Steve Borthwick has turned England's Six Nations finale in Paris into a test of loyalty, lineout stability and whether one selection change can answer a wider collapse.
Parisian Crucible for a Beleaguered Squad
Steve Borthwick stands on the precipice of a historical failure as he prepares his squad for a trip to the Stade de France. March 10, 2026, will be remembered as the day the England head coach doubled down on a core group of players that many observers believe has reached its expiration date. Following a damaging first ever defeat by Italy, a result that rattled through the rugby world, Borthwick has opted for continuity over a radical overhaul. Only one change distinguishes the starting fifteen that fell in Rome from the one tasked with stopping a three-match losing streak in Paris. Ollie Chessum returns to the starting line-up at blindside flanker, a move intended to provide much-needed height and ballast to an English pack that looked physically lightweight against the Italians. Chessum replaces Sam Underhill, who drops to the bench after a brief stint in the starting role. Guy Pepper moves from the blindside to the openside to accommodate the Leicester Tigers man. While Sky Sports reports this as a simple tactical adjustment, the pressure mounting on the coaching staff suggests a much more pressured search for stability.
England currently sits in a position of extreme vulnerability. Losing three consecutive matches in the Six Nations is a rarity for a nation with such vast resources, but the nature of the loss to Italy transformed a poor run into a full-blown crisis. Borthwick accepts that a huge challenge awaits his team in the French capital. Yet, he has chosen to keep faith with a backline that failed to cross the try line with any regularity during this tournament. Critics from London to Leeds are questioning why underperforming stars are being given another chance against arguably the most physical defense in world rugby.
The Chessum Factor and Lineout Stability
Tactical necessity likely drove the decision to recall the 6-foot-7 Chessum. England struggled sharply in the air during their recent defeats, losing important set-piece possession at moments when they needed to build pressure. By placing Chessum at No 6, Borthwick gains a third genuine jumping option to support Maro Itoje and George Martin. This choice implies that the coaching staff views the set-piece as the primary route to victory, or at least the primary way to avoid another embarrassing blowout.
Sam Underhill remains a world-class operator at the breakdown, but his lack of height compared to Chessum makes him a liability in a tactical system that prioritizes lineout dominance. Returning to the bench, Underhill will likely be asked to provide an impact in the final twenty minutes when the game breaks up. Still, the removal of a specialist fetcher against a French side that excels at turning over ball is a significant risk. If England cannot secure their own ball at the lineout, the presence of Chessum will matter little.
Guy Pepper finds himself in a new role as the primary openside. The young flanker has been a rare bright spot in a dismal campaign, showing a work rate that mirrors the legendary figures of England's past. Moving him to the No 7 jersey places a massive defensive burden on his shoulders. He must now manage the tackle area against a French back row that is known for its sheer size and technical proficiency. Whether Pepper can make this transition in the most hostile environment in European rugby remains the central question of the forward battle.
Stagnation in the Backline
Public outcry has centered on the decision to leave the backline untouched. Media outlets like The Guardian have described the unit as misfiring, noting that the creative spark has been absent for the duration of the spring. Despite calls for fresh blood at scrum-half or a change in the midfield pairing, Borthwick has remained stubborn. He appears to believe that the players who struggled against Italy possess the mental fortitude to redeem themselves in Paris. History suggests that such loyalty is rarely rewarded when a team is in a downward spiral.
This specific selection strategy suggests Borthwick is coaching for his job. A coach who makes six or seven changes is admitting his original plan was flawed. By making only one, he is signaling that he believes in the system and the personnel, even if the results suggest otherwise. The lack of movement in the outside backs is particularly baffling given the speed and flair France possesses on the wings. England's conservative approach has often left them caught between two styles, neither truly attacking nor effectively defensive.
Paris rarely offers mercy to the under pressure. The French crowd at the Stade de France creates an atmosphere that can swallow a team lacking confidence. England will walk into that cauldron with the pressure of a nation's disappointment on their shoulders. If the backline cannot find a way to penetrate the French line early, the match could turn into a long and painful afternoon for the visiting supporters. One change in the forwards cannot mask the systemic issues that have plagued the English attack for years.
England began the tournament with high expectations, but those hopes evaporated quickly. A narrow loss in the opening round was followed by a thorough defeat that exposed structural weaknesses in the scrum. The nadir arrived last weekend. Losing to Italy for the first time in the history of the competition stripped away any remaining illusions of progress under the current regime. BBC Sport notes that the inclusion of Chessum is the only tool Borthwick is using to stop the rot.
Internal reports from the training camp suggest a squad that is physically tired and mentally drained. The 2026 season has been long, and the intensity of the Six Nations has taken its toll. Players who were once considered automatic selections now look like they are playing with leaden feet. Borthwick's refusal to rotate his squad might be a sign of a lack of depth, or perhaps a lack of trust in the younger players waiting in the wings. Either way, the lack of fresh legs could be the deciding factor in the final thirty minutes of the French match.
England's defensive coach is also under the microscope. Conceding points in bunches has become a hallmark of this recent losing streak. While the focus is often on the attack, the inability to hold a lead or stay organized during transition play has cost England dearly. Chessum's defensive work rate is high, but he cannot solve the communication breakdowns occurring in the secondary line of defense. The French playmakers will be looking for those exact gaps to exploit on Saturday.
Selection Pressure
The selection leaves the Rugby Football Union facing a sharper performance question. Steve Borthwick is currently leading a team into a tactical cul-de-sac, and his decision to make a solitary change after the Italy defeat asks supporters to trust a system that has not yet produced enough evidence. It is not loyalty; it is a stubborn refusal to admit that the current blueprint is broken. Recalling Ollie Chessum addresses one set-piece problem without answering the wider questions around attack and confidence. England rugby has the largest player pool and the highest budget in the world, yet it currently resembles a Tier 2 nation struggling to find its identity. If Borthwick cannot secure a win in Paris, or at the very least a performance of genuine substance, his position must be considered untenable. The era of the safe, corporate coach has failed to deliver results on the pitch. England does not need more continuity; it needs a ruthless purge of the entitled and a total commitment to an attacking philosophy that utilizes the pace and power sitting on the sidelines. Paris will likely be the final chapter for several of these players, and perhaps for the man who picked them.