Centre Ben Te’o has been preferred to Jonathan Joseph for England’s Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on Sunday.
Te’o has been out since mid-October with an ankle injury and last played for England almost a year ago.
Sam Simmonds starts at number eight, alongside Courtney Lawes and Chris Robshaw in the back row.
Here’s how fans on social media have reacted:
SOCIAL REACTION:
🌹 @EnglandRugby vs Italy #NatWest6Nations:
5️⃣ @Saracens
4️⃣ @ExeterChiefs
4️⃣ @LeicesterTigers
3️⃣ @bathrugby
3️⃣ @Harlequins
2️⃣ @SaintsRugby
1️⃣ @WaspsRugby
1️⃣ @WorcsWarriors👉 https://t.co/u02vQfN7qr pic.twitter.com/AeJSUO1TwV
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) February 2, 2018
Pray for Italy pic.twitter.com/ZBNCYuu5DE
— The England Man (@TheEnglandMan) February 2, 2018
Decent @EnglandRugby team. I would personally have JJ in over Te’o though but think this may change for the other games. Potentially Jack nowell too but he might not be fully fit
— M.B (@MartinBrowning7) February 2, 2018
. @joe_launch starts for @EnglandRugby in Rome…https://t.co/wb16aZDu7j pic.twitter.com/iGwVgupZaD
— Wasps (@WaspsRugby) February 2, 2018
How isn’t Danny care starting over Youngs #SixNations
— Jordan Bell (@JordanLleb) February 2, 2018
Start Care at scrum half ….take the two “hot heads ” at hooker & full back out , new captain & full back required.
— simon stevenson (@Simontoonarmy) February 2, 2018
No doubt that @EnglandRugby will win … but Hartley, Robshaw, Teo, Brown are keeping out more exciting players George, Underhill, Joseph, Nowell. https://t.co/5teB73Jx9E
— Justin Rourke (@Justin_Rourke) February 2, 2018
He was almost correct https://t.co/2i7a166HW8
— Robert Lyall (@rglyall) February 2, 2018
England have made 7 changes to the starting XV which beat Samoa in November.
– Ben Te’o starts for only the 2nd time. He was also in the XV against Italy last year.
– Sam Simmonds is the only player in the XV who is making his #SixNations debut.#ITAvENG #SixNations2018 pic.twitter.com/gITI9Ba20C
— Simon Gleave (@SimonGleave) February 2, 2018
I’m disappointed @02msmith isn’t getting a start, or even have a place on the bench the Italy game would be a ideal debut for him. #ITAvENG #sixnations2018
— Arron Smith (@HisGraceArron) February 2, 2018
How can Eddie still pick Hartley ahead of Jamie George! https://t.co/0aNvVqoIbd
— Wiehanndup (@wiehanndup) February 2, 2018
Thought Jamie George may have got the nod at 2 for this one, especially after he roasted Hartley in the Champions Cup a few weeks back. Robshaw at 7 too is interesting. A squad more than capable of beating Italy https://t.co/LkjqGLxpbz
— Neil Metcalfe (@Metcalficus) February 2, 2018