Henry Arundell is set to make his first start for England since the 2023 World Cup, taking the left wing position for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener against Wales. The 23-year-old Bath flyer, who returned to Test rugby as a replacement against Fiji last autumn, missed out on previous matches due to his move to French club Racing 92.
England captaincy duties will be shared at the Allianz Stadium, with Jamie George leading the team from the start while Maro Itoje, recently back from personal bereavement, begins on the bench and will take over the captaincy once on the field.
Arundell’s selection adds pace and dynamism to England’s backline, stepping in due to Tom Roebuck’s ongoing recovery from a toe injury sustained in November. At the center, Fraser Dingwall and Tommy Freeman reunite in a tried-and-tested partnership honed during England’s decisive wins over Wales and Australia last year. Dingwall’s inclusion edges out contenders Max Ojomoh and Seb Atkinson for the number 12 spot.
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Half-back responsibilities lie with Alex Mitchell and George Ford, while Freddie Steward and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso complete the backline mix.
In the forwards, the absence of Itoje from the starting lineup opens spots for Alex Coles and Ollie Chessum in the second row. Sam Underhill continues at openside flanker, with Tom Curry playing a key role off the bench, maintaining the formidable ‘Bomb Squad’ dynamic established in the autumn campaign.
Coach Steve Borthwick’s bench is forward-heavy, featuring six replacements to cover an injury crisis at prop, which has sidelined Will Stuart, Fin Baxter, and Asher Opoku-Fordjour for the entire championship. Experienced props Bevan Rodd and Trevor Davison fill these critical gaps. Among the backs, Ben Spencer and Marcus Smith offer valuable cover, with Smith capable of covering both full-back and fly-half.
With Wales seeking their first Six Nations win since 2023, Borthwick anticipates a tactical kicking game from the opposition and emphasizes the importance of discipline and executing England’s game plan under pressure.
“England versus Wales is always a special occasion in the rugby calendar. It’s a fierce rivalry with a long history and one that brings a huge challenge every time we meet,” Borthwick said. “We expect Wales to bring a kicking game, so we’ll need to be accurate in how we respond. Our focus is on executing our game plan and maintaining discipline. The packed Allianz Stadium will give us a huge lift as we kick off the Championship.”
England team:
F. Steward (Leicester Tigers), I. Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs), T. Freeman (Northampton Saints), F. Dingwall (Northampton Saints), H. Arundell (Bath Rugby); G. Ford (Sale Sharks), A. Mitchell (Northampton Saints); E. Genge (Bristol Bears), J. George (Saracens, capt), J. Heyes (Leicester Tigers), A. Coles (Northampton Saints), O. Chessum (Leicester Tigers), G. Pepper (Bath Rugby), S. Underhill (Bath Rugby), B. Earl (Saracens).
Replacements:
L. Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks), B. Rodd (Sale Sharks), T. Davison (Northampton Saints), M. Itoje (Saracens), T. Curry (Sale Sharks), H. Pollock (Northampton Saints), B. Spencer (Bath Rugby), M. Smith (Harlequins).