England has shaken up their lineup ahead of their Six Nations clash against Scotland this Saturday. George Furbank will take over at full-back, displacing Freddie Steward from the matchday squad.
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Steward has been a reliable figure for England at the back since his debut in 2021, but Coach Borthwick has favored Furbank’s speed and playmaking prowess. Furbank has been in exceptional form for Northampton this season.
Despite being injury-free and eligible for selection, Steward finds himself on the sidelines as Furbank prepares to earn his seventh cap, having debuted against France in 2020.
One fan wrote: “That is genuinely a mad decision. Steward is perhaps the one properly top level player we’ve developed in the past 3 years and was excellent against Wales.”
Another said: “That’s nuts, he was the best player against Wales.”
A third commented: “no Freddie Steward in the squad is INSANE”
Another wrote: “No Freddie Steward seems incredibly harsh after his display against Wales. Thought someone else would have been dropped instead of him for Furbank.”
Borthwick said:
“We’re pleased with the start we’ve made to our Guinness Six Nations campaign but know that a difficult testawaits us in Edinburgh against an in-form Scotland team,” said Borthwick.
“The atmosphere is always special for any Calcutta Cup match and I’m sure this weekend’s game at Murrayfield will be no different.
“This group of players are looking forward to the challenge on Saturday and to creating some very special memories.”
Following their heart-stopping triumph over Italy and a sensational comeback against Wales, Steve Borthwick’s men are brimming with confidence as they prepare to take on their northern foes.
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When does the Scotland versus England match take place? Scotland and England will clash on Saturday, February 24th, with the game starting at 4:45 PM (GMT).
Where will the Scotland versus England match be held? The match will take place at Murrayfield, the renowned venue for Scottish rugby.
How can I watch the Scotland versus England match on TV? You can catch the action live on BBC.
Who will be officiating the match? The referee for the game will be Andrew Brace from Ireland.
Previous meetings:
- 2023: England 23-29 Scotland
- 2022: Scotland 20-17 England
- 2021: England 6-11 Scotland
- 2020: Scotland 6-13 England
- 2019: England 38-38 Scotland
- 2018: Scotland 25-13 England
England team to play Scotland:
15. George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 5 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 59 caps)
12. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 21 caps)
11. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 66 caps)
10. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 93 caps) – vice captain
9. Danny Care (Harlequins, 98 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 59 caps) – vice captain
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 87 caps) – captain
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 109 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 78 caps) – vice captain
5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 20 caps)
6. Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs, 2 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 32 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 27 caps)
Replacements:
16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 9 caps)
17. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 90 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 35 caps)
19. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 9 caps)
20. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 2 caps)
21. Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby, 4 caps)
22. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
23. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, 1 cap)
Sir Ian McGeechan Asked To Name His All-Time XV, He Said Only One ‘Unbelievable’ Player Is Guaranteed A Spot
Sir Ian McGeechan has unveiled his ultimate XV, omitting Paul O’Connell, David Campese, and Jonny Wilkinson from his lineup.
In his article for The Telegraph, the 74-year-old has chosen six New Zealanders, three Englishmen, two Welsh players, and one each from France, Scotland, and Ireland in his all-time greatest team.
BACK-THREE
Fullback: JPR Williams (Wales) – “Not a staggeringly original choice, I’ll admit. But to my mind the only one. If I’m going to be picking a dream XV then I want JPR at the back. No question, guarenteed starter.”
Left-wing: Jonah Lomu (New Zealand) – “Illness and injury ultimately slowed him down. But his performances at the 1995 World Cup, just as the game was turning professional, will never be forgotten. The game needed a superstar, and it got one in Lomu. He was brilliant for rugby.”
Right-wing: John Kirwan (New Zealand) – “He had an all round game; he could carry the ball through heavy traffic, he could offload, he was like an extra back-rower at times. Plus, he had natural effortless pace. He ended up scoring 35 tries for the All Blacks and was instrumental as they went through their unbeaten spell of games between 1987 and 1990.”
CENTRES
Outside-centre: Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland) – “His ability to get back on his feet after tackling to compete for the ball was extraordinary, and ensured he always had an impact on the game, whatever type of game it was. He was such a natural talent.”
Inside-centre: Philippe Sella (France) – “Sella and O’Driscoll were powerful men. They could stop a forward in his tracks. I think as a pair they would dominate any midfield and I like the thought of them together.”