England coach Steve Borthwick has announced radical changes to his team on Tuesday following their alarming Six Nations slump.
There are nine changes in personnel and a further three positional switches following the 42-21 rout by Ireland that realistically ended England’s title chances with two rounds remaining.
It is the most changes ever made by England in the Six Nations era.
Flyhalf Fin Smith will direct operations in his first start since the Autumn Nations Series at the expense of George Ford, who has been jettisoned from the match 23 after underperforming against Andy Farrell’s men.
British & Irish Lions playmaker Smith marshals a back line that includes only one survivor from the Ireland mauling in Tommy Freeman. Even Freeman has been relocated from wing to outside centre.
Seb Atkinson and Freeman form the centre partnership and there is an entirely new back three in wings Cadan Murley, Tom Roebuck and fullback Elliot Daly. Ben Spencer starts at scrumhalf.
Borthwick’s hand is partly forced by injuries to Alex Mitchell and Ollie Lawrence, but he has opted for a dramatic shake-up of personnel for Saturday’s showdown in Rome.
AFRICA PICKS: State of the Six Nations – the penultimate weekend
None of the units behind the scrum have previously played together.
There are three changes to the pack with hooker Jamie George, lock Alex Coles and flanker Guy Pepper promoted to the starting XV, having been on the bench against Ireland.
The final two positional switches occur in the back row, where Tom Curry moves to openside and Ben Earl to No 8 with the Saracens forward winning his 50th cap.
Henry Pollock has made way for Pepper’s elevation to the No 6 jersey and is joined among the replacements by Luke Cowan-Dickie.
“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 won all 32 previous encounters with Italy but Gonzalo Quesada’s men pose a real threat, beating Scotland and threatening an upset in Dublin in recent weeks.
Borthwick’s side started the Six Nations as one of the favourites but back-to-back defeats by Scotland and Ireland have wrecked their campaign and heaped pressure on the coach.
England wrap up their campaign later this month in Paris against France, who remain on course for the Grand Slam.
ENGLAND – 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Tommy Freeman, 12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Ben Spencer, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Tom Curry, 6 Guy Pepper, 5 Alex Coles, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 3 Joe Heyes, 2 Jamie George, 1 Ellis Genge.
Bench: 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.
Photo: Warren Little/Getty Images
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