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Steve Borthwick rips up England side to face Italy as Fin Smith starts at fly half
Steve Borthwick has ripped up his England side for the Six Nations trip to face Italy, naming an all-new backline with Fin Smith installed at fly half.
Smith takes the place of George Ford as Borthwick wields the axe following back-to-back defeats to Scotland and Ireland that have all but ended England’s title hopes.
Tommy Freeman is the sole survivor from the backline that started against Ireland in round three, though moves to outside centre to partner Six Nations debutant Seb Atkinson after injury to Ollie Lawrence. Veteran Elliot Daly is stationed at full-back, Tom Roebuck returns on the right wing and Cadan Murley is a surprise inclusion on the left.
With Alex Mitchell out for the remainder of the campaign due to a hamstring issue, Ben Spencer is preferred to Jack van Poortvliet at scrum half to complete a fresh look behind the scrum.
There are changes up front, too: Jamie George takes the place of Luke Cowan-Dickie at hooker; Alex Coles replaces Ollie Chessum, who missed training on Monday; and Guy Pepper returns to a reshuffled back row.
Ben Earl will win his 50th cap at No 8, with Tom Curry stationed on the openside. It is the most changes England have ever made in the Six Nations since the addition of Italy; only Maro Itoje, Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes are retained in the same starting shirts from the Ireland defeat.
“We’re expecting a big test in Rome and it’s one the players are really looking forward to,” said Borthwick.
“We know the challenge Italy will bring at the Stadio Olimpico, and we’ve selected a team we believe will deliver the level of performance we’re striving for.”
England have never lost to Italy in 32 previous meetings between the two sides dating back to 1991. The Azzuri are a growing Six Nations force, though, beating Scotland and pushing Ireland close already in this campaign.
The hosts were beaten by just three points when Borthwick’s side last visited the Stadio Olimpico in 2024.
England XV to face Italy (Saturday 7 March, 4.40pm GMT): 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George, 3 Joe Heyes; 4 Maro Itoje (capt.), 5 Alex Coles; 6 Guy Pepper, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Ben Earl; 9 Ben Spencer, 10 Fin Smith; 11 Cadan Murley, 12 Seb Atkinson, 13 Tommy Freeman, 14 Tom Roebuck; 15 Elliot Daly.
Replacements: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Trevor Davison, 19 Ollie Chessum, 20 Sam Underhill, 21 Henry Pollock; 22 Jack van Poortvliet, 23 Marcus Smith.