venue: Stadio Olimpico, Rome date: Saturday, February 3rd kick off: 14:15 GMT |
coverage: Listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra. View live text and match highlights on BBC Sport's website and app. Watch live on ITV1. |
Steve Borthwick says Fraser Dingwall will bring a “different dimension” when he makes his Test debut in England's Six Nations opener in Italy.
Dingwall will start inside center on Saturday as one of five uncapped players in head coach Borthwick's matchday squad.
The 24-year-old Northampton back has taken part in the past 10 England camps and has claimed the position filled by Manu Tuilagi during the World Cup.
“Everyone can see how well he's playing,” Borthwick told BBC Sport.
“I think he described himself as 'pretty persistent', which would be the understatement of the century.
“He's determined to play Test rugby, he's worked incredibly hard and he clearly deserves the chance.
“He's coming in and trying to add a different dimension to our game, making sure everyone is aligned tactically and feeling like they can bring all their super strength to the pitch. I want to be able to do it.”
Borthwick likes Tuirangi's power and direct running through the midfield, but Dingwall has a different skillset to the 32-year-old Sale center who is sidelined with a groin injury.
“Fraser is a really smart defender and a good distributor,” Borthwick added.
“He finds space when he chooses to carry and even though he has a very different physique to Manu Tuilagi, he uses all of his talents in a really smart way.”
“It hasn’t fully penetrated yet.”
Dingwall had played age-grade rugby for Scotland and had not earned an England cap up to this point and may have been tempted to switch allegiance to Gregor Townsend's senior team.
But the Saints academy graduate said he was “absolutely determined” to be successful with England.
“There's a lot of excitement and pride and so many emotions,” Dingwall told BBC Sport. “It hasn’t fully sunk in yet and I don’t think it will until after the game.
“Ten teams is a weird number because I never thought we would have that many members before, but it showed me what it takes to make the leap, so I’m really grateful for everything.”
“I had it [first cap] I don't think I would have been ready if I had come earlier, but I'm in a place where I have more confidence in myself and I can go into this game not just wanting to be there, but really wanting to perform. ”
Asked if he had ever thought about playing for Scotland, Dingwall said: “I've been around so many teams so it's probably been difficult at times, but being with one team is great.'' I don't think it ever happened,” he said.A place that justified a choice enough to turn away. [on England]. ”
Dingwall will join familiar faces in the backline such as Northampton scrum-half Alex Mitchell and winger Tommy Freeman, while Finn Smith could also make his debut at fly-half off the bench.
England have not won their last four Six Nations opening games, but the center is keen to change that against the Azzurri.
“That's something we seriously want to resolve,” he said. “We are not going to sleepwalk into the Six Nations and want to attack from the start.
“Being a debutant, there's more pressure, but in my head I try to avoid that. We're just staying true to our plan and how we want to play, so we can get results. It will resolve itself.”