Preview: Italy vs England (Saturday, 2:15pm)
Ethan Roots makes his debut up front with Fraser Dingwall getting his first cap in the backs as a much-changed England open their Six Nations campaign against Italy.
The duo are two of five uncapped players in the 23-man squad, with Chandler Cunningham-South, Fin Smith and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso all named among the substitutes.
From England’s last game, their Rugby World Cup play-off victory over Argentina, coach Steve Borthwick changes nine personnel with a completely new backline – save for Freddie Steward who moves to full-back from the right wing.
His preferred spot was taken up by Marcus Smith last time out, who had been expected to start at fly-half on Saturday, but a calf injury sustained on Tuesday means he misses out with George Ford paired alongside Alex Mitchell; a combination that worked so effectively in England’s World Cup opener also against Los Pumas.
Roots replaces retired Courtney Lawes in a back row that is otherwise the same as the third-placed match, with Sam Underhill and Ben Earl filling in at openside flanker and number eight respectively.
New captain Jamie George is joined in the front row by props Joe Marler and Will Stuart while Maro Itoje and Ollie Chessum continue in the second row.
Alongside Dingwall in the centres is Henry Slade, back at 13 after he missed out on the World Cup squad, with Tommy Freeman on the right wing and Elliott Daly on the left.
“After an excellent week’s preparation in Girona, we look forward to the challenge of playing Italy in Rome,” Borthwick said.
“The Azzurri are a dangerous team, with some talented ball carriers and players who like to find space. We’ll need to make good decisions, keep our discipline, and maintain a level of intensity to our performance from the first whistle to the last.”
“Winning a first cap for your country is always a very special occasion. We’re delighted for the debutants who have all worked incredibly hard to get themselves selected in the 23 to face Italy. I know Saturday will be a very proud moment for the players and their families.
“My message to them this week has been to be themselves, to grasp their opportunity, and to play with the strengths and skills that deservedly got them selected to a strong Six Nations squad.”
Uncapped trio Cunningham-South, Smith and Feyi-Waboso will occupy the number 20, 22 and 23 shirts on the bench respectively, with 96-times capped Danny Care in between them as the replacement scrum-half at number 21.
Like Northampton teammate Freeman, second row Alex Coles is set to make a first appearance for his country since 2022. Theo Dan, Ellis Genge and Dan Cole complete the bench as the replacement front rows.
Genge is one of three vice-captains in the squad with Ford and Itoje also named as George’s deputies.
That quartet will hope they have the experience to continue England’s 100 per cent record against the Azzurri, as Borthwick looks to give England a winning start to the Six Nations for the first time this decade and provide a seamless transition into international rugby for his five new faces.
For England’s hosts, undoubtedly the stand-out selection comes with the half-backs as brothers Paolo and Alessandro Garbisi start a test match together for the first time.
Tommaso Allan, who started at ten in Italy’s last game of the Rugby World Cup, moves to full-back with Toulouse sensation Ange Capuozzo moved to the right wing.
The ever-reliable Juan Ignacio Brex remains a stalwart at outside centre, accompanied by Tommaso Menoncello in the midfield as Monty Ioane retains his spot on the left-wing.
Michele Lamaro captains from openside flanker in an unchanged back five of the scrum, with the only changes in the pack seeing Danilo Fischetti get the call at loosehead prop as Gianmarco Lucchesi comes in at hooker.
“It has been an intense week of work,” said new Italian boss Gonzalo Quesada on Italy rugby’s website. “There is great enthusiasm throughout the group for their Six Nations opener.
“The staff and all the players showed great commitment trying to quickly immerse themselves in new systems. We face the third-placed team of RWC 2023 in an exciting contest, at home in an Olympic Stadium that will make its support felt.
“We’re focused on our performance, and can’t wait to get on the field.”
Italy: Allan, Capuozzo, Brex, Menoncello, Ioane, P Garbisi, A Garbisi; Fischetti, Lucchesi, Ceccarelli, Cannone, Ruzza, Negri, Lamaro (c), Cannone.
Replacements: Nicotera, Spagnolo, Zilocchi, Zambonin, Iachizzi, Zuliana, Varney, Pani.
England: Steward, Freeman, Slade, Dingwall, Daly, Ford, Mitchell; Marler, George (c), Stuart, Itoje, Chessum, Roots, Underhill, Earl.
Replacements: Dan, Genge, Cole, Coles, Cunningham-South, Care, F Smith, Feyi-Waboso.
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