By far the most fluid and fascinating selection of England’s Six Nations, with several mainstays looking vulnerable. The first move is to drop Freddie Steward and Luke Cowan-Dickie, the two players shepherd’s-crooked in that wretched first half against Ireland. In come Marcus Smith, preferred to George Furbank on the strength of his extra recent minutes, and Jamie George, whose leadership could also resolve the conundrum of what to do about Maro Itoje.
The captain, his energies sapped both by a ludicrous workload and the recent death of his mother, desperately needs a respite, with George by far the most capable understudy. Ollie Lawrence’s injury necessitates Tommy Freeman’s temporary return to 13, inelegant as that solution is – but pulling Max Ojomoh in from outside the squad would work. A revamped half-back partnership of Fin Smith and Jack van Poortvliet could help revive England from their torpor, while a back row in Rome of Ollie Chessum, Tom Curry and Ben Earl should provide some much-needed heft in the carry.