Three players Steve Borthwick must drop despite win – and who should replace them
Rugby NewsSaturday, 08 February 2025 at 20:25
England pulled off a stunning late win against France as Elliot Daly crossed for a dramatic 79th-minute try, sending the Allianz Stadium into a frenzy.
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Fly-half Fin Smith, making his first Test start, showed nerves of steel to slot the crucial conversion, sealing a thrilling victory over the tournament favourites.
It was a chaotic, error-strewn contest, but England found a way to win. Replacement prop Fin Baxter powered over to edge them in front, only for France’s Louis Bielle-Biarrey to dance his way over moments later. But England refused to go quietly, and when Smith’s perfectly timed pop pass put Daly into space, the Saracens man sprinted through to snatch the win.
After their opening-round defeat to Ireland, another loss would have all but ended England’s Six Nations hopes. Instead, Borthwick’s men head to Murrayfield with the Calcutta Cup in their sights, and a realistic shot at their first title since 2020.
However, if England want to build on this momentum, changes are needed. Below, we look at three players Borthwick must drop – and who should come in.
1. Marcus Smith
Verdict: England’s full-back experiment needs rethinking
Despite his undeniable talent, the decision to play Smith at full-back remains a major talking point. His kicking off the tee was wayward, and he struggled defensively, nearly gifting a try when Bielle-Biarrey ripped the ball from his grasp.
- Evening Standard – 5/10: “Struggled defensively… Kicking off the tee was poor, too.”
- Telegraph – 4/10: “Turned most things to lead… threw himself in front of Alex Mitchell’s pass.”
- Express – 5/10: “Missed key kicks and was taken off kicking duty after Baxter’s try.”
- Planet Rugby – 4/10: “His reactions will be mixed… errors were to be expected, but his kicking woes made things difficult.”
Replacement: Freddie Steward
Steward has been a rock at full-back for England over the past few years, and while Smith offers attacking flair, Steward’s reliability under the high ball and defensive security make him the obvious choice to return.
2. George Martin
Verdict: Needs to make more of an impact
Martin is usually a powerhouse in England’s pack, but against France, he had an uncharacteristically quiet game. He missed an uncontested line-out and, while he worked hard, he failed to impose himself as expected.
- RUCK – 4/10: “Had a slow game… wasn’t afraid to get involved, but some magic was missing.”
- Guardian – 6/10: “Gets through plenty of work but isn’t quite making the desired impact.”
Replacement: Ollie Chessum
Chessum’s dynamism and physicality give England an extra edge in the second row. His presence at line-out time and ability to carry hard would add more balance to the pack.
3. Luke Cowan-Dickie
Verdict: Struggled at the set piece
Cowan-Dickie was busy in the loose but struggled with his line-out throwing, an area that proved costly. England lost several key throws while he was on the field, and Steve Borthwick made the right call to substitute him.
- Telegraph – 5/10: “Line-out was a bit of a mess… Jamie George will be pushing hard for the starting shirt.”
- Evening Standard – 5/10: “A bit loose in the line-out, with England losing three of their six while he was on.”
- Express – 6/10: “Disappointing with his line-outs.”
- RUCK – 5/10: “His effort was there, but handling errors led to silly penalties for France.”
Replacement: Jamie George
George offers experience and accuracy at the set piece, making him the natural choice to start against Scotland. His leadership and composure in key moments could prove vital.
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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