Henry Pollock also in line to make full international debut from the bench
Head coach Steve Borthwick has once again juggled his 23, as his England Six Nations 2025 team look for the win against Wales that will keep alive their slim hopes of winning the title.
With Ollie Lawrence ruled out by the injury he sustained against Wales, Borthwick has moved Tommy Freeman from the wing to outside centre. Tom Roebuck takes his place to make his first Six Nations start.
Marcus Smith regains the number 15 shirt he lost for the Italy match, with Elliot Daly moving to the left wing. Ollie Sleightholme drops out of the 23 to make way. Scrum-half Alex Mitchell, fly-half Alex Mitchell and inside centre Fraser Dingwall keep their places from last week.
In the forwards, Luke Cowan-Dickie comes back as starting hooker (Jamie George is named as a replacement) alongside props Ellis Genge and Will Stuart, who wins his 50th cap. Captain Maro Itoje continues his second-row partnership with Ollie Chessum, while there’s a reshuffle in the back row: Tom Curry continues at blindside flanker, with twin brother Ben on the openside and Ben Earl moving to number 8. Tom Willis moves to the bench as back-row cover.
Borthwick has stuck with a 6-2 bench for the fifth successive Six Nations match, though he has made some changes. Highly rated Northampton Saints back row Henry Pollock is set to make his first ever England start from the bench, while 98-cap fly-half George Ford could make his first appearance of the championship. Fin Baxter, Joe Heyes, Chandler Cunningham-South and Jack van Poortvliet complete the bench.
“We’re excited to face Wales at the Principality Stadium this weekend, one of the most iconic venues in rugby,” said Borthwick. “The atmosphere will be electric, and we know we’ll need to be at our very best to get the result we’re aiming for.
“Reaching 50 caps is a well-deserved milestone for Will and a testament to the hard work he’s shown throughout his career. We’re excited to see him reach this landmark on Saturday and look forward to seeing him continue delivering performances at the highest level.”
Wales v England kicks off at 4.45pm GMT on Saturday 15 March.
- See also: How to watch Wales v England
England Six Nations team v Wales
15. Marcus Smith
14. Tom Roebuck
13. Tommy Freeman
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Elliot Daly
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Curry
8. Ben Earl
Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Chandler Cunningham-South
20. Henry Pollock
21. Tom Willis
22. Jack van Poortvliet
23. George Ford
England Six Nations team v Italy
15. Elliot Daly
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Jamie George (vice-captain)
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ted Hill
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Jack van Poortvliet
23. Marcus Smith
England Six Nations team v Scotland
15. Marcus Smith
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis
Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ted Hill
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Harry Randall
23. Elliot Daly
England Six Nations team v France
15. Marcus Smith
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. George Martin
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis
Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Harry Randall
23. Elliot Daly
England Six Nations team v Ireland
15. Freddie Steward
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Cadan Murley
10. Marcus Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. George Martin
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Curry
8. Ben Earl
Replacements:
16. Theo Dan
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Tom Willis
22. Harry Randall
23. Fin Smith
England Six Nations squad 2025
Forwards
Fin Baxter
Ollie Chessum
Arthur Clarke
Luke Cowan-Dickie
Chandler Cunningham-South
Ben Curry
Tom Curry
Theo Dan
Ben Earl
Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
Joe Heyes
Ted Hill
Maro Itoje (captain)
Curtis Langdon
George Martin
Asher Opoku-Fordjour
Henry Pollock
Bevan Rodd
Will Stuart
Tom Willis
Backs
Oscar Beard
Elliot Daly
Fraser Dingwall
George Ford
Tommy Freeman
Ollie Lawrence
Alex Mitchell
Cadan Murley
Raffi Quirke
Harry Randall
Tom Roebuck
Henry Slade
Ollie Sleightholme
Fin Smith
Marcus Smith
Ben Spencer
Freddie Steward
England Six Nations squad: Line-ups from every match in 2024
Round 1: v Italy (Stadio Olimpico, Rome)
Starting XV: Freddie Steward, Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Fraser Dingwall, Elliot Daly, George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Joe Marler, Jamie George (captain), Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Ethan Roots, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl
Replacements: Theo Dan, Beno Obano, Dan Cole, Alex Coles, Chandler Cunningham-South, Danny Care, Fin Smith, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
Result: Italy 24-27 England
Round 2: v Wales (Twickenham)
Starting XV: Freddie Steward, Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Fraser Dingwall, Elliot Daly, George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Joe Marler, Jamie George (captain), Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Ethan Roots, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl
Replacements: Theo Dan, Ellis Genge, Dan Cole, Alex Coles, Chandler Cunningham-South, Danny Care, Fin Smith, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
Result: England 16-14 Wales
Round 3: v Scotland (Murrayfield)
Starting XV: George Furbank; Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Elliot Daly; George Ford, Danny Care; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Ethan Roots, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl.
Replacements: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, George Martin, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Spencer, Fin Smith, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
Result: Scotland 30-21 England
Round 4: v Ireland (Twickenham)
Starting XV: George Furbank; Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Tommy Freeman; George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Ollie Chessum, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl
Replacements: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Chandler Cunningham-South, Alex Dombrandt, Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Elliot Daly
Result: England 23-22 Ireland
Round 5: v France (Groupama Stadium, Lyon)
Starting XV: George Furbank; Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Elliot Daly; George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, San Cole, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Ollie Chessum, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl.
Replacements: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Ethan Roots, Alex Dombrandt, Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Manu Tuilagi
Result: France 33-31 England
England Six Nations squad 2024
Forwards
Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
Theo Dan (Saracens)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Jamie George (Saracens) – captain
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Beno Obano (Bath Rugby)
Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints)
Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
Backs
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs,)
George Ford (Sale Sharks)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby)
Will Muir (Bath Rugby)
Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears)
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)
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