England head coach Steve Borthwick is facing a difficult selection for the Six Nations finale against France after his team's losing streak continued against Italy.
Borthwick revamped his England team to face Italy, but the result was a moderate improvement on previous defeats by Scotland and Ireland. He must now decide whether to keep faith with the new-look side or return to more established names.
One option for Borthwick is to recall Marcus Smith, who has not started at fly-half for England since the second round of last year's Six Nations. Smith has been playing at full-back or as a utility bench option, but he was prolific in creating or assisting tries when he was steering England's attack.
Potential Changes to the Team
Other options for Borthwick include changing the back row and second row, with players like Ollie Chessum and Chandler Cunningham-South able to play in both positions. This could allow Ben Earl to drift into wider areas and create mismatches.
Maro Itoje has been a less consistent presence in the line-up this year, and an enforced week off could be beneficial for both him and the team. Courtney Lawes, Ben Earl, or Ellis Genge could also be considered for the captain's role.
Gameplan Under Scrutiny
England's attack coach Lee Blackett has been tasked with bringing a fast and exciting brand of rugby to the team, but they have misplaced their cutting edge. The players are happy with the tactics, but Blackett and Richard Wigglesworth are an excellent brains trust for Borthwick to consult if he decides to reshape the gameplan.
