Owen Farrell is back at fly-half
Captain Owen Farrell returns at fly-half with Manu Tuilagi at inside centre as Steve Borthwick hands Henry Arundell a first start on the wing against Ireland in the England Six Nations squad.
Farrell will lead the side after being dropped for the 53-10 hammering to France at Twickenham, with Tuilagi – recalled after a ban for striking that he picked up on Sale Sharks duty – given his first appearance in the Borthwick era.
Henry Slade partners Tuilagi in the centres with Arundell replacing Max Malins on the wing with the Bristol-bound Saracens star dropping out of the 23 altogether.
David Ribbans replaces the injured Ollie Chessum in the second row with Nick Isiekwe coming onto the bench.
Read more: England Six Nations fixtures
Captain Farrell back at 10 with Tuilagi outside 🌹 pic.twitter.com/h8qvGfKsVe
— Rugby World (@Rugbyworldmag) March 16, 2023
England Six Nations team to play Ireland
Freddie Steward; Anthony Watson, Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi, Henry Arundell; Owen Farrell (captain), Jack van Poortvliet; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, David Ribbans, Lewis Ludlam, Jack Willis, Alex Dombrandt
Replacements: Jack Walker, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Nick Isiekwe, Ben Curry, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Joe Marchant
England Six Nations squad v France
Freddie Steward; Max Malins, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Anthony Watson; Marcus Smith, Jack van Poortvliet; Ellis Genge (captain), Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Lewis Ludlam, Jack Willis, Alex Dombrandt
Replacements: Jack Walker, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, David Ribbans, Ben Curry, Alex Mitchell, Owen Farrell, Henry Arundell
England Six Nations squad v Wales
Freddie Steward; Max Malins, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Anthony Watson; Owen Farrell (captain), Jack van Poortvliet; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Lewis Ludlam, Jack Willis, Alex Dombrandt
Replacements: Jack Walker, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Courtney Lawes, Ben Curry, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Henry Arundell
England Six Nations squad v Italy
Freddie Steward; Max Malins, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Ollie Hassell-Collins; Owen Farrell (captain), Jack van Poortvliet; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Lewis Ludlam, Jack Willis, Alex Dombrandt
Replacements: Jack Walker, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Nick Isiekwe, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Henry Arundell
England Six Nations squad v Scotland
Freddie Steward; Max Malins, Joe Marchant, Owen Farrell (captain), Ollie Hassell-Collins; Marcus Smith, Jack van Poortvliet; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Lewis Ludlam, Ben Curry, Alex Dombrandt
Replacements: Jack Walker, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Nick Isiekwe, Ben Earl, Ben Youngs, Ollie Lawrence, Anthony Watson
England Six Nations wider squad 2023
England’s 2023 Six Nations squad starts the campaign under new management. After the RFU named Steve Borthwick England head coach and he brought Kevin Sinfield in to oversee defence, it was also announced that Nick Evans has joined England as attack coach for the Six Nations.
And now Borthwick has named his full England Six Nations squad for this year’s championship.
There are recalls to England for tighthead Dan Cole and back-rowers Ben Earl and Ben Curry – whose single cap came against the USA in 2021. Max Malins and Nick Isiekwe are also back in the group.
Read more: England Six Nations fixtures
There is no place for Billy Vunipola, Jack Nowell or Jonny May while the highly-rated Tom Pearson of London Irish isn’t included. Alex Coles of Northampton Saints is also out but there is a reprieve for his club-mate David Ribbans who initially missed out but has been called up after vice-captain Courtney Lawes withdrew with a calf problem.
For the uncapped players, Jack Walker is in the mix amongst the hookers, but having initially been selected Gloucester’s George McGuigan has been forced to pull out with a knee injury, with Bath No 2 Tom Dunn his replacement.
Jamie George’s concussion has led to a call up for Newcastle’s Jamie Blamire while fellow Saracen Elliot Daly’s hamstring injury – which has ruled him out of the entire championship – means there is a place in the squad for Ollie Lawrence.
Henry Slade’s hip problem and Dan Kelly’s thigh issue has ruled both centres out of the opening game against Scotland, leading to call-ups for fit-again Anthony Watson and his Leicester team-mate Guy Porter, who featured prominently during the autumn.
Elsewhere in the backs, fly-half Fin Smith is included ahead of a possible debut having starred for England U20 but also qualifying for Scotland.
England Six Nations squad 2023
FORWARDS
Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 6 caps)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 95 caps)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks,1 cap)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 9 caps)
Tom Dunn (Bath, 3 caps)
Ben Earl (Saracens, 13 caps)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 43 caps)
Jamie George (Saracens, 72 caps)
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks, 19 caps)
Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 8 caps)
Maro Itoje (Saracens, 62 caps)
Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 14 caps)
David Ribbans (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 18 caps)
Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 56 caps)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 74 caps)
Jack Walker (Harlequins, uncapped)
Jack Willis (Toulouse, 6 caps)
BACKS
Owen Farrell (Saracens, 101 caps)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, uncapped)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath, 7 caps)
Max Malins (Saracens, 14 caps)
Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 13 caps)
Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
Cadan Murley (Harlequins, uncapped)
Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 17 caps)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks, 50 caps)
Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers, 51 caps)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 121 caps) .
England Six Nations Fixtures 2023
(All kick-off times are GMT)
Round 1
Sat 4 February, England 23-29 Scotland – Twickenham, 4.45pm, Watch stunning Duhan van der Merwe try against England
Round 2
Sun 12 February, England 31-14 Italy – Twickenham, 3pm, Jack Willis comeback to remember against Italy
Round 3
Sat 25 February, Wales 10-20 England – Principality Stadium, 4.45pm, Freddie Steward covers up for England
Round 4
Sat 11 March, England 10-53 France – Twickenham, 4.45pm, England hammered- Twickenham witnesses record France win
Round 5
Sat 18 March, Ireland v England – Aviva Stadium, 5pm
Don’t miss a game with our Six Nations TV coverage guide.
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