Head coach Eddie Jones will name his England team to play Italy in their Six Nations finale in Rome on Saturday this morning.
Seven of the 15 players who started the national team’s last fixture, against Wales at Twickenham back on March 7, are unavailable for the England team to play Italy.
Ben Youngs is set to make his 100th cap for his country, at scrum half – becoming the second most capped England men’s player of all time after Jason Leonard (114 caps).
There is also a milestone for hooker Jamie George, who will make his 50th appearance for England this weekend. Both players will lead England out at the Stadio Olimpico. England need a bonus-point win to put them in contention for winning the tournament, depending on the result in France v Ireland, which follows the game in Rome.
Jonny Hill will make his England debut at lock, while Owen Farrell, starting at fly half, will captain the side
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Henry Slade is at inside centre while Jonathan Joseph returns for England at outside centre.George Furbank is named at full back with Jonny May and Anthony Watson on the wings. Kyle Sinckler will play tighthead and Mako Vunipola loosehead in the front row. Maro Itoje completes the tight five.
Jones said: “We’ve trained with good intensity this week and the squad are excited by the challenge of performing at our best against Italy.
“The team have prepared well and are looking forward to putting on an England shirt and showing what they can do.
“We will also celebrate two major achievements in Ben Youngs and Jamie George’s cap milestones. It’s testimony to their skill, hard work and love of playing for England, and there is more to come from both of them.”
Italy v England is live on ITV 1 and BBC Radio 5 Live (KO 4.45pm GMT).
England team to play Italy
15. George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 2 caps)
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 43 caps)
13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 50 caps)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 29 caps)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 56 caps)
10. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 83 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 99 caps)
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 59 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 49 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 35 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 38 caps)
5. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 23 caps)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 18 caps)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 51 caps)
FINISHERS
16. Tom Dunn, (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
17. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 18 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 3 caps)
19. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 15 caps)
20. Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 3 caps)
21. Dan Robson (Wasps, 2 caps)
22. Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors, uncapped)
23. Ollie Thorley (Gloucester Rugby, uncapped)
GUINNESS SIX NATIONS 2020
- Saturday 31 October 2020: Italy v England – KO 16:45 GMT, Stadio Olimpico, Rome (LIVE on ITV)
ENGLAND MEN 2020 QUILTER INTERNATIONALS AS PART OF THE AUTUMN NATIONS CUP
- Saturday 14 November 2020: England v Georgia – KO 15:00 GMT, Twickenham Stadium (LIVE on Amazon Prime)
- Saturday 21 November 2020: England v Ireland – KO 15:00 GMT, Twickenham (LIVE on Amazon Prime and Channel 4)
- Saturday 28 November 2020: Wales v England – KO 16:00 GMT, venue TBC (LIVE on Amazon Prime)
- Sunday 6 December 2020: England v TBC KO – 14:00 GMT, Twickenham Stadium (LIVE on Amazon Prime)
An alternative England XV: Players who were unlucky to miss out…
15. Mike Brown (Harlequins)
The veteran fullback has said on many occasions that he’s determined to add to his 72 England caps, but this latest omission must surely signal the end of the road for the 35-year-old.
DID YOU KNOW? Brown married long term partner, fashion designer Eliza Scarlett Woodcock, the daughter of former England international footballer Tony Woodcock, in summer 2016
14. Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath Rugby)
A former England sevens star, McConnochie switched to 15-a-side rugby for the 2018/19 season and was Jones wildcard selection for the 2019 World Cup. Despite stellar club form with Bath, he was left out of the initial training squad and looks unlikely to be recalled at this stage.
13. Sam James (Sale Sharks)
One of the most underrated players in the Premiership. The 26-year-old, who made his England debut against the Barbarians, was selected in the BT Sport Dream Team for the 2019-20 Gallagher Premiership season, in which BT Sport pundits choose their team of the season. Very unlucky not to get a look in.
DID YOU KNOW? James toured South Africa with England Saxons in the summer of 2016
12. Cameron Redpath (Bath Rugby)
What a player. For someone so young it is as though the 20-year-old has been around for a decade. He is not a lad who switches off or loses concentration, and is completely comfortable in his skill-set and punches way above his weight for someone who is not physically huge. An England star in the making.
11. Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish)
Hassell-Collins has been proving himself in the senior squad, scoring an impressive 11 tries in under 30 appearances for the club. The 21-year-old isa very exciting talent.
