England Changes Squad After Scotland Loss
England coach Steve Borthwick has made notable changes to his starting XV following the 31-20 Calcutta Cup defeat to Scotland that ended their 12-game winning streak. Henry Pollock earns his first Test start at flanker, while Ollie Lawrence returns at outside centre and Tommy Freeman shifts to the wing. Henry Arundell, who received two yellow cards against Scotland, has been cleared to play after a disciplinary hearing and retains his place for Saturday's clash with Ireland at Twickenham.
- The loss to Scotland was England's fourth defeat in their last five encounters for the Calcutta Cup. During Henry Arundell's absence from the field due to his two yellow cards, Scotland scored 21 points. - Henry Arundell's first yellow card was for a technical offense at the breakdown, and the second was for taking winger Kyle Steyn out in the air. A disciplinary committee decided the sending-off was a sufficient punishment because the two fouls were of a different nature. - Flanker Henry Pollock captained England's Under-20s team to win both the Six Nations and the World Rugby Championship in 2024. He was also named Player of the Championship for his performance in the 2024 U20 Six Nations. - Ollie Lawrence's return follows a six-month absence due to a ruptured Achilles tendon he suffered during the 2025 Six Nations. He was named the Premiership Rugby Player of the Season for the 2022-23 season. - Tommy Freeman, who shifts to the wing, is a versatile player who can also play at centre and full-back. He was released by the Leicester Tigers academy at age 16 for being too small before being signed by Northampton Saints. - The upcoming match against Ireland marks the third round of the 2026 Six Nations Championship. It will also be captain Maro Itoje's 100th Test cap, making him the ninth English men's player to
