Will Greenwood tells Steve Borthwick to DROP England centurion

Writing in his Telegraph column, the former World Cup winner called for sweeping changes ahead of the trip to Rome, insisting England cannot afford to persist with the same combinations after what he described as a first-half “capitulation”.

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Greenwood was emphatic about the need for change at fly-half.

“Fin Smith has to start at fly-half. George Ford frequently looked like a rabbit in the headlights on Saturday. He was not alone.”

He added: “England were just completely unable to convert pressure into points.”

While Ford’s experience is vast, Greenwood believes England need clearer direction and greater authority in the No 10 shirt.

“I won’t read too much into the second half as England were chasing the game and the damage had been done but the first half was a capitulation,” he wrote. “The error count was high.”

Greenwood did not stop there.

“George Furbank should replace Freddie Steward, who was hooked in the first half,” he said, arguing the change is essential for the Rome encounter.

On the wing, he added: “Tom Roebuck must replace Henry Arundell, too; if England cannot get him the ball in space then Roebuck deserves the shirt.”

The midfield also came under scrutiny.

“I would change the centres, too, bringing in Max Ojomoh at inside to partner Ollie Lawrence.”

Yet Greenwood admitted uncertainty over England’s best combination: “Having said that, I am not sure what England’s best midfield combination is – and that is part of the issue.”

At scrum-half, Jack van Poortvliet’s impact off the bench did not go unnoticed.

“Jack van Poortvliet looked lively off the bench and will push Mitchell, if fit, all the way for the starting scrum-half jersey.”

Itoje and Ford were two of England’s six biggest underperformers on a chastening day at HQ.

The Leicester full-back endured an afternoon to forget. England rely on him to dominate the skies — he didn’t. Wobbly under the high ball, fortunate not to be punished for one costly spill that almost gifted Ireland a try, and then yellow-carded for a desperate infringement that handed the visitors momentum. Hooked before half-time in a ruthless call that spoke volumes.

Back in the starting XV but unable to impose himself. Ireland controlled the breakdown, an area Curry usually relishes, and he struggled to swing momentum. There were flashes in wider channels and his work-rate never dipped, but England needed edge and authority — they didn’t get it. Substituted after 50 minutes with little lasting imprint on the contest.

A winger blessed with pace but short on impact. For the second week running, he looked uncertain under the high ball and hesitant when chances opened up. England needed incision out wide; instead they got indecision. A couple of promising carries came to nothing, and defensively he was exposed too often.

A brutal afternoon for the 100-cap fly-half. Twice missing touch in the first half — one a glaring error — set the tone and drew ironic cheers from the Twickenham crowd. His game management, usually so reliable, faltered, and England’s attack drifted as a result. Slight improvement later on could not mask an uncharacteristically poor showing.

Dragged off after just 29 minutes in a damning indictment. The lineout malfunctioned from the outset and confidence drained visibly. While he offered some energy in the loose, England never looked secure at set-piece with him throwing. A torrid cameo ended early as the coaches sou``ght stability.

A landmark 100th cap that turned into a nightmare. The lineout creaked, Ireland bullied the breakdown and England’s talismanic lock couldn’t wrest back control. Substituted after 55 minutes with the game slipping away — a rare afternoon where his influence barely registered. For a player of his stature, it was one of his poorest displays in an England shirt.