In his second game as England head coach, Steve Borthwick has sensationally dropped Marcus Smith from fly-half in favour of captain Owen Farrell in a midfield shake-up for the team’s second round Guinness Six Nations clash with Italy.
Breaking up a midfield axis which had been present across England’s last eight fixtures, Borthwick has also selected Bath’s Ollie Lawrence and Exeter Chiefs’ Henry Slade.
It is a partnership which was subject to much contention across its implementation, with England failing to sparkle and saw plenty of frustration vented towards it following England’s 23-29 loss to Scotland last Saturday.
Other changes see Jack Willis installed at openside flanker with Ben Curry left out of the matchday squad entirely, while Ollie Chessum will partner Maro Itoje at lock once again after his strong outing a week ago.
Farrell will be partnered by Jack van Poortvliet at half-back, while Ollie Hassell-Collins earns a second cap on the wing, while Max Malins and Freddie Steward also starting spots.
Similarly, Lewis Ludlam and Alex Dombrandt keep their places in the pack, while the front-row trio of Ellis Genge, Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler will look to establish themselves against the Italian pack.
“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,” Steve Borthwick said.
“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.”
Much of the bench stays the same too. Jack Walker, again, is primed to win his debut Test cap as a replacement, while Mako Vunipola and Dan Cole will lend their weight as props.
Saracens duo Ben Earl and Nick Isiekwe will again make their presence known as replacements and Northampton Saints scrum-half, Alex Mitchell, could earn his second cap and exciting London Irish full-back is on the bench too.
Freddie Steward; Max Malins, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Ollie Hassell-Collins; Owen Farrell, Jack van Poportvliet; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Lewis Ludlam, Jack Willis, Alex Dombrandt
Jack Walker*, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Nick Isiekwe, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Henry Arundell
