Tom Willis and Max Ojomoh are in England’s starting lineup for their Six Nations opener against Ireland | Rugby Union News
Tom Willis and Max Ojomoh could be called up for England’s opening Six Nations game against Ireland, while Ojomoh is in line for a Test debut.
Head coach Scott Borthwick will turn heads when he names his squad for the opening game of the 2025 tournament on Tuesday, January 14 at 11:30 a.m.
England lost five straight Tests – including a two-Test tour of New Zealand last summer and autumn internationals against the All Blacks as well as Australia and South Africa – before returning to winning ways in the final round against Japan.
In addition to the expected call-ups of Willis and Ojomah, scrum-half Alex Mitchell will also return to the squad after missing the autumn game due to injury.
Scrum-half Alex Mitchell is expected to return to the England squad after an injury layoff
Sale scrum-half Raffi Quirke could also be worth a look as an alternative option off the bench, while it will be interesting to see how England fill the void left by the absence of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso on the wing.
The 22-year-old will miss the entire Six Nations due to the shoulder injury he sustained while on club duty for Exeter last month.
England face defending champions Ireland in the opening game of the Six Nations at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on February 1. Borthwick’s men defeated Ireland in last year’s tournament at Twickenham, causing Ireland to miss out on the Grand Slam.
England beat Ireland in the 2024 Six Nations at Twickenham
“Willis is rewarded for outstanding form”
James Cole from Sky Sports News:
The only player to raise his hand higher than anyone else for a call-up to Steve Borthwick’s Six Nations squad is Tom Willis. The Saracens number 8 has been outstanding for his club this season.
Willis is an extremely powerful ball carrier who always seems to gain meters when he touches the ball – and his recent performance against Bristol was one of the best individual performances of the season.
There are growing calls for Willis to start at number 8 ahead of his Saracens team-mate Ben Earl in England’s opening Six Nations game against Ireland in Dublin on February 1.
That’s high praise indeed – and means he should be a contender when Borthwick announces his expanded squad on Tuesday.
Is Max Ojomoh in line to make his England Test debut against Ireland?
Another not-yet-established international club knocking on the door is Bath Centre Max OjomohSon of former England back row, Steve. He is uncapped but is very popular at Borthwick, having been called up to England’s training camp during the Six Nations last year.
He is also in excellent form and recently impressed against Northampton and Clermont. His smooth handling and clever running lines make him an outstanding talent. And although Ollie Lawrence And Henry Slade Although Ojomoh will almost certainly remain England’s midfield pair, he is applying more pressure than ever before.
The two Smiths – Marcus and Fin – are certainly mentioned, but anyone who starts with 10 divides opinions.
Will Marcus Smith be called up again for England at number 10 in their opening Six Nations game?
The lively Marcus has a unique ability to break down defenses from anywhere on the pitch – but his game management at international level has been questioned since England’s poor autumn season; and with full-back George Furbank injured, Borthwick could consider switching Harlequins 10 for 15.
However, there is no debate about who should start at scrum-half in Dublin. The Return of Northampton Alex Mitchell An injury is a huge boost. Unsure of his pecking order, Borthwick rotated between three different nines in the autumn: Ben Spencer, Harry Randall and Jack Van Poortvliet.
Mitchell’s return will make England’s attack quicker and more fluid and give him more control over his shooting game.
After England and Borthwick won just 5 of 12 games in 2024, this looks to be a crucial year. And starting in six nations is no more difficult than Ireland and France on consecutive weekends.
Six Nations 2025 schedule: England
- February 1st: Ireland (a)
- February 8th: France (h)
- February 22nd: Scotland (h)
- March 9th: Italy (h)
- March 15: Wales (a)
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