England spring centre selection surprise as Marcus Smith recalled in backline reshuffle

Tommy Freeman, in good form on the wing, is picked at 13 as Steve Borthwick shakes up his backline combination

Tommy Freeman starts at centre for England (Getty Images)

England have sprung another selection surprise for their final Six Nations outing, with Tommy Freeman shifted to outside centre and Tom Roebuck making his first start on the wing, with Marcus Smith recalled to the starting side.

Freeman has been in flying form in the back three but shifts infield after the achilles injury suffered by Ollie Lawrence against Italy last week.

Elliot Daly moved to 13 in that encounter but is pushed out to the wing in the starting side named for the trip to Cardiff, with Smith stationed at full-back as he was in the wins over France and Scotland.

Sale wing Roebuck comes in to the starting side with Ollie Sleightholme left out of the squad entirely despite scoring twice on Sunday.

The back row is also remodelled with Ben Curry promoted as Tom Willis drops to a bench that includes a potential debutant in young flanker Henry Pollock. Meanwhile, there is a switch of hookers as Jamie George moves back into the replacements having started on his 100th cap.

“I’m delighted with the options we have,” head coach Steve Borthwick said. “I think it's a really exciting backline. It’s full of pace, athleticism, skill. It’s a really good position to be in.

“Unfortunately, we're all really disappointed for Ollie Lawrence with the injury he suffered last weekend. He’s been such an integral part of the team for so long and has been playing so well. That's led to some change in the centre. And then I’ve weighed up all the different options we have and I’m in the very privileged position to have plenty of options.”

Freeman has won all 19 of his England caps on the wing, though has featured at centre occasionally late on in games.

He has been deployed relatively regularly at the position for Northampton Saints, particularly during last season, and has long been seen as a long-term option in midfield by Borthwick. The 24-year-old has the opportunity to become the first England men’s player to score in all five Six Nations games in a single campaign.

An opportunity arises after Lawrence’s season-ending injury as Freeman partners club colleague Fraser Dingwall, with Henry Slade once more omitted entirely from the match-day 23.

Tom Roebuck featured three times off the bench last year (Getty)

Roebuck, meanwhile, made his international debut against Japan last summer and has featured twice more off the bench since. The tall, speedy wing will offer a similar blend of power and aerial skill to the relocated Freeman.

England require a victory in their last game to put the pressure on France, who will win the Six Nations title if they beat Scotland in the final fixture on Super Saturday.

England XV to face Wales in Cardiff (Saturday 15 March, 4.45pm GMT): 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3 Will Stuart; 4 Maro Itoje (capt.), 5 Ollie Chessum; 6 Tom Curry, 7 Ben Curry, 8 Ben Earl; 9 Alex Mitchell, 10 Fin Smith; 11 Elliot Daly, 12 Fraser Dingwall, 13 Tommy Freeman, 14 Tom Roebuck; 15 Marcus Smith.

Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Fin Baxter, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 Chandler Cunningham-South, 20 Henry Pollock, 21 Tom Willis; 22 Jack van Poortvliet, 23 George Ford.