England issue squad update ahead of Italy Six Nations clash

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Ollie Lawrence, George Martin, Tom Willis, Tom Curry and Ben Earl join the squad for rehabilitation.

FORWARDS
Fin Baxter
Ollie Chessum
Alex Coles
Luke Cowan-Dickie
Chandler Cunningham-South
Ben Curry
Theo Dan
Alex Dombrandt
Ellis Genge
Joe Heyes
Ted Hill
Maro Itoje
Jamie George
Henry Pollock
Will Stuart

BACKS
Oscar Beard
Elliot Daly
Fraser Dingwall
George Ford
Tommy Freeman
Alex Mitchell
Harry Randall
Tom Roebuck
Henry Slade
Ollie Sleightholme
Fin Smith
Marcus Smith
Freddie Steward
Jack van Poortvliet

Steve Borthwick’s men survived a late scare as Finn Russell’s conversion slid wide, allowing them to snatch their first win over Scotland since 2020. Meanwhile, Wales looked revitalized under Matt Sherratt, producing their best display of the tournament so far.

But who had a weekend to forget? RUCK Editor Steve Smith takes a look at five players who struggled in round three.

So much talent, yet another disappointing display on the international stage. Slade had a torrid time against Scotland, missing key tackles that left England exposed.

His defensive lapses piled pressure on his teammates, while his attacking contribution was minimal—offering little creativity in midfield. With fierce competition for places, could this be the end of the road for him under Steve Borthwick?

Nowhere near the Lions conversation right now.

A night to forget for Scotland’s co-captain. While his passing and movement constantly tested England’s defence, his goal-kicking proved costly.

In a game of fine margins, his missed kicks—especially the late conversion that drifted wide—ultimately defined the result. A fly-half of his quality is expected to deliver in clutch moments, and he’ll know he left points behind. Scotland fans won’t let this one slide easily.

The Lions will want their No. 10 to be reliable off the tee. Fin Smith and Sam Prendergast are breathing down his neck.

Struggled to make his mark in an intense physical battle. He carried with intent but was let down by handling errors and poor decision-making at key moments.

Scotland needed stability in the back row, but Dempsey was too often on the fringes rather than in the thick of it. A frustrating afternoon where his effort wasn’t matched by execution, leaving Scotland’s pack without the control he was expected to bring.

The No. 8 jersey for the Lions remains up for grabs, though Caelan Doris leads the charge for the 2025 tour.

A rare off-day for one of Ireland’s most consistent performers. His lineout throwing remains a concern, with Ireland struggling to secure clean ball at crucial moments.

In open play, he was quieter than usual, failing to make his trademark impact with ball in hand. At times, he looked to force things, leading to unnecessary handling errors. With Rónan Kelleher waiting in the wings, this wasn’t the performance Sheehan needed.

He had been the frontrunner for the Lions No. 2 shirt, but strong form from Luke Cowan-Dickie and Elliot Dee has ramped up the competition.

A frustrating afternoon for the England scrum-half. His box-kicking lacked accuracy, failing to relieve pressure or put Scotland on the back foot. England’s attack looked sluggish in the first half, with Mitchell’s slow service contributing to their struggles.

He added more tempo after the break, but by then, the damage was done. With England’s half-back situation under scrutiny, this display won’t have strengthened his claim as Borthwick’s long-term No. 9. The Twickenham crowd’s lukewarm reception said it all.

Right now, he’s trailing behind Ben White, Tomos Williams, and Jamison Gibson-Park in the Lions pecking order.