10 February 2023 , 15:14
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Marcus Smith has been dropped by England and Owen Farrell given the keys to number ten for Sunday’s clash with Italy.
Head coach Steve Borthwick made the call days after releasing Smith’s record-breaking half-back partner Ben Youngs back to his club.
Borthwick said: “I have selected a team for Sunday’s fixture that I believe is best placed to meet the specific challenges that Italy will bring.
“It is a selection of players whose form, individual strengths and combined qualities suit the way we want to play against Italy, in what we anticipate will be another hard-fought and entertaining spectacle.”
Farrell’s switch from inside-centre, revealed in today’s Mirror, enables Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence to start in midfield.
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In the other change Jack Willis starts at openside - two years after being so badly injured in this very fixture that he did not play for another 12 months.
ENGLAND XV
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 18 caps)
14. Max Malins (Saracens, 15 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 52 caps)
12. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 8 caps)
11. Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, 1 cap)
10. Owen Farrell (Saracens, 102 caps) (C)
9. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 8 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 44 caps) (VC)
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2. Jamie George (Saracens, 73 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 57 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 63 caps)
5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 6 caps)
6. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 15 caps)
7. Jack Willis (Toulouse, 6 caps)
8. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 10 caps)
REPLACEMENTS
16. Jack Walker (Harlequins, uncapped)
17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 75 caps)
18. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 96 caps)
19. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 9 caps)
20. Ben Earl (Saracens, 14 caps)
21. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
22. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 18 caps)
23. Henry Arundell (London Irish, 3 caps)