Fin Smith will start for England in their Six Nations match against Italy on Saturday as Steve Borthwick makes wholesale changes to his team.
Borthwick has made nine personnel changes in light of back-to-back defeats against Scotland and Ireland, results which leave England out of title contention ahead of their game at Stadio Olimpico in Rome.
It is the most changes ever made by England in the Six Nations era.
Tommy Freeman moves from wing to outside centre while Fin Smith, in his first start since the autumn, replaces George Ford at fly-half. Rising star Henry Pollock is dropped back to the bench after making his first start against Ireland.
Fin Smith will start for England against Italy
Jamie George, Alex Coles, Guy Pepper, Ben Spencer, Fin Smith, Cadan Murley, Seb Atkinson and Tom Roebuck all also come into the team.
British and Irish Lions playmaker Smith marshals a back line that has been change entirely after the mauling from Ireland. None of the units behind the scrum have previously played together.
Maro Itoje will captain the team and No 8 Ben Earl will win his 50th cap for England, having made his debut against Scotland in 2020.
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England’s Jamie George says their Six Nations fixture against Italy will be the toughest ever, but he feels the squad are going to be extremely well prepared
“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.”
On Earl’s milestone, Borthwick added: “To reach 50 caps for England speaks volumes about Ben’s professionalism and the consistency of his performances. He’s an important leader within this group, someone who drives standards and brings energy every day. It’s a wonderful achievement and one he should be very proud of.”
England have won all 32 previous encounters with Italy but Gonzalo Quesada’s men are the strongest team fielded by the Azzurri since they joined the Six Nations in 2000.
Back-to-back heavy defeats by Scotland and Ireland have heaped pressure on Borthwick, with a trip to Paris to face Grand Slam chasing France concluding another disappointing Six Nations.
Complete overhaul
Borthwick has made radical changes to his side for the Italy match from the last game against Ireland. The backline will be entirely different from that last match, with Tommy Freeman the only survivor and his position has changed. He moves from the win to outside centre.
Of the backs who featured in the starting XV against Ireland Freddie Steward, Fraser Dingwall, Henry Arundell and George Ford have all been jettisoned, as well as Alex Mitchell and Ollie Lawrence who were injured.
In the pack that will start in Rome, only Ellis Genge, Joe Heyes and Maro Itoje keep their shirts. Ben Earl and Tom Curry are shuffled in the back row and Jamie George comes in at hooker and Alex Coles will appear in the second row.
Almost unprecedented
Sky Sports‘ James Cole says…
“Steve Borthwick has torn up the script, well most of it. 12 changes in total, nine personnel, three positional. This is really uncharacteristic. Almost unprecedented.
“The last time I can remember him making anywhere near as many changes as this was at the Rugby World Cup in 2023 but that was ahead of a game against Chile. This is a Six Nations game and it’s a sign of how important this game is.
“Whether it’s a tactical masterstroke or a stroke of desperation, that will only be dictated by the result in Rome.”
England team to face Italy
Starting XV: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Tom Roebuck, 13 Tommy Freeman,12 Seb Atkinson, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Ben Spencer; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George, 3 Joe Heyes, 4 Maro Itoje (c), 5 Alex Coles, 6 Guy Pepper, 7 Tom Curry, 8 Ben Earl.
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.
