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England host Italy in Round 2 of the Six Nations on Sunday (3pm); Marcus Smith has been dropped from the side, with Owen Farrell moving to fly-half; center Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence came in to start; Jack Willis replaces Ben Curry at openside; Tom Curry (hamstring), Courtney Lawes (calf) still out
By Michael Cantillon
Last updated: 10/02/23 15:16
Marcus Smith has been dropped from the England squad to face Italy at Twickenham in the Six Nations
Marcus Smith has been dropped to the bench by England head coach Steve Borthwick for the Six Nations clash against Italy, with captain Owen Farrell moving to fly-half as one of three changes.
To facilitate Farrell’s move from center to number 10, Exeter Chiefs center Henry Slade was brought into midfield after recovering from a hip injury, as was Bath’s Ollie Lawrence, with Joe Marchant dropping to the bench.
Among the forwards, Jack Willis has been named to start in place of Ben Curry at openside flanker – the latter was cut from the England squad earlier in the week, along with Ben Youngs and Anthony Watson.
Willis faced Italy at Twickenham two years after suffering a serious knee injury in the same match, which kept him out for 53 weeks.
England’s Jack Willis has been recalled to start at openside flanker
Elsewhere, England are still without key forwards Tom Curry (hamstring) and Courtney Lawes (calf) through injury.
The back-three remains the same with Freddie Steward at full-back, and Max Malins and Ollie Hassell-Collins named on the wings.
Scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet partners Farrell at half-back, but there is a change between the replacements with scrum-half Alex Mitchell named ahead of Youngs.
England captain Owen Farrell has switched positions from center to fly-half
The forward pack is unchanged aside from the introduction of Willis, with a front row of Ellis Genge, Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler, and a second row of Ollie Chessum and Maro Itoje.
The back row unit alongside Willis sees Lewis Ludlam at blindside flanker and Alex Dombrandt at number 8.
There are further changes to the squad, as London Irish returnee Henry Arundell comes in wearing number 23.
“We welcome an exciting and in-form Italian team to Twickenham on Friday. We recognize and respect the very real threat they pose in this Six Nations Championship and we prepare accordingly,” said Borthwick on Friday.
Henry Slade has moved in at outside center after recovering from a hip injury
“Despite the disappointment of last weekend’s Calcutta Cup result, we know that in the short term, positive steps have been taken for the way and style we want to play rugby.
“We are at the beginning of a completely new cycle of English Rugby. The implementation of the new system takes time and the squad has shown itself hungry to deliver the kind of performance that we know they are capable of.
“From the squad, I have selected the team for Sunday’s match that I believe is best able to meet the specific challenges that Italy will face.
“It’s a selection of players whose form, individual strength and collective quality suit the way we want to play against Italy, which we expect will be a tough and exciting spectacle.”
Ollie Lawrence starts in the middle, after starting from the substitutes’ bench last week
English: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Max Malins, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Jack van Poortvliet; 1 Ellis Genge, 2 Jamie George, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 4 Ollie Chessum, 5 Maro Itoje, 6 Lewis Ludlam, 7 Jack Willis, 8 Alex Dombrandt
Replacement: 16 Jack Walker, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Nick Isiekwe, 20 Ben Earl, 21 Alex Mitchell, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Henry Arundell.
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