I’m hugely excited by what this England team can achieve in the 2026 Six Nations. Steve Borthwick’s starting XV for their opener with Wales isn’t the one I would have picked, but it is also one I can understand and get behind.
The selection of an X-factor player in Henry Arundell is notable. He has the express pace all top wingers need and he can create something out of nothing. But there is no point in England picking the 23-year-old if they don’t plan to give him the ball.
In his 11 caps so far, Arundell has shown just how good he is, even if his chances have been too sporadic. He scored with his second touch on debut in Australia in the summer of 2022 and scored five tries against Chile at the 2023 World Cup.
With London Irish, Racing 92 and now Bath, he’s also had a habit of producing world-class tries – the sort very few players can score. That’s all great and is why he’s in the side. But for too many of Arundell’s Tests so far, he has been a peripheral figure.
Across his first four caps, he had just four touches. That’s simply nowhere near good enough. Arundell is a supreme attacking threat, so England must have him in possession as much as possible.
This is a two-way street. It’s the responsibility of England’s playmakers – chiefly George Ford and Fraser Dingwall – to look for Arundell, as well as Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Tommy Freeman. Equally, it is the responsibility of Arundell and Co to go searching for the ball. In his first few caps, Arundell stayed on his wing too much. Now, he’s a player with more experience, so I hope that will change.
Henry Arundell has express pace and can create something out of nothing. But there is no point in England picking the 23-year-old if they don’t give him the ball
Arundell scored five tries against Chile at the 2023 World Cup but across his first four caps for England, he had just four touches
But it is the responsibility of Arundell to go searching for the ball too. Hopefully, his added experience since his last England appearances means he will do just that
Arundell and Feyi-Waboso are two incredibly exciting talents, players who can get the Twickenham crowd out of their seats and cheering with excitement. But they need to be running with ball in hand, rather than just chasing kicks.
England women’s star full-back Ellie Kildunne is a similar player. She’s so electric that her team-mates just look for her every time. That’s what England need to do with Arundell.
I had it in my time coaching England with Jason Robinson. Rugby is a complex game at times but it does not need to be that way. My message as England boss was simple – just get the ball to Jason! I also made it clear to Robinson that he had a free licence to roam all over the pitch. He often popped up at first receiver.
That’s what I want to see England do against the Welsh. England have won their past 11 matches and swept the autumn with four straight victories. Borthwick is doing a tremendous job and his team are in a fantastic place. But in November, I thought Feyi-Waboso could have been involved more. He is in such fantastic form for Exeter that it would be criminal not to make the most of him. The same goes for Arundell.
I don’t see any way England can lose to Wales, so the Championship opener is a big opportunity to make a statement of intent to the rest of the teams in the tournament. Let’s see Feyi-Waboso and Arundell run riot.
Borthwick has so much talent at his disposal that I’m sure his selection was tricky. But as an international coach, these are good problems to have! As I wrote in my previous Daily Mail Sport column, I’d have picked Seb Atkinson at inside centre, Henry Pollock on the flank and George Furbank ahead of Freddie Steward at full-back.
Borthwick has kept faith with Steward. What a great opportunity this Wales game is for him to show his attacking and distribution skills.
Maro Itoje’s selection as a replacement is totally understandable given he missed the start of England’s Spain training camp due to his mother’s passing. That was awful news and I’d like to pass on my condolences to Itoje, who is excelling in his role as captain.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is an incredibly exciting talent but he needs to be running with ball in hand rather than just chasing kicks
Henry Pollock is a rugby superstar, the sort of player you pay your ticket money to watch. I’m sure in time he will become a starter, but I believe he’s ready to begin games now
Borthwick and England’s players are always stressing the importance of international rugby now being a 23-man game. It seems players are no longer disappointed to be on the bench. This is what they say publicly, but I’d love to know if it’s what they really think. Deep down, I’m sure every international wants to start and play 80 minutes.
Borthwick has placed a lot of store in the impact of his bench, bringing on fresh players for the final quarter. That policy worked in November, with the likes of Pollock and Tom Curry playing vital roles as replacements. But I’m yet to be convinced by the science which shows when players are tiring and often impacts the coach’s decision-making. If you’re not fit enough to play the whole game, you shouldn’t be starting anyway.
At the same time, a guy like Pollock is someone fans want to see for 80 minutes. Pollock is already a rugby superstar, the sort of player you pay your ticket money to watch. I’m sure in time he will become a starter, but I believe he’s ready to begin games now.
England have two big challenges on their hands this weekend. The first, clearly, is to win. Although Wales are struggling, that should not be considered a given. But what I also want to see alongside a win is a performance that gives the squad belief they can win in Scotland in round two.
That is a game England can lose. Winning away is England’s next step. They will make it 12 in a row against Wales, but it will be the nature of the performance and margin of victory – not the outcome – which will tell us most about whether England can win this Six Nations. England haven’t lifted the title since 2020. That’s far too long, so the time is now for Borthwick and his players to deliver.
