London, Feb. 21, 2025 – England captain Maro Itoje has praised Bath forward Ted Hill as a “man carved out of Greek stone” and likened him to Superman ahead of Saturday’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at Twickenham. Hill, who last represented England in 2021, has been called onto the bench after George Martin’s withdrawal due to a knee injury.
Ted Hill Returns to England Squad
Hill, 25, has been a standout performer at club level, first with Worcester Warriors and now with Bath. Despite his limited international experience—having earned only two caps since his Test debut against Japan in 2018—his recall has been welcomed by teammates, particularly Itoje.
“I’m very, very happy for Ted,” Itoje told reporters on Thursday. “He’s a player I’ve admired for a number of years, seeing him do his thing at Worcester and then at Bath. He’s a supreme athlete. He looks like Clark Kent with his glasses but plays like Superman. I am very happy that I hopefully get an opportunity to play with him.”
England’s Strategy for the Calcutta Cup
Itoje, who will start in the second row alongside Ollie Chessum, emphasized the importance of England’s defensive setup against a Scotland team looking for their fifth consecutive Calcutta Cup victory.
Scotland’s campaign has received a boost with the return of co-captain Finn Russell, who passed concussion protocols after a head clash in their February 9 defeat to Ireland. The Bath fly-half remains a crucial playmaker, and Itoje acknowledged the need for a comprehensive defensive plan.
“Finn is obviously a good player, we all know he’s a good player and he requires a certain amount of attention,” said Itoje. “Whilst we need to make him have a bad day at the office, we also have to pay respect to their back row, wingers, tight five, and his inside back partners. They have a number of threats throughout their team.”
Coach’s Confidence in Hill
England attack coach Richard Wigglesworth also praised Hill’s athleticism and impact.
“He’s an incredible athlete, not only quick across the ground, but quick in the air at line-out time,” said Wigglesworth. “He’s got a different set of super strengths to George Martin, but we’ll expect him to bring the best of himself when he comes on. I don’t want him to play like anyone else—I want the best of Ted.”
Injury Woes for England
England’s preparations have been affected by the loss of winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, who will miss the remainder of the championship due to a dislocated shoulder. Exeter Chiefs confirmed that the 22-year-old required surgery after suffering a recurrence of the injury during England’s training camp.
“We needed to make sure he was going to be right, so he got tested properly here, significantly tested, and it wasn’t right, so the surgery option then came,” Wigglesworth said. “It wasn’t that close that you were planning to have him in.”
Scotland’s Bid for Another Calcutta Cup Victory
Scotland enters Saturday’s match with high hopes of extending their dominance over England. Their attacking options, spearheaded by Russell, will test England’s defense. Meanwhile, England will look to build on their dramatic 26-25 win over France last time out.
With Itoje leading from the front and Hill’s return adding fresh dynamism to the squad, England is preparing for a high-intensity battle at Twickenham in a crucial Six Nations showdown.
