Tom Willis and Max Ojomo could be in line for England call-ups for their Six Nations opener against Ireland, with Ojomo set to make his Test debut.
Head coach Scott Borthwick is set to shake things up when he announces his squad for the opening game of the 2025 tournament on Tuesday 14th January at 11.30am.
England have lost five Tests in a row, spanning a two-Test tour of New Zealand last summer and autumn internationals against the All Blacks, as well as Australia and South Africa, before bouncing back to wins in their most recent contest against Japan.
As well as pending call-ups for Willis and Ojoma, scrum-half Alex Mitchell is set to return to the team after missing the fall game due to injury.
Scrum-half Alex Mitchell will return to the England squad due to injury
The half-assed sale of Raffi Quirke could also be worth considering as an alternative from the bench, while it will be interesting to see how England fill the void left on the wing by the absence of Emmanuel Fay-Waboso.
The 22-year-old will miss the entire Six Nations squad after suffering a dislocated shoulder while on club duty with Exeter last month.
England face defending champions Ireland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on February 1. Borthwick’s men beat Ireland in last year’s tournament at Twickenham, denying Ireland a Grand Slam.
England were outclassed by Ireland in the 2024 Six Nations at Twickenham
“Willis will be rewarded for his excellent form”
Sky Sports News’ James Cole.
The one player raising his hand higher than the other to be called up to Steve Borthwick’s Six Nations squad Tom Willis. Number 8 Saracens has been a standout for his club this season.
Willis is an extremely powerful ball carrier who always seems to be in touch, and his recent performance against Bristol was one of the best individual displays of the season.
There are growing calls for Willis to start at No.8 ahead of team-mate Ben Earl in England’s Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin on February 1.
That’s high praise indeed and means he should step in when Borthwick announces his wider squad on Tuesday.
Is Max Ojomo in line to make his England Test debut against Ireland?
Another unconfirmed international door knocks at the center of Bath Max Ojomoson of former England back-row Steve. He is absent but very much on Borthwick’s radar, having been called up to England’s training camp during last year’s Six Nations.
He’s in great form too, having recently impressed against Northampton and Clermont Ollie Lawrence and: Henry Slade Almost certain to continue as England’s midfield pairing, Ojomo is pushing harder than ever.
The two Smiths, Marcus and Finn – Of course there are names, but whoever starts with 10, shares the opinion.
Will Marcus Smith be England’s number 10 again in their Six Nations opener?
Mercurial Marcus has a unique ability to cut defenses open from anywhere on the pitch, but his game control has been questioned at international level after England’s poor autumn campaign, and with full-back George Furbank injured, Borthwick may consider switching from 10 to 15 for Harlequins.
However, there is no debate over who should start at scrum-half in Dublin Alex Mitchell Borthwick, unsure of his batting order, bounced between three different 9s in the fall;
Mitchell’s return will add speed and fluidity to England’s attack, as well as give more control to their attacking play.
Having won just 5 of 12 games in 2024, this looks like a breakout year for England and Borthwick, and the Six Nations starts are no tougher than Ireland and France next weekend.
Six Nations 2025 matches – England
- February 1 Ireland (a)
- February 8 France (h)
- February 22 Scotland (h)
- March 9 Italy (h)
- March 15 Wales (a)
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