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Six Nations

'Just boss it': Steve Borthwick urged to hand out England debut in Italy

By Josh Raisey

47 days ago

Steve Borthwick, Head Coach of England, talks to the players during the England training camp at Hotel Camiral de Caldes de Malavella on January 30, 2026 in Girona, Spain. (Photo by Steve Bardens - RFU/The RFU Collection via Getty Images)

Former England centre Will Greenwood has said that Exeter Chiefs’ Greg Fisilau “has to come in at No.8” to make his international debut in England’s pivotal Guinness Six Nations round four fixture with Italy in Rome.

In the wake of their 42-21 loss to Ireland at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium, which came a week after a Calcutta Cup defeat in Edinburgh, reams of column inches and hours of podcast airtime have been spent listing England’s myriad shortcomings.

One of England’s most glaring flaws against Ireland was how unbalanced the back-row appeared to be, with their Irish counterparts running riot at the breakdown. This was one of the few changes Steve Borthwick made after the defeat to Scotland, starting Tom Curry and Henry Pollock alongside Ben Earl, instead of Guy Pepper and Sam Underhill.

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The make-up of this back-row was even questioned before the match, with some predicting what unfolded in London. To rectify the issue, Greenwood has encouraged Borthwick to select a “proper No.8”.

The 22-year-old Chiefs star was one of three uncapped players selected in England’s Six Nations squad, arriving in camp off the back of the kind of form that made him impossible to ignore despite England’s burgeoning back-row options.

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Italy

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England

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Speaking on the Rugby Mates podcast, the 2003 World Cup winner made this suggestion, but questioned what path Borthwick would take as he desperately searches for a win – backing the players he knows or going for something new.

“I think Greg Fisilau has to come in at No.8,” he said. “We saw Doris, we’ve seen Jelonch, we’ve seen Wainwright, we’ve seen Cannone, we’ve seen proper No.8s over the course of a weekend.

“Pollock was ok, but I’ve always talked about rugby being the celebration of difference, not going to change there – at the moment we’re too samey in our back-row. Three players who do similar things. By the way, they’re all supposed to be No.7s and we got one turnover.

“There’s no doubt Tom Willis would be playing, but he’s not available. If you look at the calibre of No.8s doing a No.8’s job – I don’t want No.8s in the wide channels, I don’t want you five metres either side of the posts. Say ‘operate in there, just own that space, just boss it’. Doris deviated and went slightly into the outside channels, but his entire game, not just trucking it up but offloading. That’s what I want my No.8 to do.

“Under pressure, Farrell went to his guys that have delivered. Borthwick is now in a hole, and he needs to find a win. Does he go with the guys who have given him 12 wins but have lost the last two or does he go ‘I need to change and bring people in’? You’d like to think we would change it, but it’s easy for us to say.”

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Comments

9 Comments

Jacque 46 days ago

Please pick Pollock again 🤣🤣

JB 46 days ago

I get the argument, but this isn’t about experiments, it’s about fixing balance. If SB wants a back row that actually functions, then picking a proper No. 8 makes sense. England have been too samey, too lightweight around the gainline, and too passive at the breakdown.

John Breslin 46 days ago

Doris looked back to his best but I think the mismatch helped with the England selections.

Pollock wore #8 but still played like a #7. Doris went up the throat of them, ignoring the wide channels, for a monster carry early in the second half. Pollock ends up hanging on and killing the ball over the line to get carded. He shouldn't have been exposed to that.

If it's now wholesale changes it feeds the narrative - rightly or wrongly - that Italy still don't get enough respect in certain quarters. They won't lack for motivation at home in Rome.

It would only be an ABs scalp outstanding if they turn England over in Rome

DS 46 days ago

is Cunningham -South injured?. or Chick?, or Dombrandt?. Fisilau will be great, but don t “make him-to break him”

unknown 46 days ago

Fisilau is one of the three form 8s in the Prem along with Barbeary and Willis. Dormbrandt and Chick? Not even close to being the best available

Bob Salad II 47 days ago

Borthwick showed his faith and loyalty to his players after the Scotland hammering and look how those same players repaid that faith.

No, you can’t reward those sorts of performances by just giving them another chance to show us what many now can see; some only fit a particular game plan, some are just not ready, some are just too gassed and need to be stood down for a while, some need to rework on their basics etc. So on that basis - and ignoring the fact that the broader game plan needs to be rethought, he has to make changes.

The flip side to not making any meaningful changes is the morale in the wider squad will plummet. If you can’t get a chance of winning a cap/getting a start after the last 2-weeks, then you’ll probably start thinking why am I even here?

One final point, why would you even serve Italy what they’re hoping for? Get some new players in who Italy won’t have had a chance to analyze.

Lofty 46 days ago

It will be interesting to see what SB does. I honestly think that the last 2 debacle's are about lousy selection, especially in the back 5 and skipper, lousy coaching, especially in defence and fear of dumping favorites. If he dumps a load of them and the above is true he will completely lose the players. If he doesn't change much it suggests the above IS true. We need strong captaincy ( Jonno was never afraid to change a poor plan !) and experienced international coaches…especially in defence IMHO

unknown 47 days ago

Fisilau would add hunger, work rate and physicality. The question is will Borthwick have the courage to steer away from his favourites or will he be stubborn - I hope for the former but expect the latter

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