Uncapped Maro Itoje named on the bench for England - Ruck
Six Nations 2023

Uncapped Maro Itoje named on the bench for England

11 February 2016
Rugby Rucker
  • Saracens forward Maro Itoje is in line to make his England debut
  • Lock Courtney Lawes, loosehead prop Mako Vunipola and scrum-half Ben Youngs come in
  • Joe Launchbury, Joe Marler and Danny Care drop out respectively.
England coach Eddie Jones has made three changes to his starting XV for Sunday’s Six Nations trip to Italy with Saracens star Maro Itoje set to make his internationa; debut off the bench.

Jones has also promoted Courtney Lawes, Mako Vunipola and Ben Youngs to their starting XV for Sunday’s Six Nations clash with the Azzurri in Rome.

Lawes replaces Joe Launchbury in the second row, Vunipola has been chosen ahead of Joe Marler at loosehead prop and Youngs is preferred to Danny Care at scrum-half for the trip to the Stadio Olimpico.

“We’ve made a few changes to the line-up for Italy. I believe this is the strongest 23 to go to Rome and get the performance and result we want.” Jones said.

“Mako, Ben and Courtney have been pushing hard for selection during training, but they also fit the game plan we want to implement against Italy.

“Danny, Joe Marler and Joe Launchbury will all have a significant role to play to finish the game.”

England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Jack Nowell, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs; 1 Mako Vunipola, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Courtney Lawes, 5 George Kruis, 6 Chris Robshaw,  7 James Haskell, 8 Billy Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Paul Hill, 19 Joe Launchbury, 20 Maro Itoje, 21 Jack Clifford, 22 Danny Care, 23 Alex Goode