Tom Willis and Max Ojomoh may very well be in line for England call-ups for his or her Six Nations opener in opposition to Eire, with Ojomoh in line for a Check debut.
Head coach Scott Borthwick is about to shake issues up when he names his squad for the opening match of the 2025 event at 11.30am on Tuesday, January 14.
England misplaced 5 Checks in a row – spanning a two-Check tour of New Zealand final summer time and Autumn internationals in opposition to the All Blacks, in addition to Australia and South Africa – earlier than getting again to profitable methods of their final run-out in opposition to Japan.
In addition to anticipated call-ups for Willis and Ojomah, scrum-half Alex Mitchell is about to return to the squad after having missed the Autumn motion as a result of harm.
Sale scrum-half Raffi Quirke may be price a glance in its place choice from the bench, whereas it is going to be attention-grabbing to see how England fill the void left on the wing by Immanuel Feyi-Waboso’s absence.
The 22-year-old will miss all the Six Nations due to the dislocated shoulder he sustained on membership obligation for Exeter final month.
England face defending champions Eire on the Aviva Stadium in Dublin of their Six Nations opener on February 1. Borthwick’s males beat Eire at Twickenham in final 12 months’s event which denied Eire the Grand Slam.
England obtained the higher of Eire at Twickenham within the 2024 Six Nations
‘Willis set to be rewarded for excellent kind’
Sky Sports activities Information’ James Cole:
The one participant elevating his hand increased than another for a call-up to Steve Borthwick’s Six Nations squad is Tom Willis. The Saracens No 8 has been excellent for his membership this season.
Willis is a supremely highly effective ball-carrier, who appears to at all times make metres involved – and his current efficiency in opposition to Bristol was the most effective particular person shows of the season.
There are rising requires Willis to begin at No 8 forward of his Saracens teammate, Ben Earl, in England’s Six Nations opener in opposition to Eire in Dublin on February 1.
That’s excessive reward certainly – and means he ought to be a shoo-in when Borthwick declares his wider squad on Tuesday.
One other unestablished worldwide knocking on the door, is Tub centre Max Ojomoh, son of former England again row, Steve. He is uncapped however very a lot on Borthwick’s radar, having been referred to as as much as England’s coaching camp throughout final 12 months’s Six Nations.
He too is in wonderful kind, impressing lately in opposition to Northampton and Clermont. His silky dealing with abilities and sensible operating traces make him a stand-out expertise. And though Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade are virtually sure to proceed as England’s midfield pairing, Ojomoh is pushing more durable than ever.
The 2 Smiths – Marcus and Fin – are certain to be named however who begins at 10, divides opinion.
Will Marcus Smith get the nod for England once more at No 10 of their Six Nations opener?
The mercurial Marcus has a novel skill to chop open defences from anyplace on the sphere – however his recreation administration at worldwide degree has been questioned since England’s poor Autumn marketing campaign; and with fullback George Furbank injured, Borthwick could take into account switching the Harlequins 10 to fifteen.
There’s, nonetheless, no debate over who ought to begin at scrum-half in Dublin. The return of Northampton’s Alex Mitchell from harm is a large increase. Borthwick – not sure of his pecking order – switched between three totally different 9s in the course of the autumn: Ben Spencer, Harry Randall and Jack Van Poortvliet.
The return of Mitchell will add tempo and fluidity to England’s assault, in addition to extra management to their kicking recreation.
Having received simply 5 out of 12 video games in 2024, this appears like a make-or-break 12 months for England and Borthwick. And Six Nations begins do not come harder than Eire and France in successive weekends.
Six Nations 2025 fixtures: England
- February 1: Eire (a)
- February 8: France (h)
- February 22: Scotland (h)
- March 9: Italy (h)
- March 15: Wales (a)
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