Italy vs England, Stadio Olimipico, Sunday February 13th (kick-off 3pm, live on Virgin Media One)
Harry Randall and Alex Dombrandt have been selected to start for England against Italy on Sunday as Eddie Jones rings the changes. Jones has made six changes in total, with Randall, Dombrandt and Jack Nowell all starting in an eye-catching XV as England seek to get their campaign back on track after last Saturday’s defeat away to Scotland.
Jamie George and Will Stuart come into the side, as does Charlie Ewels, with Maro Itoje shifting to blindside flanker in the absence of the injured Lewis Ludlam. Tom Curry again captains the side from openside flanker, with Courtney Lawes still sidelined while Ben Youngs is set to equal Jason Leonard’s England caps record of 114 assuming he comes off the bench. Leicester’s Ollie Chessum is also named among the replacements with the 21-year-old set for a debut if he comes on. Ellis Genge, Henry Slade and Luke Cowan-Dickie – who is among the replacements – have all been named as vice-captains.
Jones’ decision to select Randall at scrumhalf is a show of intent from the head coach. The 24-year-old was an unused replacement against Scotland but is a livewire number nine and caught the eye in his two previous appearances last summer, dovetailing nicely with Marcus Smith. With Dombrandt preferred to Sam Simmonds at number eight it is an attack-minded side Jones has picked with the Harlequins backrow coming in for his first Six Nations start. Nowell, who was a late replacement against Scotland, comes on to the left wing with Joe Marchant shifting to his more familiar position of outside-centre and Elliot Daly dropping to the bench.
Itoje’s move to the backrow paves the way for Ewels to join Nick Isiekwe in the secondrow while the selection of George and Stuart to start will allow Jones to call on the more dynamic Cowan-Dickie and Kyle Sinckler as the game opens up against Italy. Genge keeps his place at loosehead prop while Smith, Slade, Max Malins and Freddie Steward all keep their places. Joe Marler is again on the bench with Cowan-Dickie, Sinckler, Chessum, Simmonds, Youngs, George Ford and Daly.
Jones said: “We’ve set ourselves the target of playing really well and lighting up Rome. We’ve made some changes and this is the best side to face Italy. We want to start fast and take the game to them. It’s been a difficult week, but the players have bounced back well, trained hard and are ready to put on a good performance on Sunday.”
Meanwhile, Italy coach Kieran Crowley has made three changes , but teenage winger Tommaso Menoncello misses out through injury after becoming the championship’s youngest try scorer in 55 years against France.
The 19-year-old finished superbly to give Italy a shock first half lead during their 37-10 defeat in Paris, but picked up an injury at the Stade de France.
Federico Mori takes Menoncello’s place on the wing, while Braam Steyn comes in at blindside flanker at the expense of Sebastian Negri, who drops to the bench. Tighthead Pietro Ceccarelli will earn his first Azzurri start in his 18th Italy appearance, bumping Tiziano Pasquali to the bench, while Crowley has again opted for a 6/2 split of forwards to backs with his substitutes.
– Guardian
England: F Steward; M Malins, J Marchant, H Slade, J Nowell; M Smith, H Randall; E Genge, J George, W Stuart, C Ewels, N Isiekwe, M Itoje, T Curry, A Dombrandt.
Replacements: L Cowan-Dickie, J Marler, K Sinckler, O Chessum, S Simmonds, B Youngs, G Ford , E Daly.
Italy: E Padovani; F Mori, J Ignacio Brex, M Zanon, MIoane; P Garbisi, S Varney; T Halafihi, M Lamaro (capt), B Steyn; F Ruzza, N Cannone; P Ceccarelli, G Lucchesi, D Fischetti.
Replacements: E Faiva, C Traore, T Pasquali, D Sisi, S Negri, G Pettinelli, A Fusco, L Marin.
Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)
