TRANSFER: Joe Marchant quits Stade Francais for Premiership return, huge contract agreed

: "The international retirement of Courtney Lawes gives England the chance to look at a specialist No 6, and if they do so I would throw in Chandler Cunningham-South for his first cap.

The 27-year-old played a crucial role for Steve Borthwick's national team during last year's World Cup, contributing to their third-place finish.

Marchant featured in six starting games out of seven and made a substitute appearance in the remaining match.

Despite having committed to joining the Top 14 and Stade Francais before the tournament, an agreement was in place that would render him unavailable for Test selection during his tenure with the Parisian club.

As reported by the Mail Online, Marchant's stint in the French capital is expected to be a brief one, with Saracens, the Premiership titleholders, on the verge of bringing him back to his home country.

Stade Francais currently holds the second position in the Top 14, trailing behind Racing 92. However, the allure of resuming international rugby is believed to be a significant factor influencing Marchant's decision.

Moore wrote in The Telegraph: "

George Furbank would probably edge this pick strictly on club form and this game would be ideal to see if the Northampton Saints full-back can make the decisive step into a starting role after his first series of England starts were inconclusive."

"I would go straight for Exeter’s Immanuel Feyi-Waboso. It would be his first cap, but opening against Italy is the least pressured of Six Nations debuts and, cynically, it would secure his allegiance for the forthcoming years.

"You can never choose a completely risk-free debut, but you will never have an understanding of any player’s potential unless you give them a chance."

Moore wrote in The Telegraph: |As Oscar Beard is also out through injury that leaves Fraser Dingwall, replacement call-up Max Ojomah or Daly. If Borthwick goes for the latter, it is the safe option but, given this is Italy, he should give Dingwall a start and just see where it goes."

Moore wrote in The Telegraph: "Picking half of the half-back picks is simple. Alex Mitchell’s club form has continued from his France 2023 heights, but it is which No 10 will play that signals Borthwick’s intent. 

"Marcus Smith would suggest a Mitchell-Smith longer term partnership but there is no point preferring Smith over George Ford if the Quins No 10 is not given licence to play with alacrity and the inevitable mistakes that will come with that freer approach being tolerated, at least in the short term."

Moore wrote in The Telegraph: "As the best two scrummaging props, Joe Marler (if fit) and Dan Coleshould give England the absolutely necessary solid scrum ball, but it is at prop where England do not have flawless depth.

"Ellis Genge and Beno Obano are dynamic but not yet world-class scrummagers. On the tighthead there is no undisputed challenger to Cole, and this is something that England will need to solve to maintain set-piece solidity over a full game."

Moore wrote in The Telegraph: "They should continue their second-row partnership but both have to step up to consistent ball-carrying in the loose, as well as their primary roles in the scrum and line-out.

"This pairing has the feel of the Itoje-Kruis team that served England so well in the past. If they get anywhere near its effectiveness England will have a solid foundation for their pack."

6. Chandler Cunningham-South

"Alex Coles might be preferred for bulk and as a line-out option, but it would be interesting to see a conventionally balanced back row with Ben Earl at No 8 and Sam Underhill at openside flanker."

The brains behind the Six Nations masterplans, these head coaches have all won 'Rugby's Greatest Championship', since the modernised competition began back in 2000. Throughout the history of the competition, there have been only five head coaches to win the competition on more than one occasion.

However, Ireland head coach Andy Farrell is looking to become the sixth, as he orchestrates the men from the Emerald Isle into defending their Six Nations Grand Slam. In total, the Six Nations has been won by 13 different head coaches, and we challenge you to name them all in the next six minutes!

Your time starts... now! Good luck!