Ben Youngs will replace Danny Care as England scrum-half for the Six Nations game against Italy on Sunday.
Mako Vunipola and Courtney Lawes have also been promoted into the starting XV by the head coach, Eddie Jones, replacing Joe Marler and Joe Launchbury respectively from the team that beat Scotland at Murrayfield last week.
Saracens’ second row Maro Itoje has also been included as a replacement for the first time, joining Northampton’s Paul Hill on the bench. Hill was an unused substitute in Edinburgh.
“We’ve made a few changes to the lineup for Italy. I believe this is the strongest 23 to go to Rome and get the performance and result we want.” Jones said. “Mako, Ben and Courtney have been pushing hard for selection during training, but they also fit the game plan we want to implement against Italy. Danny, Joe Marler and Joe Launchbury will all have a significant roles to play to finish the game.”
“It has been an intense week of training and I am pleased with how the group have responded to some of the things we’ve asked them to do. Maro has consistently impressed me this week and, together with his excellent club form, has deserved his call up to the matchday squad.”
Jones added: “We are confident we can go to Rome and win, but we’re in no doubt of the challenge we face. Italy took France very close last weekend in Paris so they’ll be fired up.
“Josh Beaumont and Ollie Devoto will also travel with the squad to give them an opportunity to gain experience of Test match rugby.”
England team to play Italy on Sunday
M Brown (Harlequins); A Watson (Bath), J Joseph (Bath), O Farrell (Saracens), J Nowell (Exeter Chiefs); G Ford (Bath), B Youngs (Leicester Tigers); M Vunipola (Saracens), D Hartley (Northampton Saints), D Cole (Leicester Tigers), C Lawes (Northampton Saints), G Kruis (Saracens), C Robshaw (Harlequins), J Haskell (Wasps), B Vunipola (Saracens). Replacements J George (Saracens), J Marler (Harlequins), P Hill (Northampton), J Launchbury (Wasps), M Itoje (Saracens, uncapped), J Clifford (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), 23 A Goode (Saracens)
