"Steve Borthwick has wielded the axe and made 12 changes to his England team to face Italy, picking an entirely different back line as he seeks to salvage his side's Six Nations campaign with the most radical selection of his tenure. Borthwick has made nine personnel changes as well as moving Tommy Freeman to outside-centre, Ben Earl back to No 8 and Tom Curry to openside."
"In a measure of just how radical Borthwick's selection is, only the captain Maro Itoje and the props Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes are selected in the same position as against Ireland. In the pack, Jamie George comes in for Luke Cowan-Dickie at hooker, Pepper returns to the side with Pollock returning to the bench and Alex Coles starts in the second row alongside Itoje."
"George Ford, Fraser Dingwall, Henry Arundell and Freddie Steward drop out of the matchday 23 entirely while Alex Mitchell's injury absence means Ben Spencer starts at scrum-half. At fly-half, Smith is named for only his second start since last year's Six Nations despite sitting out training on Monday due to illness while Gloucester's Atkinson is set for his Twickenham bow at inside-centre."
England head coach Steve Borthwick has implemented radical changes to his squad facing Italy, making 12 alterations including nine personnel changes and positional shifts. Only captain Maro Itoje and props Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes retain their positions from the Ireland match. The back line is completely restructured with Fin Smith at fly-half, Seb Atkinson at inside-centre, Tommy Freeman moving to outside-centre, and Ben Earl returning to No 8. Jamie George replaces Luke Cowan-Dickie at hooker, while Guy Pepper and Elliot Daly enter the side. Notable absences include George Ford, Fraser Dingwall, Henry Arundell, and Freddie Steward, who drop from the matchday squad entirely. These changes follow consecutive defeats to Scotland and Ireland.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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