England head coach Steve Borthwick is set to roll the dice in Vannes on Friday, and the gamble centers on a midfield duo that has barely played together at Test level. According to team insiders and training footage analyzed by multiple outlets, Borthwick is expected to start Benhard Janse van Rensburg at outside center alongside Max Ojomoh at inside center — a pairing that feels both experimental and necessary.
The uncapped fixture against France XV at Stade de la Rabine comes at a strange crossroads for English rugby. On one hand, the narrow Six Nations loss in Paris showed real promise: pace, physicality, and attacking structure that had been missing for months. On the other, that promising display is sandwiched between England’s worst-ever Championship — just one win in five Tests — and a looming July 4 showdown with the Springboks. This game is about stress-testing depth, not just winning.
“Borthwick wants to see if these guys can handle the pressure of a jersey,” said a source close to the coaching staff, speaking on condition of anonymity because team selection has not been officially announced. “The midfield is the main experiment. If Janse van Rensburg and Ojomoh click, it opens up options Borthwick didn’t know he had.”
Midfield Chemistry Under the Microscope
Ojomoh, a Bath standout, operates best between the fly-half channel and the inside shoulder, using his pace and offloading ability to create second-phase opportunities. Janse van Rensburg, meanwhile, drifts wider — into the 12–13 space — where he can pick broken-field lines and deliver slick passes. In theory, that complementarity is exactly what attack coach Lee Blackett craves. In practice, they’ve shared the pitch for only a handful of minutes in camp.
Another option would be Seb Atkinson, who finished the Six Nations as the starting No. 12 and offers a similar skillset. But this week, the team appears willing to let the less experienced pairing sink or swim. The club-vs-country irony here is not lost: Janse van Rensburg was called into last month’s alignment camp as Ojomoh’s replacement, and now they may start together.
At fly-half, George Ford is expected to get the nod over in-form Charlie Atkinson, largely because of his leadership within a relatively green squad. Jack van Poortvliet is the likely starter at scrum-half, with Harry Randall and Marcus Smith coming off the bench in a 6-2 split that has become a Borthwick trademark.
Forward Pack Built for a Test Match
Up front, the pack has a familiar Six Nations feel. Ben Earl is a lock at No. 8, Tom Curry starts at openside, and Ollie Chessum — who impressed in Paris — is expected to get the nod at blindside, ahead of Ted Hill. That choice allows Borthwick to keep George Martin at lock, where his impact after a long injury layoff has been immediate. Charlie Ewels, known for his lineout calling and leadership, is likely to start alongside Martin.
In the front row, Jamie George and Joe Heyes retain their starting spots from the Six Nations, while Beno Obano is in line for a start at loosehead after a dominant scrummaging season with Bath. The bench is stocked with young talent: Asher Opoku-Fordjour and Vilikesa Sela are expected to cover the front row, and Jamie Blamire’s strong club form earns him a reserve role.
Predicted England XV to Face France
Starting XV — 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Max Ojomoh, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 George Ford, 9 Jack van Poortvliet, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Ollie Chessum, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 George Martin, 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Jamie George, 1 Beno Obano.
Replacements — 16 Jamie Blamire, 17 Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 18 Vilikesa Sela, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Ted Hill, 21 Alex Dombrandt, 22 Harry Randall, 23 Marcus Smith.
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. local time. The team has not confirmed the lineup, but training photos and positional drills from the week suggest this is the direction Borthwick is leaning. The biggest unknown is whether Janse van Rensburg and Ojomoh can translate club chemistry to the international stage — and whether England can afford to experiment this close to a Springboks test.
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