Italy vs England teams: Eddie Jones makes three changes with uncapped Maro Itoje named in squad
Mako Vunipola, Courtney Lawes and Ben Youngs return to the starting line-up for Sunday's trip to Rome with Itoje included among the replacements
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Your support makes all the difference.England head coach Eddie Jones has made three changes to his starting line-up for Sunday’s Six Nations trip to Rome to face Italy, with uncapped forward Maro Itoje also added to the squad ahead of a possible debut from the replacements’ bench.
Jones was expected to freshen up his pack after an impressive performance from a number of replacements during the 15-9 victory over Scotland last weekend, and two of the three changes come in the pack with Mako Vunipola replacing Joe Marler at loosehead prop while Courtney Lawes joins George Kruis in the second row, with Joe Launchbury dropping to the replacements’ bench where he is joined by Marler.
The only change in the backs sees Ben Youngs replace Danny Care at scrum-half, with Jones choosing a six-and-two split among his replacements in favour of the forwards, leaving just Care and Alex Goode to cover the back line.
The decision means that the Saracens lock Itoje joins Launchbury and Jack Clifford in covering the second and back rows, while Ollie Devoto drops out of the matchday squad having been left on the bench at Murrayfield.
"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 after the squad was announced.
"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."
Of 21-year-old Itoje, Jones added: "Maro has consistently impressed me this week and, together with his excellent club form, has deserved his call up to the matchday squad.
"We are confident we can go to Rome and win, but we're in no doubt of the challenge we face. Italy took France very close so they'll be fired up.
"It has been an intense week of training and I am pleased with how the group have responded to some of the things we've asked them to do.”
England team to face Italy:
Brown, Watson, Joseph, Farrell, Nowell, Ford, Youngs, M Vunipola, Hartley, Cole, Lawes, Kruis, Robshaw, Haskell, B Vunipola.
Replacements: George, Marler, Hill, Launchbury, Itoje, Clifford, Care, Goode.
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