Sir Clive Woodward picks his England XV for the 2025 Six Nations
Yesterday at 11:57 AM
Sir Clive Woodward has thrown his full support behind Maro Itoje following his promotion to England captain for the Six Nations.
Join the RUCK's WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
The towering lock takes over from his Saracens teammate Jamie George, a move that signals a fresh chapter under head coach Steve Borthwick.
A Proven Leader on the Rise
At 30 years old, Itoje has long been a leader in waiting. He guided England's U20 side to World Championship glory in 2014 but only recently stepped up as Saracens' skipper after Owen Farrell's high-profile switch to France.
Sir Clive's Vision for Excitement
"There's a lot of negative headlines about rugby, but Borthwick can spark real excitement with a few bold moves," Woodward wrote in his column for the Mail Online. "Someone like George Hendy could electrify the crowd at full-back."
Borthwick Under Fire?
Woodward also highlighted the external pressures surrounding Borthwick:
- The Bill Sweeney bonus saga
- Club vs. country selection battles
- Injury worries, including Immanuel Feyi-Waboso's potential surgery
"He's got to navigate these distractions, and I feel for him. A young coach facing this level of scrutiny needs a director of rugby beside him. Otherwise, it's an unfair burden," Woodward added.
Rugby poll:
Talent on Paper
Despite the noise, Woodward remains optimistic about England's squad. "These players are incredible on paper, but the key is selecting the right ones and coaching them properly. That's what Borthwick must focus on."
Sir Clive's Starting XV
Here's Woodward's ideal lineup for the Six Nations:
- Full-back: George Hendy
- Wings: Ollie Sleightholme, Tommy Freeman
- Centres: Fin Smith, Cadan Murley
- Fly-half: Marcus Smith
- Scrum-half: Alex Mitchell
- Front row: Asher Opoku-Foudjour, Theo Dan, Will Stuart
- Second row: Maro Itoje (capt), Ollie Chessum
- Back row: Henry Pollock, Ben Earl, Tom Willis
Editors Picks:
- Schalk Burger Named His Four Toughest Opponents
- Another England legend is close to being declared bankrupt
- Mike Tindall Says Both His and Zara's Daughters Are Smashing It at Rugby
- Statement: Wales confirm their squad for the 2025 Six Nations
- Sir Clive Woodward names his England backline – and it's raising eyebrows!
Can you name every England Rugby captain of the professional era?
From the early days of professionalism to the modern era, England has seen a host of legendary captains wearing the armband.
Whether it’s the grit of Will Carling in the 90s, the tactical brilliance of Martin Johnson, or the fearless leadership of Owen Farrell, this quiz will challenge even the most dedicated fans.
Think you can name them all? Grab your boots and let’s see how well you know the men who led England into battle on the world stage!
The post Sir Clive Woodward picks his England XV for the 2025 Six Nations appeared first on Ruck.
