![\"England](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\/faaefb60-536e-49f9-af09-f9d7857f312d.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Genge is unlikely to last more than an hour, giving Borthwick a decision on when best to replace him<\/p>\n
BOB BRADFORD\/CAMERASPORT\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n
Joe Heyes, the ever-improving Leicester Tigers tight-head, is the number one No3, so to speak, but Borthwick will have either an experienced, if only three-times capped, Trevor Davison or Bath\u2019s 20-year-old Vilikesa \u201cBilly\u201d Sela as the rawest of inclusions. Such options would be a worry in Australia; here it is a glorious gift for Borthwick, an opportunity, especially to accelerate Sela\u2019s development, and I would put the Bath man straight in to start against Wales.<\/p>\n
On the loose-head side, Fin Baxter\u2019s late withdrawal \u2014 for the early part of the competition, at least \u2014 undoubtedly hampers England. In the meantime, however, they have a pretty special loose-head in the shape of Bristol Bears\u2019 Ellis Genge. Bevan Rodd is a solid alternative, while Northampton\u2019s 25-year-old uncapped Emmanuel Iyogun is a more daring act of squad selection.<\/p>\n
What will be even more fascinating than who is picked in the 23 is where they start. Genge has played a lot of Test-match rugby \u2014 for both the British & Irish Lions and England \u2014 from the bench. It seems inconceivable that he will not play at least an hour of the Tests. This leaves either Rodd or Iyogun set up to see out the final quarter, or whatever time span is beyond the Bristolian.<\/p>\n
![\"Joe](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\/2f6a826c-4340-44c4-9c18-b45a834b01de.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
The Leicester tight-head Heyes is the pick of the options at No3<\/p>\n
DAN MULLAN\/RFU\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n
If Genge is on from the start \u2014 until\/if his legs and lungs cry \u201cenough\u201d \u2014 must England ensure sufficient end-game experience on the other side of the scrum? It may not affect the result against Wales, but experience may count for much thereafter. Heyes makes sense as the tight-head introduction at half-time, or even earlier.<\/p>\n
\u201cDelicate\u201d isn\u2019t the most overused of words in the vocabulary of the front row, but the balance of how and when Borthwick<\/a> deploys his starting props could be a crucial component in this Six Nations<\/a>. Get it wrong and it becomes a crisis. It is an interesting test of the manager.<\/p>\n Elsewhere the squad has just the one uncapped player to go with Sela and Iyogun. The in-form Exeter Chiefs No8 Greg Fisilau has dynamited his way into what is a back row bursting with options. If he is to be capped, it is likeliest to be against Wales or Italy, off the bench. <\/p>\n The latter is likelier because Borthwick will want a good 80 minutes against Wales to set them up for the acid test one week later in Edinburgh. The World Cup may be prioritised over a grand slam, but that\u2019s not to suggest England would neglect the immediate glory.<\/p>\n Jamie George is the best technician of the hookers but the question is \u2014 again \u2014 does he start or play later in the game? Neither Luke Cowan-Dickie nor the talented but untrustworthy thrower, Theo Dan, can be trusted when the pressure mounts as it does through the course of a Test match.<\/p>\n George, right, who will retire this year, is most valuable later in the game when the pressure is at its highest<\/p>\n DAN MULLAN\/RFU\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n The manner in which European teams have been taking one another on at the lineout either indicates that the accuracy and nerve of someone like George is required, or that there is no such thing as a secure lineout any more. Of all the ever-changing trends in the sport, it is the manner in which defending lineouts get their jumpers both in the air and into the throwing hooker\u2019s eyeline that fascinates and most alters the tactical shape of a match.<\/p>\n Maro Itoje and Ollie Chessum offer expertise and leadership, with Alex Coles a brilliant option from the bench to add extra firepower to the lineout in the second or back row. An English version of France\u2019s spectacular, and oft-underused, talent Cameron Woki.<\/p>\n There\u2019s little to say about the back row, other than it is packed with talent, variety and options, while at scrum half Northampton\u2019s Alex Mitchell is the clear first choice but not necessarily the starter. If Borthwick wants to close out a game in traditional style, Ben Spencer is the obvious replacement but an England side intent on accelerating all the way to the final whistle would be all the sharper for introducing Mitchell just before half-time.<\/p>\n Mitchell is the first-choice scrum half but may be better used as a replacement<\/p>\n ALEX DAVIDSON\/RFU\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n![\"Ben](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\/20bd25cd-b142-4472-adee-e5de33b2cb9f.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"England](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/\/14f62d94-bac3-48bd-9e41-0ec23d8abf53.jpg\")
<\/p>\n