England's starting XV for the 2026 Six Nations, Borthwick rolls the dice

There’s still rugby to be played before the 7 February curtain-raiser, but here’s how England’s starting XV could realistically shape up.

Steward’s stock rose noticeably in the autumn. He sharpened several areas of his game while still offering that trademark dominance in the air that sets him apart. George Furbank can feel a bit unlucky, but Steward performed brilliantly and has earned the right to hold onto the shirt.

Roebuck is another outstanding aerial presence. He’s injured at the moment, but the expectation is he’ll be fit for the Six Nations. He understands the system well, and the only real threat to his place would be Tommy Freeman shifting out from 13 if England decide to change their midfield balance.

The experiment of playing Freeman at outside centre looked like a success right from the first outing. He seems to be the answer to a long-standing problem position. As mentioned, he could be moved back to the wing, but all signs point to Borthwick wanting him in the midfield going forward.

This one is a bit left-field, but not as wild as it sounds. Smith has the skillset and defensive strength to genuinely thrive at inside centre as a secondary playmaker. The rumours have been there, and although he hasn’t featured in this role yet, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he gets a shot.

A near-certain starter. Feyi-Waboso has superb rugby intelligence and all the physical tools to cause damage. Picking him is close to a no-brainer.

Ford was exceptional in the autumn and fully deserves to stay at fly-half. He’s such a sharp thinker and rises to big occasions—simply a brilliant player.

No controversy here: Mitchell is the best scrum-half in England right now.

England’s front-row depth is strong enough that they could rotate without much drop-off, but Genge remains the standout option. Borthwick might choose to bring his power off the bench, potentially opening the door for Fin Baxter to start, but Genge is still the favourite.

Jamie George is absolutely capable of starting depending on the tactical approach, but Cowan-Dickie gets the nod here.

With this particular front-row blend, starting Heyes over Will Stuart would give England better balance. He’s a strong scrummager and has developed hugely over the past year—he’s earned an opportunity.

Captain, leader, and the first name on the teamsheet. No further explanation required.

Martin, soon to be Itoje’s teammate at Saracens, should return from injury in time and is good enough to slot straight back into the starting XV.

With Martin at lock, Chessum moves to blindside—a role he knows well. The sheer power and physicality of this trio in the back five would be immense, and all three are top-class lineout options.

Borthwick clearly favours Underhill over Tom Curry, and that seems unlikely to change for the Six Nations. Underhill is a phenomenal defender and relentless worker—the kind of player whose graft isn’t always flashy but is absolutely vital.

The battle at No.8 is essentially between Earl and Chandler Cunningham-South. CCS is a superb bench option thanks to his versatility, so Earl starts. He was excellent in the autumn and has grown into a genuinely top-tier international. Henry Pollock is an outside shout for either No.8 or openside, but seems better suited to provide a spark off the bench.