Steve boosted in bid for best finish

STEVE BORTHWICK’S bid for his best Six Nations finish as England head coach has been boosted by a fitness thumbs-up for four of his main men.

- Adam Hathaway

Borthwick’s squad joined up in Bagshot last night with injury clouds over back-rowers Ben Earl, Tom Curry and Tom Willis plus centre Ollie Lawrence all clearing.

Earl, Curry and Lawrence were carrying niggles into last week’s camp in York but have been given the all-clear to rip into training this morning ahead of Sunday’s clash with Italy at Twickenham.