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Eddie Jones names untested midfield for clash with Italy

Joe Marchant during the U20s Six Nations in 2015

England men’s head coach Eddie Jones has named his side to play Italy on Friday at St James’ Park in Newcastle.

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A mix and match selection strategy sees Joe Marchant named at outside centre with Piers Francis at inside centre. Owen Farrell, who captains the team, starts at fly half while debutant Ruaridh McConnochie is named on the right wing with Anthony Watson at fullback.

Dan Cole starts alongside Jamie George and Joe Marler in the front row with Joe Launchbury and Courtney Lawes named as the lock pairing. Mark Wilson will start at openside flanker with Tom Curry and Billy Vunipola making up the rest of the back row.

Jones said: “We are delighted to be playing against Italy, one of our traditional Six Nations rivals and the game for us is another important step to develop our game fitness and game strategy. We have gone with a mix and match selection policy to develop our adaptability and the team’s ability to cope with any situation.

“We have had a solid training week in Treviso with hot conditions so we are looking forward to testing ourselves against Italy on Friday night. Then we hop on the plane and are ready to go to Japan.”

This is the first England Test match to be played at St James’ Park in Newcastle which hosted three Rugby World Cup fixtures in 2015.

Jones added: “We are excited to be playing in Newcastle. We are playing at an iconic football ground and we know the area is an important one for rugby in the northern part of England. We are looking forward to seeing and playing in front of the fans.”

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England starting XV v Italy

15 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 35 caps)
14 Ruaridh McConnochie (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
13 Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 2 caps)
12 Piers Francis (Northampton Saints, 7 caps)
11 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 46 caps)
10 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 72 caps) C
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 88 caps)

1 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 61 caps)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 39 caps)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 88 caps)
4 Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 60 caps)
5 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 74 caps)
6 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 12 caps)
7 Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons/Sale Sharks, 14 caps)
8 Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 44 caps)

Finishers
16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 14 caps)
17 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 11 caps )
18 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 24 caps)
19 Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
20 Matt Kvesic (Exeter Chiefs, 3 caps)
21 Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 3 caps)
22 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 58 caps)
23 Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby, 7 caps)

– England Rugby

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Comments on RugbyPass

J
Joseph Herman 7 minutes ago
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0 Go to comments
T
Tommy B. 36 minutes ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

Yeah, about that.

He brought on a promising chap called Courtenay Lawes off the bench to replace him if memory serves.

192 Go to comments
N
NB 43 minutes ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

He ain’t that slow, and when he gets hold of you, you don’t get off the hook!

14 Go to comments
N
NB 44 minutes ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Even the ex-props cannot be certain in real time! We ran a few experiments….


For pens, stick to flagrant and dangerous play like collapses, otherwise make the feeding side use the ball.

14 Go to comments
N
NB 46 minutes ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

I told him that before he took over and he didn’t believe he couldn’t find a 7 in the Prem! How long did Harrison last in that Test v Aussie? 30 minutes or so!

192 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 49 minutes ago
Leo Cullen 'completely, 100 per cent' understands Leinster fan frustration

Indeed. As grimly predictable as ‘morning glory.’

21 Go to comments
N
NB 50 minutes ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

Cards are not accidents, they are the result of pressure exerted. The ABs could not handle that pressure, and something [more than one thing] broke.


If you take away the GKing, I would take at least four other FBs ahead of Ramos right now. Even Buros from UBB is better.

192 Go to comments
N
NB 53 minutes ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

They’ll rest whoever they see fit in the final analysis.

192 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 55 minutes ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Yeah, joking aside it should be blown by specialists. Or at the very least get all test ref’s up to speed by speaking to a few ex-props.


I think it should be a separate 30 second scrum clock. Don’t stop the game clock.

30 seconds to set, engage, throw it in and get it out. No re-sets. One shot.


You don’t want props to feel left out and you don’t want it to go the way of rugby league, scrums are no longer useful if they can’t be ref’d properly.

14 Go to comments
P
PB 1 hour ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Hee hee, yeah he is the heaviest lock around, but honestly the best is an absolute stretch. RG Snyman isn’t alot lighter and offers way more athleticism. There are actually quite a few powerful locks that offer more than the slower than treacle Skelton, hence why he never really makes much impact vs the top tier test teams

14 Go to comments
N
NB 1 hour ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

It won’t make any diff to the number of Toulouse players withdrawn from the tour of NZ though.

192 Go to comments
N
NB 1 hour ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

😲🤣

192 Go to comments
N
NB 1 hour ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

I would suggest something more radical. We don’t want tech pens for perceived indiscretions and we don’t want reset scrums taking any time [at all] off the game clock.


I’d prefer the scrum to be under rather than over-reffed as you’re suggesting - mostly by ppl who don’t really know what’s happening. If there is doubt, let the scrum play out!

14 Go to comments
T
Tommy B. 1 hour ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

I was thinking exactly that as I put the list together.


In fact, it’s more recent than 2012. I remember Eddie lamenting the ‘Six and a halves’ he had going into the 2016 England tour of Oz. He went with Robshaw and Haskell, and then Temaina Harrison at ‘7’ in the last test because Haskell was injured.

192 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 1 hour ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

Has Ramos surpassed Will Jordan? You mean now that Ramos has reverted back to 15, a position Will Jordan is still growing into at test level? Ramos was covering 10 last year while N’tmack was still out.


Wasn’t that the same dream team that had Lomax in it, lol?!


Based on recent form. A storming 6N and an undefeated Nov series. I’m still not seeing an argument for a better current backline than Ramos, Penaud, LBB.

192 Go to comments
t
tf 1 hour ago
'What he’s given to this club is nothing short of incredible'

Perhaps he's been on borrowed time but he didnt pick himself. And there have still been some remarkable performances.


And even now nobody is sure who'll take his spot in the 23. Especially with Conan if not over the hill, beyond the top.

3 Go to comments
N
NB 1 hour ago
'Whisper it, but the Wallabies could out-scrum the British and Irish Lions this summer'

Good one😅

14 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 1 hour ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

I watched the (warm-up) game were the Boks led 14-0 on the back of a try created by one up runners and an intercept. AB’s had a player in the bin during this time.


Then around 39 mins it’s a red card. In the second half they score 3 lineout maul tries exposing the player advantage. Two in the corner and Kwagga splitting off the back to go close to the posts.


Ramos? Who’s a better test level 15 at the moment? Do Bielle-Biarrey’s 8 TRIES in this years 6N merely count as great?

192 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 1 hour ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

We could always discuss your team, Edward?


Do you even have one? Too afraid to join in?

192 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 1 hour ago
As the balance of power shifts away from Ireland, has Andy Farrell got his Lions calls right?

Galthie remarked about 20 protected players but that was last summer.


The agreement with the league was signed months after in October last year. It’s only stipulation is around resting finalists.

192 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ What the data tells us about the make-up of the 2025 British and Irish Lions squad What the data tells us about the make-up of the 2025 British and Irish Lions squad
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