England Rugby

England head coach Steve Borthwick on whether his gameplan gives players freedom to play:

"There's probably a slight misunderstanding about what our gameplan is. With an international team, you have an overview, a structure of this is how we want to approach the different aspects of the game. And then we talk about the players bringing their points of difference.

"I think that the England shirt can, at times, weigh heavy. And I think we've worked exceptionally hard to try and alleviate that, to try and get the players to play fast rugby.

"I want the ball to move. I want them to be brave. And I talk about playing brave. I talk about playing big.

"In the last two or three weeks, there's been times where the shirt looks like it's weighed a bit heavy.

"We're working on converting opportunities, and we're all after the transfer from the training field into the Test match arena."

England Rugby

Steve Borthwick on criticism of England's style of play under him:

"I look at that every single week. Fundamentally, have we created opportunities? I think it's undeniable there's a lot of opportunities.

"Where does the frustration come from? Is it our inability to convert those opportunities? I recognise that I've said that before. We are working to try and improve that.

"I think that if we were more effective from an attacking side in converting those opportunities, we would be talking about different scorelines, different results. I think we'd be talking about many more tries being scored as England have done throughout 2025 and even the latter part of 2024.

"It's a team that's been able to score tries and clearly the last three games, that's not been the case, so I respect there's lots of discussion around tactical plans. I think when you look at the end point, look at the result, and you look at the number of tries scored - that's completely understandable.

"I think it's more about improving that incisiveness with our attack and getting over the try line rather than any major overhaul being necessary."

England Rugby

England head coach Steve Borthwick on whether the line-out was a factor in his selection:

"There's always a number of factors around the selection process. It's always a mix and a blend of them. It's less about trying to match the opposition or what we need to do.

"There's always the strengths they bring and what we want to bring in terms of that plan, I think this is another part of that versatility and I think you can look at the bench and you can see the quality of player that we've got to bring on in the back five of the scrum.

"Clearly, that was our intention last Saturday in that second half - it was to bring those players on in the back five of the scrum, but bring them on a lot earlier than we wanted than we actually did and that was a result of those yellow cards, which inhibited us.

"We intend this week to ensure we've got 15 players on the pitch and we're able to use the bench as effectively as we've previously done over the last 12 months."

England Rugby

More from Steve Borthwick on England's performance against Italy:

"Clearly we are bitterly disappointed, frustrated and hurt. It wasn't the result we worked for or wanted for the team or our supporters. The nature of how much we all care is why it hurts so much. We chatted after the game on Saturday for 60 minutes, a lot of the team built through the game against potentially the strongest Italian side we've faced.

"It started as an arm wrestle, gradually we worked through that period and at 60 minutes we were looking very strong. Unfortunately, the two yellow cards in the last 20 minutes.

"Credit to Italy for taking their opportunity."

Image source, Getty Images

England Rugby

England head coach Steve Borthwick on why his players need to balance "composure" with "dogged determination and fire":

"People always talk about the players and how much they care. These players care enormously for this team and about getting results and for connecting with the supporters. That's the reason why it hurts so much.

"There's been a factor of players trying maybe a little bit too hard - that's certainly a factor.

"What we need to do is ensure that at the time we need to show composure, we have that, and at the times when we need sheer dogged determination and fire, that we have it at those times as well."

England Rugby

More from Steve Borthwick on his England players' discipline during the Six Nations:

"We've addressed the number of cards. Four games into this tournament now and we've got seven yellow cards and a red card. Effectively, for more than one of those games, we've been playing with a man down, which adds an enormous load and gives the opposition more opportunity as well and makes it harder for us to make those opportunities.

"There's a blend of different causes. It would be simple if it were always one thing.

"This team has been generally good, if you look at Argentina in the summer, we conceded 11 or 12 penalties over the two Tests combined.

"We need to be back to that standard. There's certainly a number of areas that we've not performed at the standard we wanted."

Image source, Getty Images

England Rugby

England head coach Steve Borthwick speaking to BBC Sport on making just one change to his starting XV:

"Ollie Chessum's the change to the starting 15. Ollie was disappointed that he wasn't starting post the Ireland game, he was disappointed and frustrated with his performance in the Ireland game. I thought he came on against Italy and did a really good job, from a ball-carrying perspective, from a line-out perspective, the contact area, the energy he gave to the team.

"So I think at the same time Alex Coles, he's developed so much as a player over the last period and I think he's played strong in all the minutes he's had in this tournament.

"I thought Maro Itoje on Saturday, I saw signs of Maro really starting to produce, we all saw the number of turnovers he won and the presence he had around the pitch.

"It's a way of having all three of them on the pitch this weekend, with Tom Curry being unavailable.

"The other factor is that France are a strong side, they move as a forward pack. And they are always very athletic and powerful and having Ollie Chessum in the back row helps."

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England head coach Steve Borthwick has been holding a news conference following his team selection.

The squad have stayed in Verona following their defeat to Italy in Rome and will be heading to Paris later this week for Saturday's final Six Nations match of the 2026 campaign.

The top lines from Borthwick are coming up...

Image source, BBC Sport

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent

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Johnny: What on earth does Ted Hill have to do to get into this team? Now that Steve Borthwick has seemingly gone away from his x3 openside flanker policy, surely Hill is the perfect man to come into the 6 shirt? Great lineout and a freak of an athlete.

Chris: Hey Johnny. Ted Hill is a funny one. Despite all his credentials he has only won a handful of caps since being picked by Eddie Jones as a teenager in 2018. He was involved in the squad last summer but is not in the mix this Six Nations with Borthwick going for a smaller but dynamic back row of late.

However, the selection of Chessum at 6 is a departure from that, so if he reverts to a big number 6 on a regular basis then maybe Hill comes back into the reckoning.

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

James: Is George Furbank injured? Would have liked to see the Exeter lad at No 8 now Willis can't be selected. Back row needs the combinations.

Chris: As far as we know, Furbank is fit and available - although I will double check with Steve Borthwick shortly. I agree England need some more ball-carriers in their team, but at number eight Ben Earl has been outstanding. He needs support.

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Bob: Northampton Saints players will not let their country down. So where is Fraser Dingwall?

Chris: Great question Bob. Like you I would have thought Steve Borthwick would have been very tempted to run a Northampton core in the backline, with Smith, Dingwall, Freeman and Furbank all involved.

However, the England management rate Seb Atkinson extremely highly and feel he has all the tools to be a top-class international 12.

Furbank is a peculiar one as we haven't seen him at all this campaign. Daly's experience is considered vital in a backline which lacks it.

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent

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Woody: Has Ollie Lawrence been overlooked again...or is he not fit?

Chris: Ollie Lawrence has picked up a knee injury and isn't available for selection.

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent

Image source, Getty Images

Bruce: Where does this leave George Ford and his England Test career?

Chris: Hi Bruce. Remember, it was about a year ago that Ford wasn't getting much gametime, with Fin Smith expected to keep the shirt for the foreseeable.

Yet Ford was superb throughout 2025, and at the age of 32 still has plenty left to offer.

Yes, Fin and Marcus Smith are younger than Ford and are both the future.

But experience is huge in Test rugby. I wouldn't write Ford off just yet.

Right, you have had plenty to say there.

We will move on to our Q&A with Chris Jones next, but first a reminder of the state of play as we head into the Six Nations finale.

The 2026 competition is set for a thrilling final day on Saturday with France, Scotland and Ireland all competing to be crowned champions.

The title winner will be decided in the championship's final game - France v England - and bonus points could well decide who lifts the trophy.

Meanwhile, Wales look set to end up with the Wooden Spoon for a third successive year, but beleaguered England could still finish bottom.

• Click here for a full explanation of all the possible permutations from our 'Ask Me Anything' team.

Super Saturday fixtures (14 March):

• 14:10 - Ireland v Scotland, Aviva Stadium, Dublin - live on ITV and BBC Radio 5 Live
• 16:40 - Wales v Italy, Principality Stadium, Cardiff - live on BBC One and BBC Sounds
• 20:10 - France v England, Stade de France, Paris - live on ITV and BBC Radio 5 Live