England's hopes of a Six Nations resurgence are facing a significant blow, with a key attacking weapon sidelined just as they prepare for a monumental clash against Ireland! It's a situation that's causing Steve Borthwick no end of selection headaches.
England's Six Nations campaign has hit a rocky patch, and their upcoming match against Ireland on Saturday is shaping up to be a crucial turning point. Adding to the pressure, Henry Arundell is facing a potential suspension following a red card he received during their recent game against Scotland. This means the dynamic winger might be unavailable for this vital encounter.
Following their disappointing defeat in the Calcutta Cup, England's coaching staff have vowed to conduct a thorough and candid review. Borthwick is undoubtedly contemplating changes to the lineup to face Ireland, but Arundell's absence would be a major blow. Tournament organizers have confirmed that Arundell will face a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday. His red card stemmed from two separate incidents: first, for failing to release after a tackle, and second, for an aerial challenge on Kyle Steyn.
But here's where it gets even more complicated for Borthwick's squad selection: Their options on the wing are already looking thin. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is currently nursing a hamstring injury, and with Arundell likely out, England could be left without their primary sources of blistering pace against the formidable Irish side. While Elliot Daly is part of the wider squad, his form this season hasn't been at its peak. Cadan Murley is another name in contention, though his previous debut against Ireland a year ago was, to put it mildly, a challenging experience.
And this is the part most people miss: Borthwick might need to rethink his tactical approach entirely. He could consider moving Tommy Freeman from his outside-centre position back to the wing, which would then open up a spot in midfield for Ollie Lawrence. The creative spark that was so noticeably absent against Scotland – a game that ended England's impressive 12-match winning streak – could potentially be reignited by the inclusion of Marcus Smith and George Furbank, both of whom are expected to be in contention.
Despite the sting of losing to Scotland at Murrayfield for the third consecutive time, Borthwick has been trying to avoid knee-jerk reactions. However, this defeat has undeniably burst England's bubble and dashed their hopes of a Grand Slam this year. To keep any realistic chance of winning the Six Nations title alive for the first time in six years, they absolutely must defeat Ireland, who themselves managed to secure a victory against Italy.
Ireland's win over Italy wasn't without its struggles, and their earlier loss to France has led some to believe they might be on a downward trend. However, Borthwick himself has been quick to praise the quality of Andy Farrell's team. He highlighted their immense talent, the significant number of British and Irish Lions within their ranks, and the cohesion that comes from playing together so frequently, particularly with the influence of Leinster. He acknowledged their sustained presence at the top of the world rankings.
The good news for England is the timing of the Six Nations schedule this year. With no fallow week following their loss, they have an immediate opportunity to bounce back. Scrum-half Alex Mitchell expressed this sentiment perfectly: "You’d hate to go into a fallow week now and be licking your wounds after a result like that. So it’s perfect we’ve got another chance to go at Ireland on Saturday to right some wrongs. So, yes, it’s perfect timing."
The squad has already reconvened at their Bagshot base, with some difficult reviews undoubtedly on the agenda before their focus shifts entirely to Ireland. On a positive note, George Furbank is fit again after recovering from a head injury, and Billy Sela has been brought in to replace George Kloska.
Six Nations Standings (as of recent matchday):
- France (2 games played, 2 wins, 0 losses, 10 points)
- Scotland (2 games played, 1 win, 1 loss, 6 points)
- England (2 games played, 1 win, 1 loss, 5 points)
- Italy (2 games played, 1 win, 1 loss, 5 points)
- Ireland (2 games played, 1 win, 1 loss, 4 points)
- Wales (2 games played, 0 wins, 2 losses, 0 points)
Fraser Dingwall, a centre for England, shared his perspective on the review process: "I always will try to review a game from a neutral standpoint. I think that after a win or a loss, you’ve got to be incredibly honest so you kick on and grow and develop, irrespective of the result. As ever, there are parts that won’t be as bad as you think they are, but there are parts that will be tough to watch back as well. You’ve got to be honest and confront those in both senses."
He elaborated on the emotional aspect of the review, stating, "The emotional side will be around the contact stuff, the physicality stuff, the moments which are based upon desire and effort. But we’ll be very clinical and direct when it comes to detail bits in how we can develop and what we are trying to do."
Now, over to you! With Arundell's potential ban and other injuries, do you think England has enough firepower to overcome Ireland? Or is this a sign of deeper issues within the squad? What specific changes would you make to the team to face Ireland? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
