Having opted for a limited kicking-game plan against Australia, this selection suggests England are intent on lighting up Twickenham with a possession-based attacking game against Fiji.
The focus of their second week in camp has been spent on broadening their attacking intent and the inclusion by Steve Borthwick of three play-makers, including both Fin and Marcus Smith, in his backline represents a radical departure.
Fin Smith comes into the side at fly-half in place of George Ford, who is rested, and with Marcus Smith returning at full-back, Borthwick has taken the risk of not including fly-half cover on the bench – instead opting for the finishing prowess of Henry Arundell, who will further bolster England’s attack with his explosive pace.
The victory against Australia was founded on the ability to win the aerial battle, where Tom Roebuck excelled, creating two of England’s four tries with his agility in the air. But with Roebuck (ankle) and full-back Freddie Steward (hand) unavailable because of injury, Borthwick has rolled the dice.
There must have been a temptation to retain Tommy Freeman at 13 to give him more time in his new position ahead of the game against New Zealand, but instead he reverts onto the right wing. England’s midfield punch, though, will not be diminished by the return of Ollie Lawrence.
It will be fascinating to see how England look to bring the best out of Freeman, Lawrence and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, and both Smiths will no doubt be operating in tandem to seek out the space for them. The decision to start Marcus Smith at full-back, where he delivered a Terry Butcher-style display against the Fijians in their last meeting, the World Cup quarter-final in Marseille, also suggests he will be encouraged to run the ball back from deep.
While there are several nods to the future, including the selection of Asher Opoku-Fordjour as tighthead prop cover, it is significant to see Borthwick stick with the ‘Bomb Squad’ option that includes England and Lions captain Maro Itoje – the first time he has started an England game on the bench since the match against Australia in 2017.
He is joined by three other Lions, Jamie George, Tom Curry and Henry Pollock. Expect to see them unleashed from the sidelines at the same time midway through the second half again.
