Summary

  • Maro Itoje named on bench for England's opening Six Nations match v Wales on Saturday

  • Itoje missed start of England's training camp to attend funeral of his mother Florence

  • Hooker Jamie George will lead England at Allianz Stadium

  • Northampton pair Fraser Dingwall and Tommy Freeman start in the centres

  • Freddie Steward at full-back, with Henry Arundell on left wing

  • Full team: Steward; Feyi-Waboso, Freeman, Dingwall, Arundell; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, George (capt), Heyes, Coles, Chessum, Pepper, Underhill, Earl

  • Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Rodd, Davison, Itoje, T Curry, Pollock, Spencer, M Smith

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  1. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:31 GMT 2 February

    Click 'Get involved' button to ask rugby correspondent Chris Jones about the 23

    Steve Borthwick has just named his first England matchday squad for this year's Six Nations.

    Get your questions in for Chris.

  2. Team news - England v Walespublished at 13:30 GMT 2 February
    Breaking

    Here is the England team to face Wales on Saturday.

    The big news is that Jamie George will captain the team, with Maro Itoje on the bench.

    England: Steward; Feyi-Waboso, Freeman, Dingwall, Arundell; Ford, Mitchell; Genge, George (capt), Heyes, Coles, Chessum, Pepper, Underhill, Earl

    Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Rodd, Davison, Itoje, T Curry, Pollock, Spencer, M Smith

  3. Postpublished at 13:29 GMT 2 February

    The team is in....

  4. Prop chancepublished at 13:27 GMT 2 February

    British and Irish Lion Will Stuart and rising star Asher Opoku-Fordjour were both ruled out of the tournament.

    Leicester's Joe Heyes, who started three Tests in November, is a likely starter.

    The bench becomes interesting.

    Northampton's 33-year-old Trevor Davison made the squad and has experience, with uncapped Bath prop Billy Sela, 20, highly rated.

    Youth or experience?

    Trevor DavisonImage source, Getty Images
  5. The bibspublished at 13:25 GMT 2 February

    You always want to be in the training team with the captain and star player.

    Maro Itoje is in a green bib.

    It might mean nothing...

    Maro ItojeImage source, Getty Images
    Immanuel Feyi-WabosoImage source, Getty Images
    Marcus SmithImage source, Getty Images
  6. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 13:22 GMT 2 February

    Click 'Get involved' button to ask rugby correspondent Chris Jones about the 23

    George Ford to start at 10, Steward at full-back.

    Dave Hemming

  7. Midfield partnershippublished at 13:21 GMT 2 February

    Given Ollie Lawrence is rehabbing in Girona, here are the likely centre options.

    Fraser Dingwall - Tommy Freeman

    Fraser Dingwall - Max Ojomoh

    Max Ojomoh - Tommy Freeman

    Seb Atkinson - Tommy Freeman

    Fraser Dingwall - Henry Slade

    Max Ojomoh - Henry Slade

    Seb Atkinson - Henry Slade

    Fraser Dingwall - Elliot Daly

    Max Ojomoh - Elliot Daly

    Seb Atkinson - Elliot Daly

    You get the point....

    Freeman has openly said about his desire to play outside centre and if that is the case then his Northampton Saints team-mate Fraser Dingwall may be the play?

    However, Max Ojomoh, who was the last player to wear the 12 shirt, put in a player-of-the-match performance against Argentina.

    That did come because Dingwall was injured.

    Seb Atkinson is also in the mix after impressing last summer in Argentina.

    Form or a tested combination?

  8. Who could come in?published at 13:18 GMT 2 February

    Full-back is a spot that could be up for grabs.

    Freddie Steward has possession of the 15 jersey and played well in the autumn without fully nailing it down.

    George Furbank appeared to be Steve Borthwick's long-term full-back.

    Injuries have stalled his progress but he is back in the squad, which shows how highly he is rated, with his last Test coming in 2024.

    George FurbankImage source, Getty Images
  9. Freeman expected to start at centrepublished at 13:15 GMT 2 February

    Chris Jones
    BBC rugby union correspondent in Girona

    England have been here in northern Spain for the past week before flying back on Tuesday to finish prep for Wales.

    The training base is adjacent to the Camiral resort, which is staging the 2031 Ryder Cup, so is unsurprisingly popular with the players.

    As for the team, Tommy Freeman is expected to start in the centre alongside Fraser Dingwall - who is yet to lose in an England shirt.

    Tom Roebuck's fitness is a big factor. Henry Arundell could step in if he's unavailable, which would mean Freddie Steward's aerial game in the back three becomes even more valuable.

  10. England's last Six Nations gamepublished at 13:13 GMT 2 February

    Here is the team that defeated Wales 68-14 in Cardiff - England's last Six Nations game.

    The Curry twins both started that day, Henry Pollock made a big impact off the bench.

    Four Saints in the backs.

    England: M Smith, Roebuck, Freeman, Dingwall, Daly; F Smith, Mitchell; Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Stuart, Itoje, Chessum, T Curry, B Curry, Earl

    Replacements: George, Baxter, Heyes, Cunningham-South, Pollock, Willis, Van Poortvliet, Ford

  11. Chris Jones Q&Apublished at 13:09 GMT 2 February

    Click the 'Get involved' icon to send us your views

    Have your say

    We have our rugby correspondent Chris Jones across all the major talking points.

    Get your questions in.

  12. England team selectionpublished at 13:06 GMT 2 February

    Who will Steve Borthwick pick for England's first game of Six Nations against Wales?

    The game at Allianz Stadium is at 16:40 GMT on Saturday.

    We are going to dive into some talking points.

    Please get all your thoughts in.