Eddie Jones has announced the England team that will take to the field against Italy in their second Six Nations encounter this weekend in Rome.
There are three changes to the XV that beat Scotland in Murrayfield; Ben Youngs starts at scrum-half ahead of Danny Care, Courtney Lawes is preferred to Joe Launchbury in the engine room, and Mako Vunipola take Joe Marler’s loosehead shirt.
On the bench there is an intriguing 6/2 split of forwards and backs. Ollie Devoto, who did not make it off the bench in Edinburgh, is the sacrificial lamb as Maro Itoje takes his place on the timber.
“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,” said Jones.
“Danny, Joe Marler and Joe Launchbury will all have significant roles to play to finish the game.”
Jones described training this week as “intense” and said in particular Saracens’ versatile forward Itoje had impressed him enough to earn a first senior international call-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,” he said.
“Maro has consistently impressed me this week and, together with his excellent club form, has deserved his call up to the match day 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 last weekend in Paris so they’ll be fired up.”
Devoto will travel to Italy with the squad, along with Sale’s back-row forward Josh Beaumont.
ENGLAND TEAM TO PLAY ITALY
15. Mike Brown 14. Anthony Watson 13. Jonathan Joseph 12. Owen Farrell 11. Jack Nowell 10. George Ford 9. Ben Youngs; 1. Mako Vunipola 2. Dylan Hartley 3. Dan Cole 4. Courtney Lawes 5. George Kruis 6. Chris Robshaw 7. James Haskell 8. Billy Vunipola
Replacements: 16. Jamie George 17. Joe Marler 18. Paul Hill 19. Joe Launchbury 20. Maro Itoje 21. Jack Clifford 22. Danny Care 23. Alex Goode
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
42 replies on “Six Nations 2016: England team to play Italy”
As expected really.
Ben Youngs for Care made me raise an eyebrow, but Care will be valuable in the last 20 minutes against a tired Azzuri defence.
It will be great if England can build a decent lead prior to the changes being rung; it would be great to see Maro and Clifford making their appearances and really cutting loose.
Backrow will need to put in a hell of a shift to prove some doubters wrong. A lot of people are giving Jones stick for his backrow, but you would be a fool to expect he isn’t aware of its limitations and has a long term plan for it
6-2 split on the bench – maybe Clifford will come on at 8 to give Billy V a rest, and Itoje at 6?
Was hoping Devoto kept his place on the bench, if only so he could have 20mins to slot in at 12.
Just 2 backs on the bench for a game against Italy?? Not going to see much by way of a running game are we?
So much for finding out what Devoto can offer
Forecast for Rome on Sunday suggests that too, heavy showers all day apparently so maybe that had an influence?
Possibly. Still seems massively over-cautious to me. Despite one or two of the names on the Italy team sheet, we’re not playing the Springboks
I don’t actually think it’s a negative move – it’s showing he wants his forward pack to really pin the ears back and empty the tanks, and wants to keep putting pressure on Italy that way. Think he means it when he’s saying he wants to play at pace. Whether he’s picked the best back row and scrum half available to him to do that from the start is another question however!
Pretty disappointed to be honest.
Youngs for Care – happy with that, much prefer the all round skill set of Youngs to the sporadic (fairly rare) brilliance of Care.
Mako for Marler – again happy there, think Mako is in better form.
Lawes for Launch – baffled by that. If Launchbury is fit, he is out best lock and looked to have a really nice partnership with Kruis last week. If he is ill as has been suggested, why is he in the squad?
Clifford still on the bench – for a side that so obviously lacked pace, I can’t understand why he isn’t in.
Goode on the bench – why? Without Devoto we have no cover for Ford if he continues to be completely useless. We have three players in the back line that cover FB already, so why do we need him?
Goode can also cover fly half.
But Farrell is the second choice 10 and already in the 23 – so would it not make sense to use the utility bench spot to cover other positions? Would you really want to see Goode at 10 for a long period of time at test level? When surely Farrell would be a better option?
I’d sooner not see Goode at all. Daly can cover the same positions and is generally a better player with more pace compared to Goode’s stoned slug amble.
Scenario- Farrell or Joseph go off injured. There is no cover so Goode to fullback, Brown to wing nowell to centre. Any one else worried
Don’t agree with you about Youngs, He’s as bad as Haskell for the variability of his performances.
He’s a better kicker than Care when he’s kicking well though – which is by no means every time.
Last week, service from the rucks noticeably slowed once he came on.
Agree on everything else
Agree Pablito, in fact I thought Young made some questionable decisions last Saturday. When England got that penalty from a collapsed maul, and Scotland got a warning, Hartely rightly kicked for the corner, hope to get a try or a yellow card. The maul was on the move when Youngs inexplicably took it way to early. If I recall the following passage of play led to his intercept from Russell.
I also don’t understand going for the kicking scrum half, if the plan is to run it at Italy and tire them out.
I disagree with that. I think Youngs has an awkward style sometimes where he takes a few steps, and whilst it makes the ball look slower, it draws fringe defenders and can create more space out wide.
That wasn’t really what I was referring to. I thought he was significantly slower in actually getting to the breakdown than Care was and slower to pass once there
Hadn’t noticed that to be fair – and certainly isn’t something I’ve previously thought was a problem with his game. Personally i just prefer his style as a 9.
Very, VERY, underwhelmed by this squad. Whilst I forgave the opening squad for pragmatism, this seems like a missed opportunity through and through. Same lumbering back row (whatever happened to picking a pack with pace), no Devoto on the bench, says to me, no Devoto for the rest of the tournament, so it will be Ford and Farrell for the rest of the tournament, barring injury. This has all the hallmarks of a Lancaster squad, and a Lancaster type mind set. Goode in the 23 just rubs salt into ever deepening wounds. We’ll probably beat Italy, but we won’t be “smacking them” with this team. Again – what a wasted opportunity to blood some talent, particularly Devoto. Thought back row and midfield were the big failures last week, and it looks like there won’t be any change until the summer. Consider me bummed out. Is it even worth getting hassle from the wife to watch this on Valentine’s day? I’m not so sure.
I have to agree Benjit. Those that know me say I’m naturally pessimistic. I say I am a realist. My inherently realistic nature leaves me deflated at this selection,team and bench.
As you say ,it feels like the same pictures with a different soundtrack. I know it’s extremely early days but ,like you ,I’ve been very surprised at ‘Jones conservatism in selection and style and I can’t see anything here to alter that.I can’t help but feel that he’s also in danger of looking a tad foolish talking about “spanking” Italy. Thankfully,Gustard and Borthers have been more pragmatic with their comments.
As you say, it’s a missed opportunity and a puzzling balance to the bench.
OK so having mulled on this for 10 minutes, I’ve gone from pessimistic to terrified. With no 12 cover on the bench, if Farrell gets injured, I assume we’d have Goode at 12. Ford at 10 and Goode at 12, potentially. Anyone fancy our chances with that combo? I think this leaves us very exposed, and unnecessarily so, give that we have 13 and 15 covered with Nowell and Watson, surely Devoto or even Daly in the 23 shirt would make sense.
Whilst initially worrying about the same thing, I must admit I’ve long since thought that Goode could be a good 12.
He is undoubtedly an extremely talented player, his vision is brilliant, he has a great passing and kicking game and is a threat (to a certain extent) with ball in hand. As a test level full back I feel as though he lacks natural pace.
At 12 though – he could be a brilliant second distributor. As i say, good vision and a passing/kicking game. He threatens enough with ball in hand to attract tacklers in the tight (it is in the loose from FB that his pace threatens no one).
That being said, his tackling doesn’t fill me with confidence that he could defend that channel, and an away test match isn’t the time to gamble on finding out if a good Prem player can perform in a completely different position.
Despite my oft-mentioned dislike for Goode in the England team, you make some decent points there Jacob. Its perhaps a position where that pointless little skip he does when running might actually work
As you say, concerns on the tackling front though
You tend to make a lot of good points on here Pablito, but I don´t understand your antipathy to Goode. IMV he is a class act with a good eye for space, excellent hands, brave under the high ball and a hell of a lot quicker than he looks because he moves so effortlessly. Still, we all have our own prejudices. I still think Hartley is one of the most over-rated hookers ever to play for England, but not many agree with me.
As to the rest, I think Jones will give both Itoje and Clifford at least half an hour of game time, I´d rather have seen Care than Youngs, and I didn´t think Marler did much wrong against a very good tight head last week. The big disappointment is that the selection clearly indicates that Jones doesn´t think that Daly is ready, which means we are back waiting for Slade and Tuilagi to get fit.
Jacob I do take those points, but just not sure it works in any of these combinations. Ford and Goode as you note is defensively weak, and Farrell/ Goode has no pace whatsoever. I really hope Ford and Farrell are well protected, because we are very vulnerable there.
Yeh I don’t necessarily advocate him playing 12 on Sunday (if it comes to that), but I’ve often thought that Goode becoming a 12 would be a good idea.
You neglected to take the opportunity to write “a Goode idea”.
If Ford is having another mayor, Farrell goes to 10, who goes to 12? Wonder if he’s thinking about moving Nowell to the centre, and having Goode as FB cover for Brown to move to the wing. Or as you said Goode to 12? Would rather have Nowell defending that centre channel personally, but Goode knows how the defensive system works, and he’s trained at 10 and 12 for Sarries under Gustard.
If we want another mayor we could always give Boris a run out!
At least he can tackle!!!!
Just… hmmm. Pretty underwhelmed as others have said. But I guess it’s another chance for the Robshaw/Haskell and Ford/Farrell combos before stiffer challenges against Ireland and Wales.
But this is pretty much how Lancaster’s reign went.. The first game the ‘incumbents’ started, usually not very well, then the second game they get a second chance, then by the third game it seems too risky to make more exciting changes so the same team plays the whole tournament, except for some straight starting/bench swaps like at scrumhalf and prop. The up and coming form players on the outside only get a chance if forced by injury.
This game was crying out for Clifford to start, maybe Itoje, and also Devoto at least on the bench.
I think a lot of this selection is due to the predicted weather for the region, and EJ’s game plan to suit that.
He has said he wants to tire out their front five, and bring our replacements on later in the game. So with 6 and 2 on the bench we get either two balanced second rows (Lawes and Kruis, and Itoje and Launchbury), or two faster back rowers (Clifford and Itoje). With Itoje on the bench it gives EJ the chance to assess the game and see where he wants to play him.
Could make for a very interesting game, and I wonder if he’s thinking of bringing Goode on in the midfield at some point?
You mention the balanced second rows, but I’m actually surprised by the combinations he’s gone for, just because, as far as I know, Kruis and Lawes are the lineout callers (although I’m sure they can all do it!). I think Kruis/Itoje and Launch/Lawes are the best all round combos with size, dynamism and a lineout caller. If he want more grunt then Kruis/Launch also works.
That makes some sense I suppose. England have struggled to play Italy in these conditions, as it suits the traditional Italian game. I just hope the forecast is accurate and we don’t regret not have more attacking backs on the bench
Hey I’m new on here, big rugby fan but maybe not as experienced as some on here in terms of in depth rugby knowledge but I will speak like a fan sees it…..cannot understand the Ford/Farrell combo yet again. Surely against Italy we should be giving Devoto a run and clearly playing our in form 10 at…..yes No 10??? I can see Devoto not getting a game in this 6N. Reminds me of taking Slade to the WC and then only playing him in a pointless game at the end!
Please can someone try and at least understand this? Yes I know he may have a long term plan, but surely now the little tweaks should start to happen i.e. stop the Ford/Farrell combo!!!
I think you are down playing your depth of rugby knowledge. We all agree with you except EJ
I don’t think we’ll see much in the way of changes of personnel throughout the 6N. Just small rotations. My guess is it’s more about getting a team to start playing the way he wants to play and not having too many variables each week.
That said, Daly over Goode would have made complete sense. Both in terms of positions covered and potential.
Italy by a cheeky 2 points
Change fast and furious on a sweeping scale isn’t gonna happen.
1. A major criticism of EJ in the past is that he forced change and players too quickly.
2. He has the RFU to answer to and statistically the largest national player and fan base.
Wholesale change is not gonna happen at the pace of the French ’89 revolution.
He’s pointed at possible future players but that’s as close to the turf as they’ll get probably until the Autumn.
Willing to be prover wrong!
Once he has decided to make changes, however, I reckon the pace of it will be swift! He doesn’t want people to say ‘you only gave Golden Boy Robshaw only one game to prove himself. It’s good PR if you like.
If “EJ” is cowed by the RFU then essentially,he’s Lancaster mk2 and he shouldn’t be in the job.
Looking at the majority of comments here,the fans want change,in both personnel and playing style/ethos so presumably would forgive the odd blip if it was apparent that an evolution was taking place.
Waiting until the summer tour and then blooding youngsters would be far more risky. If England got a caning from the Aussies with tyros in the team some of them might well be scarred for life. Far better to give them game time now while Jones can claim the sanctuary of necessary and expected experimentation in his honeymoon period surely?
We had good PR under Bomber. It meant nothing.
I wouldn’t say he’s cowed, more biding his time with the politics around him. Being Ozzie too he won’t want to come in and upset the apple cart in the honeymoon period. Then again he doesn’t want to be all out PR and simper to the RFU. I agree SL did enough of that! He has a bit of a tight rope to walk.
Victories under the belt should give him the authority to make deeper changes – whatever they may be style and personnel wise.
Teecee, I suspect that Jones believes that he can effect a change in playing style and ethos while slowly introducing new younger players. If he can get his experienced older players to buy into his philosophy it enables him to introduce young blood into an established team which is playing the way he wants it to.
Just been reading a very interesting article by Clive Woodward suggesting that many of the England players aren´t rugby fit. If you take a look at the “gym bunny” body shapes that have evolved over the past few years and compare them with the leaner, more fit for purpose profiles of the New Zealanders and the Japanese under Jones, I suspect that we will see a much greater emphasis on fitness, athleticism and speed of execution in all areas of the park from England over the next couple of years. The likes of Robshaw, Haskell, Brown, and current discards such as Morgan and Tom Youngs will either embrace this enthusiastically and fight like hell to be retained or recalled, or be quietly replaced by the likes of more obvious athletes like Clifford, Beaumont, Slade, Daley and Wade. I think the England team at the beginning of next year´s Six Nations will look substantially different to this year. What is absolutely certain is that Jones is his own man and will do things his way regardless of pressure from the RFU, the media or the fans. At present he clearly wants to establish a winning mentality and a confidence in his players that he has belief in them. I certainly don´t agree with some of his current selections, but at least being an England supporter ove the next couple of years is going to be interesting.
You make some interesting points Andy. My natural impatience sometimes gets in the way of logic.
None of can see the future but I would be more than happy if half of what you predict came to pass.
As alexD says , jones has a tightrope to walk to some degree but if anyone is equipped to both effect change and manage the media /PR circus then he certainly is.
Eddie’s “smacking Italy” comments bothered me at first but I now wonder just how low morale was in the camp when he took over.Having mulled it over I now believe he is simply putting back confidence and belief that was drained by Bomber’s conservatism and indecision,which reached it’s nadir with the whole debacle of the Burgess affair and the car crash that was England’s World Cup campaign.
It’s certainly an interesting time to be an England supporter.