George Ford returns to England team for Italy Six Nations clash as Eddie Jones overhauls front row

George Ford will start at fly-half for England against Italy at Twickenham
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Will Macpherson11 February 2021

Eddie Jones has completely overhauled England’s front row and restored the George Ford-Owen Farrell midfield axis as they look to bounce back from the Six Nations defeat by Scotland against Italy on Saturday. 

Jones has made five changes to the starting XV that lost at Twickenham – England’s first Calcutta Cup defeat at home since 1983 – and has also returned to a 6-2 balance on the bench.

Mako Vunipola and Kyle Sinckler are back in the starting lineup having missed the tournament opener, but Jamie George is perhaps the most notable front-row casualty. Luke Cowan-Dickie made a strong impact off the bench last week and is entrusted with just the fourth start of his Test career, and first since the 2019 World Cup.  

A tackle from Cowan-Dickie sparked Sinckler’s absence from the tournament opener, as the prop was banned for two weeks after swearing when expressing his dismay to referee Karl Dickson. 

Now, the pair pack down next to each other, alongside the older Vunipola brother, who has not played since November due to injury. That is a risk from Jones, given the slack performances from Farrell, George and Elliot Daly – who is retained at full-back ahead of Max Malins – on their first appearances for two months against Scotland. 

Billy Vunipola keeps his place at No8 in a changed back row, with Courtney Lawes on the blindside in place of Mark Wilson, who misses out on the matchday 23. 

Centre Ollie Lawrence is also dropped from the 23 to accommodate Ford, with Farrell moving to inside centre and Henry Slade retained in the No13 jersey. 

Daly lines up at full-back, between Anthony Watson and Jonny May. 

That is tough on 21-year-old Lawrence, who touched the ball once against Scotland. That touch arrived after more than an hour, and he was soon taken off by Jones. 

On the bench, Jones has picked two flankers, Ben Earl (whose year-long wait for a first start continues) and Jack Willis, as well as a fourth lock, Charlie Ewels. George, Ellis Genge and Will Stuart, who were the starting front row last week, are all on the bench this time.

Dan Robson and Malins are the only backs on the bench, meaning Wasps flyer Paolo Odogwu and Bristol scrum-half Harry Randall will have to wait to make their debuts. 

“As always, we’ve picked what we think is our strongest 23 to try and win the game,” said Jones.

“We’re pleased to have Mako and Kyle back into the team and we’ve made some changes to our starting XV, but our finishers are just as important to our game plan. We look at the whole 80 minutes.

“We’ve trained very well this week, I’ve been very pleased with the players’ attitudes and work-rate.

“We’re hoping to put on a good performance on Saturday and kick on with our Guinness Six Nations campaign.”

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