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Andy Goode: Borthwick needed to make more changes and in one key role
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The Ollie Lawrence verdict on Tommy Freeman playing in his position
By Josh Raisey
Ollie Lawrence entered the Quilter Nations Series and Guinness Six Nations in very similar positions this season – seeing Tommy Freeman start at outside centre ahead of him.
On the comeback from a ruptured Achilles, the Bath centre missed the opening match of the autumn against Australia, before returning to start against Fiji and scoring in the victory over the All Blacks the weekend after.
Likewise, he has missed the opening two rounds of the Six Nations ahead of his return to the starting XV against Ireland this weekend at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium.
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On all three occasions, Freeman – a player who has made his name as a winger – has started at outside centre, but has shifted out to the wing to accommodate the 26-year-old.
While the idea of a winger by trade starting ahead of him was something Lawrence admitted he “didn’t expect,” when joining the BBC’s Rugby Union Weekly recently, he feels such versatility will only boost England’s World Cup tilt next year.
“When I came in the autumn, Tommy moved to 13, straight away I was like ‘there’s another person I’m competing with now,'” Lawrence said.
“I didn’t expect it, I knew it potentially might happen, but didn’t expect it to happen straight away. Then I got my opportunity in the second game. Now, again, at the start of the Six Nations, Tommy went back to 13 and I was then fighting my way get back into the team.
“But it’s one of those things that we need to try different combinations. Tommy is such a good player and we want to get him on the ball as much as we can. It’s something that Steve wanted to try and I was happy for him to try it and for me to keep pushing to get back in that jersey. Tommy has played excellently the last few weeks and is obviously back on the wing this weekend, and hopefully, I can get the ball to him a bit more and we can link up a bit better.
“But it’s not frustrating; it’s one of those things where you’re there and you’re knocking on the door and want to get that opportunity and you’ve just got to wait your turn at times.
“We’re building towards something in 2027 and we know that to do well in that competition and win that World Cup, we have to have a squad that’s got depth and versatility. Being able to play players in different positions, whether that’s Fin Smith at 12, Freemo’s played at 13, Marcus has played at 15 and 10, we’ve got options to move about. Even Ben Earl and Henry Pollock have played in the centres as well. I think the more versatility we have, the more it can help us out if we ever get yellow cards or we ever need to make changes during the game.”
Lawrence has reclaimed that No.13 jersey for the visit from Ireland this weekend, as England look to bounce back from a nadir experienced in their round two 31-20 defeat to Scotland in the Calcutta Cup.
It will be hard to stoop lower than England’s unimaginative attack in Edinburgh, but it is hoped that the inclusion of Lawrence will reinvigorate Steve Borthwick’s side.
Lawrence also highlighted what his head coach is expecting from him on Saturday when he returns to the Test arena.
“I think he just wants me to bring the best part of my game, really,” he said.
“So that physical element both sides of the ball. Give the team some go-forward, give that punch and try and create opportunities in the wide channels, whether that’s short edges or with the ball in hand off phase play. That’s what I back myself to do, beat defenders and hopefully I can do that for the team at the weekend.”
