England head coach Steve Borthwick has opted for a bold approach, making nine changes to the starting XV for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations match against Italy at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico. Among the new faces is Gloucester Rugby centre Seb Atkinson, who will start at inside centre, replacing Northampton’s Fraser Dingwell.
Atkinson, 23, is no stranger to the England setup, having started twice during last summer’s successful tour in Argentina. Joining Atkinson in the revamped squad are seasoned players Jamie George, Alex Coles, Guy Pepper, Ben Spencer, Fin Smith, Cadan Murley, Tom Roebuck, and Elliot Daly. A tactical switch sees Northampton’s Tommy Freeman move from wing to centre.
Number eight Ben Earl is set to mark a significant milestone, earning his 50th cap since making his debut in 2020 against Scotland. Borthwick praised Earl: “Reaching 50 caps for England is a testament to Ben’s professionalism and consistent high-level performance. He’s a vital leader who drives standards and brings relentless energy to the team. This is a proud achievement.”
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Looking ahead to the challenge in Rome, Borthwick emphasized the difficulty of the fixture, stating, “We anticipate a tough contest, and the players are eager to step up. Italy at the Stadio Olimpico will be formidable, so we’ve selected a squad capable of delivering the performance standards we demand.”
England’s starting lineup to face Italy:
15. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 74 caps)
14. Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks, 10 caps)
13. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 25 caps)
12. Seb Atkinson (Gloucester Rugby, 2 caps)
11. Cadan Murley (Harlequins, 4 caps)
10. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 14 caps)
9. Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby, 16 caps)
- Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 78 caps) – vice-captain
- Jamie George (Saracens, 108 caps) – vice-captain
- Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 20 caps)
- Maro Itoje (Saracens, 100 caps) – captain
- Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 17 caps)
- Guy Pepper (Bath Rugby, 10 caps)
- Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 68 caps)
- Ben Earl (Saracens, 49 caps)
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 56 caps)
17. Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks, 13 caps)
18. Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)
19. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 33 caps)
20. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 48 caps)
21. Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints, 8 caps)
22. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 22 caps)
23. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 48 caps)