switches. Injuries have played a part in these changes, like George Furbank’s injury forcing a change at full-back. In Ireland, Borthwick opted for Freddie Steward, but this time he’s bringing in Marcus Smith to play at full-back, moving Fin Smith into the fly-half role.

Another injury saw Cadan Murley drop out, with Ollie Sleightholme stepping in for the France game. I like Sleightholme—he’s quick, strong, and aggressive, and he’s got a great finishing ability. He’s a player who could thrive in a high-stakes match like this one.

Changes in the Back Row

The back row also sees some alterations. Borthwick’s strategy in Ireland was to go with the Curry twins, Tom and Ben, alongside Ben Earl in the back row.

 

 

For the France game, Tom Curry will move to blindside, Earl switches to No 7, and Tom Willis comes in at No 8. I think both combinations have merit.

The trio that played against Ireland did well, and the new lineup has potential too.

Borthwick is likely trying to match France’s size and physicality, particularly in the forwards, which is where Willis comes into play.

His ball-carrying ability and physical presence could be key to counteracting the power of the French pack.

It’s an interesting move, and it will be exciting to see how Willis performs in such a big game.

England’s Approach: Playing on Their Own Terms

That said, I would love to see England have more confidence to focus on their own game, rather than tailoring their strategy too much to the opposition.

They know France will bring physicality up front, so why not try to move them around the field and tire out their big forwards? When I played, we often relied on the playmaking of guys like Mike Catt and Charlie Hodgson alongside Jonny Wilkinson to keep the game fast and unpredictable.

I think the current Smith-Smith partnership could play a similar role, as long as England’s pack, especially the back row, can support that fast-paced approach.

Consistency is Key for England

One of the most important things in team selection is consistency.

For England, where players come from various Premiership sides, finding that cohesion can be a challenge.

It’s different from countries like Ireland, where most of the national squad is made up of players from a handful of provinces.

In the past, England’s best periods have been when the core of the team came from one or two dominant club sides—think Leicester and Wasps in the early 2000s, or Saracens a decade later.

I understand why Borthwick is trying different combinations after a run of losses, but my advice to him would be to keep the changes to a minimum.

Too much rotation can disrupt the flow and cohesion that’s needed at the international level.

The Big Game Ahead

This is a massive game for England.

They showed promise in the first half against Ireland, but ultimately fell short.

I don’t expect the same to happen against France at Twickenham. If England can get off to a strong start and build confidence, they have the potential to grow into the match.

It’s all about the mentality of “England Expects”—if the players embrace that, they can overcome the challenge in front of them.

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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