In a meeting room at England’s training camp in Girona, a group of scientists diligently analyzes performance data on their laptops. This practice is now standard in Test environments, yet Steve Borthwick and his team stand out as leaders in this field.

Elliott Brown took on the role of the team’s senior data scientist full-time last July. His previous experience includes working as an analyst for Deliveroo and a cattle trading platform. Ben Earl praises him as a ‘genius,’ impressed by his ability to dissect the performances of Arsenal, the football team Earl supports.

Beyond aiming for victories, England is focused on achieving cohesion as a key metric in preparation for next year’s World Cup. Familiarity is believed to lead to success, and Borthwick’s selection for the Six Nations opener against Wales reflects this strategy, featuring well-established player combinations.

This strategy will break Itoje’s streak of playing every minute in the Six Nations since 2020. As part of England’s cohesion initiative, lock Ollie Chessum has started 28 of his last 30 Tests alongside the captain, who is set for a role with the ‘Pom Squad.’

England’s peak cohesion data dates back to Sir Clive Woodward’s squad, which claimed the World Cup in 2003. Research highlights the benefits of consistent playing partnerships, as seen in Manchester City’s successful teams, and England aims to replicate this formula.

‘Going into the first Test of any series, having combinations that understand each other really well is one of the key factors in the selection process,’ says England coach Steve Borthwick

Ben Earl (pictured in Girona last week) describes England’s data guru Elliott Brown as a ‘genius’

“Approaching the first Test of any series, having combinations that are well-acquainted is crucial for selection,” Borthwick stated on Monday. “I analyze many teams across different sports, seeking what makes a rugby team successful. Clearly, maintaining selection continuity is a vital factor.”

‘I’ve also looked at when the continuity of selection potentially goes too far and where is the right balance. That’s one aspect I consider. The leadership, the age, the number of games they have played together, when is the right time to bring in new players – they are all factors.

‘There is a connection and tightness around this squad that I have not seen in very many England squads and certainly was not apparent in the England squads that I was part of in the later years of my playing career.’

England’s cohesion index feeds into a wider pool of data. Borthwick recently presented a graph at a coaching conference that showed England’s expected win rate before they embarked on their 11-game unbeaten run. Cohesion was one of the contributing factors and Borthwick’s theory was proved correct as they discovered their winning formula in 2025.

In England’s midfield, Tommy Freeman has been deployed outside his Northampton team-mate Fraser Dingwall. Borthwick ignored the clamour to select Max Ojomoh or Seb Atkinson, with winger Henry Arundell the only enforced change in the backline thanks to Tom Roebuck’s injury.

The data feeds down into micro-areas of performance, too. No 8 Earl tracks a performance index that measures the cumulative time between his involvements during a match.

Every element of what Wales can bring at Twickenham on Saturday has been analysed. ‘There’s a lot more detail in international rugby,’ said Freeman. ‘We play similar teams week in, week out in the Prem. Obviously Europe is a bit different but we know what Saracens are going to bring, what Sale are going to bring. You play them enough. There are probably a few more tired legs in the Prem that you can get after and pick off.

‘Here Steve says we want to be the world’s best prepared team and learn the fastest as well. There is that detail aspect around them but it’s very much then a focus around us. 

‘I’m lucky that I’ve played with George Ford quite a lot now,’ says scrum-half Alex Mitchell (pictured). ‘We’ve trained together for four or five years’

There will be a familiar feel to Borthwick’s team when they run out at Twickenham – and there should be a familiar result against a Welsh

‘Elliott is a genius. I’m one of the guys who tries to avoid getting overloaded with information, but some of the stats that Steve comes out with are pretty mental. Knowing that, “If we do this, this many times, then the result will look like this” is very interesting and it’s good to know. But at the end of the day, you play to space, you get the ball there, you score more than them and you win.’

It is only a matter of time before artificial intelligence creeps into international rugby, although performance director Phil Morrow told Daily Mail Sport there are not yet enough rugby data points for it to be used effectively.

Yet nothing will replace the feel of a Test match and the art of problem solving on the pitch, with George Ford once again bringing his key experience to England’s No 10 jersey.

‘I’m lucky that I’ve played with Fordy quite a lot now,’ said scrum-half Alex Mitchell. ‘We’ve trained together for four or five years now. We have little positional group meetings and the golden nugget conversations are off the field, chatting around the coffee machine.

‘Fordy is a fantastic leader who understands the game really well. His kick strategy knowledge is through the roof. I’m always picking his brains because every scenario is different, with yellow cards, weather and what not. He has a really good balance in his game. He’s been fantastic for a long, long time now.’

There will be a familiar feel to Borthwick’s team when they run out at Twickenham – and there should be a familiar result against a Welsh team that has not win in the Six Nations since 2023.