If it can be said that you learn a lot about a man by how he reacts under pressure, then this is another instructive team named by Steve Borthwick. It has become an almost running joke at how the England head coach’s tendency for boldness in selection contrasts with his sober public image, but an entirely-new backline, and unprecedented nine personnel changes, reflect a campaign that he and his squad have rather lost control of. Borthwick’s back row, half-backs, centres and back three have never started in combination; so much, it seems, for cohesion.
Boprthwick sought to underline that the backline has been, Tommy Freeman excepted, running together in training as a second string for the past few weeks. “These players have earned their selection,” Borthwick insisted, with two alterations enforced by injuries to Alex Mitchell and Ollie Lawrence. “Several of them have only had a couple of opportunities so far in this tournament but I think they have earned by the way they have trained.
