England Team Named: Ford and Lawes start

February 11, 2021
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Ultimate Rugby

Eddie Jones has named his England team to play Italy in the Six Nations this weekend.

Mako Vunipola is back from injury at loose-head prop, with Kyle Sinckler (tight-head prop) and Luke Cowan-Dickie (hooker) also returning to the starting line-up, in the front row. Jonny Hill and Maro Itoje stay as locks.

Courtney Lawes starts at blind-side flanker, with Tom Curry continuing at open-side flanker and Billy Vunipola at No. 8.

Captain Owen Farrell moves to inside centre, Henry Slade is at outside centre and George Ford starts at fly half.

Jonny May is at left wing and Anthony Watson right wing. Elliot Daly will be at full back and Ben Youngs remains at scrum half.

Ben Earl, Charlie Ewels, Jamie George, Ellis Genge, Jonny Hill, Dan Robson, Will Stuart and Jack Willis are named as finishers.

Jones said: “As always, we’ve picked what we think is our strongest 23 to try and win the game.

“We’re pleased to have Mako and Kyle back into the team and we’ve made some changes to our starting XV, but our finishers are just as important to our game plan. We look at the whole 80 minutes.

“We’ve trained very well this week, I’ve been very pleased with the players’ attitudes and work-rate. We’re hoping to put on a good performance on Saturday and kick on with our Guinness Six Nations campaign.”

England v Italy is live on ITV 1 and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.