In an attempt to revive their Six Nations campaign, England has made a dramatic shake-up to their starting lineup ahead of their match against Italy. A total of 12 changes have been made, including nine personnel alterations and three positional shifts, as head coach Steve Borthwick seeks to inject new energy into his team following disappointing losses to Scotland and Ireland.
Key Changes in the England Squad
England will feature a completely revamped backline, with all positions differing from the previous match against Ireland. Fin Smith takes the fly-half role, and Gloucester's Seb Atkinson starts at inside centre for only his third cap. Key players from the autumn series, such as George Ford and Fraser Dingwall, have been omitted from the matchday squad. Harlequins' Cadan Murley and Sale's Tom Roebuck will take on the wing roles, while Elliot Daly replaces Freddie Steward at full-back.
In addition, Ollie Lawrence's injury sees Tommy Freeman move from wing to outside centre. Ben Spencer is preferred at scrum-half over Jack van Poortvliet as Alex Mitchell misses the remainder of the tournament due to a hamstring injury. This restructuring represents the largest number of changes made by England between two Six Nations matches since 2000.
England’s Forward Lineup Shows Less Change
While Borthwick has made extensive alterations in the backline, the forward pack remains relatively stable. However, there is one notable change, as hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, who struggled against Ireland, has been replaced by Jamie George in the starting lineup. Maro Itoje will captain the side, with Alex Coles partnering him in the second row. In the back row, Guy Pepper, Tom Curry, and Ben Earl retain their places, while Ollie Chessum drops to the bench.
Borthwick's decision to make these sweeping changes comes after England's poor performances in the past two rounds, with losses to Scotland and Ireland. The team will look to bounce back in Rome against an improving Italy side, who have shown impressive form despite missing key players.
England's High Expectations for the Italy Match
England's high standards have been set on the back of their 12-match winning streak last year, but recent form has fallen short of those expectations. Despite their struggles, head coach Steve Borthwick remains optimistic, saying that the team is eager to turn things around. With the squad reshuffling in mind, England will be hoping that their new combinations bring fresh energy and a renewed sense of purpose as they prepare to face Italy in their next Six Nations fixture.
