England will kick off their 2026 Six Nations campaign against Wales at the Allianz Stadium in Twickenham. This who I think should make the starting XV and bench for that game.
1. Ellis Genge
Fin Baxter's injury makes it less likely that Steve Borthwick chooses to leave his best front row on the bench to be unleashed after the hour mark. This means that Ellis Genge is one of the first names on the team-sheet.
2.Luke Cowan-Dickie
Cowan-Dickie is England's best hooker in open play and has developed into a force to be reckoned with in the international arena. Jamie George could start here but Cowan-Dickie has earned his role as England's first-choice hooker.
3.Joe Heyes
Injuries to Will Stuart and Asher Opoku-Fordjour mean that Heyes is the obvious starter in this spot. His performances in 2025 cemented him in the squad and he has proven himself to be a valuable asset to Steve Borthwick.
4.Maro Itoje(C)
Itoje is a great captain and a world-class lock. He is the first name on the team-sheet.
5.Ollie Chessum
Chessum has taken on the role of captain at Leicester and has continued to go from strength to strength. Coles is in good form for Northampton but Chessum is at another level.
6.Guy Pepper
This is a tricky position to pick so I have gone with the man who earned the jersey in the Autumn. Pepper has proven to be a legitimate lineout option which has alleviated some concerns surrounding the impact of not having a "traditional" 6.
7.Tom Curry
I could've picked several different players for this position, but Curry has always performed for his country and is exactly the kind of player that could lead England to grandslam glory.
8.Henry Pollock
Pollock has largely been used as an impact player thus far but has proven for Northampton that he is just as good when he starts. Ben Earl's mixed form means that Henry Pollock is now England's best option at this position.
9.Alex Mitchell
Mitchell is the best scrum-half in the country and should walk into this team.
10.Fin Smith
This is a tricky position to pick. Fin Smith is the in-form fly-half in the Prem so I've given him the nod to start the tournament.
11.Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
Feyi-Waboso is a unique athlete on the wing and has to be in any England XV.
12.Max Ojomoh
Ojomoh burst onto the scene against Argentina and has continued his excellent form with Bath. He will also benefit from being very familiar with his fellow Bath centre, Ollie Lawrence.
13.Ollie Lawrence
There is a lot of talk about Freeman moving to 13 but Lawrence is England's best player at this spot, and it's not particularly close.
14.Tommy Freeman
Whether he is at centre or on the wing, Freeman is a huge talent and a genuine threat who must start for England.
15.Freddie Steward
This could go either way but I have gone with Steward for 2 distinct reasons. The first is his league form for Leicester which has set him apart as the best English fullback. The second is my selection of Max Ojomoh. Ojomoh's playmaking abilities mean that England can achieve good balance across the back-line without needing a creative player at fullback.
16.Jamie George
George's set-piece prowess is unmatched and makes him a valuable asset in the final moments when the stakes are highest.
17.Bevan Rodd
Baxter is unavailable which leaves Rodd to fill in. He is already proven as a solid player at test level and will not be a point of weakness in this team.
18.Afo Fasogbon
Injuries to Opoku-Fordjour and Stuart open the door for a less experienced player to step in. Sela and Davison could both play here but I have gone with Fasogbon in order to give him a big opportunity at a high level. He is a player with huge potential that could become a dominant force by the time the World Cup in the USA comes around.
19.Alex Coles
Coles has now proven himself as a true test player. He is firmly behind Chessum and Itoje, but he is also far ahead of everyone else that is available.
20.Chandler Cunningham-South
His form has been spotty but Cunningham-South's physicality is something that can't be replicated. As a bench option he gives England a serious edge.
21.Ben Earl
Earl could easily start in this team but will have an opportunity in the final minutes to make his usual impact.
22.Ben Spencer
Spencer is well ahead of his competition to deputise for Mitchell and is a truly reliable player in a crucial position.
23.Marcus Smith
Smith's form has picked up recently and his versatility in combination with that makes him the clear choice for a bench with a 6-2 split.
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