Here is what uncapped Bath prop Vilikesa 'Billy' Sela said about why he is known as Billy.

His parents were originally from Fiji.

"So coming through, Billy was the name," he said, external with a smile, embracing the opportunity to explain the recent change that has happened with Bath and England age-grade. "On all the team sheets, I put my name down as Billy.

"But later on, my parents wanted to see my government name because it is a Fijian name and they see more pride in seeing Vilikesa, so I was like OK and asked them to change it to Vilikesa… but everyone still calls me Billy around here."

Image source, Getty Images

Mike Henson
BBC Sport

Riding a Chiefs renaissance this year, Greg Fisilau is the beneficiary of Tom Willis' absence.

The Saracens back row has a central contract with England, but has been exiled from the squad after agreeing a move to Bordeaux-Begles next season which will make him ineligible for England.

Fisilau is a different sort of player - lighter in the body and more nimble on the ball.

Yet he has shown up well in the sort of hard-carrying stats which Willis dominates domestically.

Fisilau is third in the number of carries in the Prem this season, the closest forward to category leader Willis. He also gets through a phenomenal amount of work on the other side of the ball, ranking fourth in the league for tackles.

While Borthwick is a big admirer of Leicester's Emeka Ilione, who is a destructive runner closer in style to Willis, the Tigers man has had relatively little game time compared to Fisilau.

Used mainly as an impact replacement, Ilione has played 80 minutes in only two top-flight games this season.

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent

Q- Can we have your matchday squad to face Wales?

Genge, Cowan-Dickie, Heyes, Itoje, Chessum, Pepper, Underhill, Earl, Mitchell, Ford, Feyi-Waboso, Dingwall, Freeman, Roebuck, Furbank.

But that is assuming Roebuck and Furbank are fit. Bench then would be: Rodd, George, Davison, Coles, T Curry, Pollock, Spencer, M.Smith.

If Roebuck isn't fit then Freeman to right wing and Slade to 13. If Furbank isn't fit then Steward to 15. As discussed earlier the backline is a delicate jigsaw!

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent

Q - Why do Bristol continue to be overlooked? The likes of Harding, Batley and Oghre have all been consistent for a while.

Hey Ben. Agreed, it's been great watching the Bears recently. Those three are all in the frame as evidenced by England 'A' call-ups. I just think it's a case of them having to bide their time and force their way up the pecking order. In all three of these guys' positions are a number of British and Irish Lions.

• Uncapped trio included - Bath prop Vilikesa 'Billy' Sela, Exeter Chiefs number eight Greg Fisilau and Northampton Saints prop Emmanuel Iyogun
• Full squad
• Rehabilitation at Girona training camp: Fin Baxter (Harlequins), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks), Ollie Lawrence (Bath), Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks), Fin Smith (Northampton Saints).

• Not considered for selection

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent

Q- Should we (England fans) be worried about George Martin's injury record/history at this point?

Hi Matt. It must be so frustrating for George Martin. He is a man made for Test rugby but has been dogged by injury. I understand he won't feature this Six Nations because of this nerve damage in his shoulder, with the hope being he gets some rugby in for Leicester at the back end of the season. At just 24, he has so much time on his side, and maybe a club switch to Saracens will be a good change of scenery. But it's a big shame he only has 20-odd caps. It's an injury that takes so long to heal, and no-one can put a definitive timeframe on a return to fitness.

Jack van Poortvliet, who has been included, has always been a favourite of Steve Borthwick at Leicester and England.

The scrum-half has struggled with injuries but has hit some good form.

Remember he was in line to be the starting scrum-half at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, only for injury to deny him a chance.

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent

Q- How do you think the midfield may be adjusted based on who plays at fly-half?

Great question. One of the biggest things in successful international teams at the moment is cohesion. All the metrics suggest teams with the best cohesion win the most games. So if Fin Smith is at 10 it would stand to reason Fraser Dingwall would play 12, with Tommy Freeman at 13 and George Furbank at 15.

But George Ford will be the fly-half against Wales, given how well he played in the autumn and with Smith an injury doubt. This won't mean too much will change - Ford is so good and experienced he can play with anyone. But it might mean they need a slightly bigger number 12 given Ford is not as strong defensively as Fin Smith, which is where Seb Atkinson could come in.

Then there is the question of where Tommy Freeman plays and who is at full-back, as Freddie Steward and Furbank are such different players. England have plenty of options, but it is a bit of a jigsaw puzzle to get the best and most balanced backline out there.

With the Northampton Saints' scrum in decline, prop Emmanuel Iyogun, 25, came on and steady things brilliantly in Bordeaux.

That performance alone this month would have helped his case.

He then backed it up against Scarlets last weekend.

However, he started both England A games in November and has been on the radar of Steve Borthwick.

There is a theme with those A games and call-ups.

Image source, Getty Images

Radio commentary for every game is available on BBC 5 Live, Sports Extra and BBC Sounds.

There will also be text commentary and highlights on BBC Sport website and on Rugby Special, which airs each Sunday.

Rugby Special will be on BBC Four for first two weeks (during Winter Olympics) and then BBC Two.

Reaction will also be across the Rugby Union Weekly podcast (soon to be daily).

Televised games:

Sat 7 Feb: Italy v Scotland, BBC One from 1330

Sun 15 Feb: Wales v France, BBC One from 1430

Sat 21 Feb: Wales v Scotland, BBC One from 1600

Sat 7 March: Scotland v France, BBC One from 13:00

Sat 14 March: Wales v Italy, BBC One from 16:00

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent at the StoneX Stadium

Q- Where is Alfie Barbeary and Afolabi Fasogbon?

Barbeary is a destructive ball carrier on his day and has produced some fantastic performances for Bath but doubts persist over his fitness and consistency at the highest level.

Fasogbon is right in the frame and was on the Argentina tour, but Sela has always been slightly above him in the pecking order through the age-grades. The Gloucester man has also been part of a struggling team this campaign which wouldn't have helped his cause. He'll have been one of those players Steve Borthwick would have spoken to and challenged him to react positively to his exclusion.

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent

Q: Who is your standout omission Chris?

A lot of players have been playing well for their clubs this season, with Bath and Northampton especially impressive both domestically and in the Champions Cup. With that in mind my most unlucky player is Saints' George Hendy. If everyone is fit, England's first choice back three is George Furbank at 15, with Immanuel Feyi-Waboso on one wing and Tommy Freeman or Tom Roebuck on the other, with Freeman in the centre if not on the wing. But behind those players it's quite open. Hendy must have been in the frame.

Exeter Chiefs number eight Greg Fisilau has been a standout performer in the Prem.

The 22-year-old has been on Steve Borthwick's radar, scoring for England A against Spain in November.

A dynamic and explosive number eight, who has an eye for a try, adds yet more competition to a strong back row.

Fisilau has scored seven tries this season, and although he can play on the flank, is a specialist number number eight, something Borthwick has not often used.

Tom Willis' choice to play in France next season would also have helped Fisilau.

Image source, Getty Images

Chris Jones
BBC rugby union correspondent

With Tom Willis out of contention, Fisilau has timed his form perfectly for Exeter and has a good shot of being involved in a matchday squad this Six Nations.

However back row is a stacked area. Ben Earl continues to deliver wherever he is deployed, Guy Pepper was outstanding in 2025, Sam Underhill always steps up and Tom Curry is Tom Curry. Then there is Henry Pollock too who is a huge asset off the bench .

Overall it is a settled squad and the team is in a very good place, although it's understood the likes of Fin Smith and Ollie Lawrence are touch-and-go for the opener against Wales.

There are plenty of areas of intrigue, such as inside centre, with Seb Atkinson highly-rated, Max Ojomoh full of potential, and Fraser Dingwall very impressive as a player and leader. Who gets the nod at number 12 will be fascinating.

Meanwhile with Tommy Freeman now considered more of a centre, wing spots are up for grabs especially if Tom Roebuck isn't fit. George Hendy of Northampton can consider himself very unlucky.