HALFBACKS
10. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints)
It has been a turbulent few weeks for England’s fly half ranks, beginning with Owen Farrell’s decision to step down from national team duties. With Farrell out of the picture, Borthwick selected George Ford, Marcus Smith and Fin Smith into the Six Nations squad, with the Northampton Saints man leading the contention for selection. Ford has recently returned from a knee injury, and Marcus Smith reportedly left England’s training camp in Girona on crutches yesterday. Fin Smith could well lead for a test match debut, with Ford only utilised from the bench if it is necessary.
Fin Smith can re-unite his Saints halfback partnership with Alex Mitchell, which has taken the East Midlands club to the top of the Premiership table and on an unbeaten run in their Champions Cup campaign. Mitchell looks set to retain his spot as England’s first-choice scrum-half, with Danny Care and Ben Spencer joining him in the wider training camp. We’ve gone for Mitchell from the off, with Spencer looking for a long-awaited England return in the match’s closing stages.
FRONT ROW
1. Joe Marler (Harlequins)
2. Jamie George (Saracens – Captain)
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
Moving on to the front row, and this Saturday will provide Jamie George with his maiden voyage as England captain. The hooker looks set to build on his previous leadership outings at Saracens, and with the British & Irish Lions, as England enter the ‘Eternal City’ this weekend. George’s Saracens protégé Theo Dan will be waiting in the wings for a second half inclusion, and could well get an extended run at hooker if England get a stronghold on the game.
After returning from a minor arm injury, Joe Marler is our pick for the number one jersey. The Harlequin has been as solid as ever in recent weeks, and was apart of the front row that dismantled two-time Rugby World Cup winning prop Steve Kitshoff’s Ulster scrum in the recent Champions Cup victory. Should the England scrum falter in the second halve’s early goings, we have selected Ellis Genge as the replacement loose-head for burst of steam.
The Italy opener could also provide Bath tight-head Will Stuart with a starting opportunity. Veteran Leicester prop Dan Cole looks like Borthwick’s favoured number three, yet Stuart a big performance from Stuart could remid the England head coach as to what earned him the extended run throughout the 2023 Rugby World Cup. The Stadio Olympico looks set to be a proving ground for many England players, who look for the ‘thumbs up’ from Borthwick as he watches on in the sporting colosseum.