Borthwick names England team for Summer Nations Series opener in Cardiff

England men’s head coach Steve Borthwick has named his match day 23 to face Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff (kick-off 5.30pm).  

 
Loosehead prop Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears) will captain England in the 140th meeting between the two nations as both teams play their first game of the Summer Nations Series ahead of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France which starts in September. Alongside Genge, hooker Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons) joins tighthead prop Will Stuart (Bath Rugby) to complete the front row. 

 
Elsewhere, David Ribbans (Toulon) partners George Martin (Leicester Tigers) in the second row, with the uncapped Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints) packing down on the openside flank, linking up with Saints teammate Lewis Ludlam who starts on the blindside. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins) rounds off the pack at No.8.
 

Harlequins duo Danny Care and Marcus Smith feature in the half-back berths, with Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers) partnering Joe Marchant (Stade Francais) in midfield. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby) lines up on the left wing, opposite Max Malins (Bristol Bears) on the right, and Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers) is at fullback.

 
Amongst the replacements, Saracens teammates Theo Dan and Tom Willis will win their first England caps should they take the field, while Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks), Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears), Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks), Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers), George Ford (Sale Sharks) and Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) will all be hoping to make an impact off the bench.

WALES v ENGLAND
Saturday 5 August 2023
Principality Stadium, Cardiff  
Kick-off: 5.30pm
 
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 22 caps)
14. Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 18 caps)
13. Joe Marchant (Stade Francais, 15 caps)
12. Guy Porter (Leicester Tigers, 4 caps) 
11. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 14 caps)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 21 caps)
9. Danny Care (Harlequins, 87 caps)  
1. Ellis Genge © (Bristol Bears, 48 caps)
2. Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons, 6 caps)
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 25 caps)
4. David Ribbans (Toulon, 5 caps)
5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 1 cap)
6. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 19 caps)
7. Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
8. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 14 caps)
 
Replacements:
16. Theo Dan (Saracens, uncapped)
17. Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 2 caps)
18. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 61 caps)
19. Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks, 19 caps)
20. Tom Willis (Saracens, uncapped)
21. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 12 caps)
22. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 81 caps)
23. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 56 caps)