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England v Italy: Henry Slade recalled in Steve Borthwick's 36-man squad

Last updated on .From the section Rugby UnionBBC Russian803

Henry Slade
Henry Slade sustained a hip injury in Exeter's Champions Cup win over Castres last month
Guinness Six Nations - England v Italy
Venue: Twickenham Stadium Date: Sunday, 12 February Kick-off: 15:00 GMT
Coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra; live text commentary on the BBC Sport website & app

Henry Slade has been included in England's 36-man squad after recovering from injury as they prepare to host Italy in the Six Nations.

The centre, 29, withdrew from England's squad before their defeat by Scotland last week because of a hip injury he sustained in Exeter's win over Castres.

He is joined in the squad by London Irish winger Henry Arundell, who has recovered from a foot problem.

Veteran forward Courtney Lawes is also included in the camp.

Vice-captain Lawes is unlikely to face the Azzurri as he was not named among the 36, but is being kept involved by head coach Steve Borthwick as he continues his rehabilitation from a calf injury.

England are looking to bounce back from their opening defeat by the Scots when they face Italy at Twickenham on Sunday.

Borthwick will trim his squad again later in the week when he announces his matchday 23.

Forwards: Ollie Chessum, Dan Cole, Ben Curry, Alex Dombrandt, Tom Dunn, Ben Earl, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Joe Heyes, Jonny Hill, Nick Isiekwe, Maro Itoje, Lewis Ludlam, David Ribbans, Bevan Rodd, Sam Simmonds, Kyle Sinckler, Mako Vunipola, Jack Walker, Jack Willis

Backs: Henry Arundell, Owen Farrell, Tommy Freeman, Ollie Hassell-Collins, Ollie Lawrence, Max Malins, Joe Marchant, Alex Mitchell, Henry Slade, Fin Smith, Marcus Smith, Freddie Steward, Manu Tuilagi, Jack van Poortvliet, Anthony Watson, Ben Youngs.

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803 comments

  • Comment posted by D1711016575116, at 19:04 6 Feb 2023

    Borthwick needs to be careful here. He’s said what he has said, but then includes Youngs in his squad when all the evidence for the last few years has been to ditch him.

    If Youngs is anywhere near the match day squad, and he goes with Farrell at 12 again, then his honeymoon period may be the shortest on record!!

    • Reply posted by oncewerefast, at 19:14 6 Feb 2023

      oncewerefast replied:
      Youngs is one of the principal reasons the ball is so slow away from the ruck, the other is that the forwards just don’t generate the same quality and speed as say the Irish.

  • Comment posted by ClarenceSquare, at 19:15 6 Feb 2023

    Cut out lone forwards going to ground in a mad dash; pick 2 proper centres, line-up to spread the ball; use the wings; don't kick the thing away; play with urgency and purpose!!

    • Reply posted by Mal, at 19:22 6 Feb 2023

      Mal replied:
      This sounds like the way Italy played.

  • Comment posted by PasqualePG, at 18:50 6 Feb 2023

    Hopefully there’s been plenty of tackling practice planned for this week.🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️

    • Reply posted by Pedro, at 19:27 6 Feb 2023

      Pedro replied:
      I bet Sinfield has worked their rugby ball shaped objects off all week!

  • Comment posted by Dr Dre, at 19:02 6 Feb 2023

    Give Ben Youngs a big hug and then point him in the direction of the hospitality circuit.

    • Reply posted by paul mcdonald, at 20:18 6 Feb 2023

      paul mcdonald replied:
      Don’t worry Raffi - your time will come.

  • Comment posted by Adrian, at 19:12 6 Feb 2023

    Smith and Farrell just don’t work together. The backs urgently need a shake up, the poor defending made Scotland look good.
    Also give Smith kicking duties for a game. Farrell was way off his usual best.

    • Reply posted by Rob, at 19:18 6 Feb 2023

      Rob replied:
      Personally I think Smith and Farrell worked really well the other day. I think if things had gone slightly differently (which I think was very much on the cards), then we would be hearing quite positive things r.e. Smith/Farrell axis.

  • Comment posted by Christopher Armstrong, at 19:05 6 Feb 2023

    Get big Val in. Willis in 23. Faz to 10. Smith to bench (and to def come on). Lawrence starts at 12. Easy going on Slade or Marchant vs Italy at 13.

    • Reply posted by D1680513236423, at 19:51 6 Feb 2023

      D1680513236423 replied:
      Just say goodbye to Youngs, Farrell Itoje and Vuinopla. Itoje can come back when he finds his form again. The others can stay with their clubs, if they can get in the team.

  • Comment posted by Monza-Misfit, at 18:55 6 Feb 2023

    Spare us the embarassment of watching another game get kicked away ... send Ben Youngs home now

    • Reply posted by rugby_rules, at 19:07 6 Feb 2023

      rugby_rules replied:
      To be honest, Youngs is still the best scrum half we've got, over the years, we've given many opportunities for others to shine but no-one has.

  • Comment posted by Kevin Joslin, at 19:56 6 Feb 2023

    I'd play Chessum and Ribbans in the 2nd row. Itoje needs to buck his ideas up. Don't know why Vunipola is even in the squad. I'm quicker than him and I'm 64. Youngs doesn't belong in the team. He's so slow he's embarrassing. Play a proper inside centre and we might stand a chance against Italy.

    • Reply posted by cb, at 07:39 7 Feb 2023

      cb replied:
      Mako by the looks 65...
      England have the players across the board but get caught in ideas that work against them...
      2 playmakers- less defense
      controlling scrum half- slow ball & box kicks
      big backrow- lack of fetchers
      ball playing front row- can't scrum.
      Pick the best players in their position, high tempo SH, props who can scrum, backrow to jackle, 12 who is a centre and run teams off the park.

  • Comment posted by AJM, at 19:47 6 Feb 2023

    Ribbans and Chessum have all the makings of a Matfield Botha partnership.

    Itoje penalty count again seemed high and doesn’t do enough of the purest second row work, which Chessum and Ribbans enjoy.

    Smith doesn’t seem to have the game control for test rugby but perhaps giving him two centres first is fair, then we can see if he is capable.

    We defended poorly but still should have won Saturday.

    • Reply posted by D1680513236423, at 20:13 6 Feb 2023

      D1680513236423 replied:
      Agree Itoje now a non contributor

  • Comment posted by Bear In The Air, at 18:52 6 Feb 2023

    Surely it's time to wave goodbye to Ben Youngs now, he's nowhere near the standard anymore. That box kick last week was just absolutely ridiculous.

    • Reply posted by RugRat, at 20:17 6 Feb 2023

      RugRat replied:
      Apparently the ball BY kicked is on course to clash with Harry Kane's penalty kick ball that is still floating around the atmosphere somewhere over the Middle East

  • Comment posted by Chesse, at 18:54 6 Feb 2023

    A back row and a back three who have some slight comprehension of what defence is about would be good.
    Curry and Dombrandt missed so many tackles that they could have been auditioning to be Storm Troopers, and the back three were missing in action most of the game.

    • Reply posted by Dr Dre, at 18:57 6 Feb 2023

      Dr Dre replied:
      I hear people say that Freddie Steward is world class and it confuses me. He is very good in the air, and big, but he has a lot to learn. 1:1 defence very poor.

  • Comment posted by Yorkshirebound, at 21:35 6 Feb 2023

    Play 1 ten, and 2 centres. And make sure Slade is on the pitch!

    • Reply posted by Captain_Montague_Snugglepuss-QC, at 21:39 6 Feb 2023

      Captain_Montague_Snugglepuss-QC replied:
      Play a team full of centers - inside centers preferably. They're bigger. Will solve a problem. Most wings are as big as centers these days - so no beef there; most centers are as big as flankers, and some as short as front row forward or as tall and big as the second row. What's the problem with that? I mean, it's not like playing players out of position is revolutionary any more - it's the norm!

  • Comment posted by sb_ims, at 19:28 6 Feb 2023

    I’m not sure we have a single player that would get in a world best squad let alone a world 15 right now. None of our current players truly scare the opposition like many of our players have in the past. Where do we go from here…for the next couple of seasons we have to get used to going nowhere and hope whoever comes through is better, quicker, stronger and smarter than what we currently have

    • Reply posted by JH, at 19:34 6 Feb 2023

      JH replied:
      First we need to have a coach who picks correctly then we can judge

  • Comment posted by This name is awaiting moderation, at 18:51 6 Feb 2023

    I am convinced by Slade, and am looking forward to seeing what he does in an organised England team with an excellent manager

    • Reply posted by Dr Dre, at 18:55 6 Feb 2023

      Dr Dre replied:
      I haven’t see much of him this year but a Manu/Slade combination or Lawrence/Marchant or Kelly/Marchant is better than last Sat. Don’t really care as long as we have two centres.

  • Comment posted by swplayer, at 22:42 6 Feb 2023

    There is no 12 running hard lines with Farrell, that Lawrence or Tulagi will give you. Not bothered whether Farrell or smith play 10 but OF can’t play 12.

  • Comment posted by paul mcdonald, at 19:56 6 Feb 2023

    Steve Borthwick must do list:
    - Start with Ben Earl at 7
    - Play Farrell at 10
    - Consider Tuilagi/Lawrence (or Slade) in the centres
    - Remember to replace Jamie George (Walker needs experience)
    - Pray Tom Curry & Courtney Lawes come back quickly.
    - Keep smiling, it will all be fine! :)

    • Reply posted by rugby_rules, at 20:20 6 Feb 2023

      rugby_rules replied:
      Strongly agree with every statement. Unfortunately I can imagine a lot of armchair supporters won't agree with the Farrell over Smith and Tuilagi to start but I've always said Farrell, Manu and Slade is our strongest 10/12/13 partnership and one you can always trust won't get over ran by other teams midfields.

  • Comment posted by bagginsbear, at 19:07 6 Feb 2023

    I wonder if they’ll stop the fans singing “why, why, why Ben Youngs lalalalalalala”

    • Reply posted by H37, at 06:15 7 Feb 2023

      H37 replied:
      As some Irish supporters once sang at us, ‘chariots’ style:
      One song.
      You’ve only got one song,
      One songs all you’ve got.
      One song.
      Etc.

  • Comment posted by Gaz, at 19:05 6 Feb 2023

    If he can tackle, include him!

    • Reply posted by rugby_rules, at 19:58 6 Feb 2023

      rugby_rules replied:
      🤣🤣

  • Comment posted by philt77, at 21:40 6 Feb 2023

    Having watched both sides I think I might have a few quid on Italy to break their duck against England this weekend.

    • Reply posted by Baron_Sir_Rack_of_Lamb_DeYorkshire_Puds, at 02:41 7 Feb 2023

      Baron_Sir_Rack_of_Lamb_DeYorkshire_Puds replied:
      Italy will destroy England - they are too quick, they are too physical, and they have one lethal weapon England do not - a very decent 10 and 12 that can exploit that channel.. The simples guys, the simples. if only England had a decent 10 at 10, and a decent 12 at 12.

      From a Neutral Fan - Keeping it Real and Owning It and You since 2013

  • Comment posted by radar, at 19:51 6 Feb 2023

    Well maybe a club centre playing centre for England that would be a novelty.

    • Reply posted by AndrewG, at 19:54 6 Feb 2023

      AndrewG replied:
      And the solution!

Six Nations 2023

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