Owen Farrell starts at 10 as Marcus Smith drops to the bench for Italy

February 10, 2023
1398
Ultimate Rugby

England take on the Azzurri at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday (3pm KO), where Henry Slade returns to the team at outside centre, with Ollie Lawrence named inside centre.

Captain Owen Farrell moves to fly half and Jack van Poortvliet remains at scrum half. Last week’s debutant Ollie Hassell-Collins is on the left wing, Max Malins is on the right and Freddie Steward is full back.

In the only change to the pack, Jack Willis comes in at openside flanker, as Lewis Ludlam (blindside) and Alex Dombrandt (No. 8) retain their places.

Vice-captain Ellis Genge and Kyle Sinckler are named as props, alongside Jamie George at hooker. Maro Itoje and Ollie Chessum start at lock.

Jack Walker could get the chance to make his England debut after being named as a replacement. There are also returns for Henry Arundell and Alex Mitchell. Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Nick Isiekwe, Ben Earl and Marcus Smith make up the remaining replacements.

"We welcome an exciting and in form Italy team to Twickenham on Sunday," said Borthwick. "We recognise and respect the very real threat they pose in this Six Nations Championship and we are preparing accordingly.

"Notwithstanding the disappointment of last weekend’s Calcutta Cup result, we know that in a very short space of time positive steps have been taken towards the manner and style in which we want to play our rugby.

"We are at the start of what is a completely new cycle of England Rugby. The implementation of new systems does take time and the squad is showing themselves to be hungry to deliver the sort of performance that we know they are capable of.

"From the squad, I have selected a team for Sunday’s fixture that I believe is best placed to meet the specific challenges that Italy will bring. It is a selection of players whose form, individual strengths and combined qualities suit the way we want to play against Italy, in what we anticipate will be another hard-fought and entertaining spectacle."

Match Day 23:

15. Freddie Steward

14. Max Malins

13. Henry Slade

12. Ollie Lawrence

11. Ollie Hassell-Collins

10. Owen Farrell (C)

9. Jack van Poortvliet

1. Ellis Genge (VC)

2. Jamie George

3. Kyle Sinckler

4. Maro Itoje