Borthwick left with a dilemma at out-half as Marcus Smith back from injury
ENGLAND head coach Steve Borthwick will be able to call on Marcus Smith for the first time in this year’s Six Nations after the No 10 completed his recovery from a calf injury. Ahead of Saturday’s clash with Ireland, Smith last night returned to Borthwick’s 36-man squad for the Twickenham clash. So too did scrum-half Alex Mitchell who missed the defeat by Scotland with a knee problem. Harlequins playmaker Smith sat out England’s wins over Italy and Wales and the Scotland loss after injuring himself in the pretournament camp in Girona. But his recovery means Borthwick now has an out-half conundrum on his hands. George Ford has started all three of England’s games in 2024 so far with Fin Smith in reserve. Borthwick must decide whether or not Marcus Smith is fit enough and up to speed to come straight back into his 23 for Ireland. Mitchell — who has been in fine form for Northampton this season and started against Italy and Wales — and Marcus Smith were last week named as players continuing their recoveries from injury while England trained in York. But they are now back fit and available for selection. Rookie wing Immanuel FeyiWaboso missed the York training camp for an in-person medical exam as part of his studies at Exeter University. But the man who scored a late effort for England in Edinburgh is back involved ahead of what is set to be a difficult clash with Ireland who have a perfect record so far in 2024. Mitchell’s status as England’s No 1 scrum-half means that if Borthwick deems him fit to face Andy Farrell’s men, he will likely come back in to start with Danny Care dropping to the bench.
That would mean no place in the matchday 23 for Bath’s Ben Spencer. Harlequins flanker Chandler Cunningham-South is hoping to play a part for England again after appearances off the bench in their first three games. Cunningham-South’s gamble in leaving New Zealand, where he had lived since the age of four, to return to the UK two years ago has paid off. ‘It has been a really big step up for me and I think I have done all right,’ said CunninghamSouth. ‘I think I am the youngest in the squad and I have been taken under a few people’s wings. ‘I like it. Especially when we were up in Edinburgh getting off the bus — all the heckling and yelling. That sort of stuff motivates me and gives me an extra bit of energy. ‘Twickenham is awesome to play at. You don’t actually realise how big the stadium is until you are on the field looking up.’ ENGLAND SQUAD — Forwards: O Chessum, D Cole, A Coles, L CowanDickie, C Cunningham-South, T Dan, A Dombrandt, B Earl, C Ewels, E Genge, J George, J Heyes, M Itoje, J Marler, G Martin, B Obano, E Roots, W Stuart, S Underhill. Backs: D Care, E Daly, F Dingwall, I Feyi-Waboso, G Ford, T Freeman, G Furbank, O Lawrence, A Mitchell, W Muir (Bath), T Roebuck, H Slade, F Smith, M Smith, B Spencer, F Steward, M Tuilagi.