ENGLAND HAVE GIVEN debuts to centre Fraser Dingwall and flanker Ethan Roots for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome.
Head coach Steve Borthwick has also named three uncapped players on the bench in back-rower Chandler Cunningham-South, fly-half Fin Smith and wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
Alex Mitchell has overcome an infected cut on his leg to form a half-back axis with George Ford, who is named as one of two vice-captains alongside Maro Itoje with Jamie George leading the team out at the Stadio Olimpico.
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Ford has edged rookie Fin Smith for the number 10 jersey after Marcus Smith was ruled out of the round one clash because of a calf problem.
Italy, who have never beaten England in 30 previous attempts, have named Toulouse star Ange Capuozzo on the right wing for Gonzalo Quesada’s first match as Azzurri coach.
Capuozzo has been shifted from full-back to make way for Perpignan playmaker Tommaso Allan, with Lyon’s Monty Ioane on the left flank.
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Borthwick hands out two debuts for England's Six Nations opener against Italy
ENGLAND HAVE GIVEN debuts to centre Fraser Dingwall and flanker Ethan Roots for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome.
Head coach Steve Borthwick has also named three uncapped players on the bench in back-rower Chandler Cunningham-South, fly-half Fin Smith and wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
Alex Mitchell has overcome an infected cut on his leg to form a half-back axis with George Ford, who is named as one of two vice-captains alongside Maro Itoje with Jamie George leading the team out at the Stadio Olimpico.
Ford has edged rookie Fin Smith for the number 10 jersey after Marcus Smith was ruled out of the round one clash because of a calf problem.
Italy, who have never beaten England in 30 previous attempts, have named Toulouse star Ange Capuozzo on the right wing for Gonzalo Quesada’s first match as Azzurri coach.
Capuozzo has been shifted from full-back to make way for Perpignan playmaker Tommaso Allan, with Lyon’s Monty Ioane on the left flank.
Italy
Replacements:
England
Replacements:
– Additional reporting © AFP 2024
– Updated 2.35pm: This article was updated to correct England’s and Italy’s squad listings.
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