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England Ring the Changes with New Back Line for Italy Test
Coach Steve Borthwick made nine changes including the full backline after consecutive losses ended England's Six Nations title bid, with Fin Smith and Ben Spencer starting.
- On Saturday, England rugby team made nine changes for their Six Nations clash with Italy national team in Rome, with Steve Borthwick, head coach, rebuilding the backline featuring Fin Smith at fly-half and Seb Atkinson at centre.
- After back-to-back defeats to Scotland and Ireland that ended England's hopes earlier in the season, injuries to Alex Mitchell and Ollie Lawrence forced changes, prompting Borthwick's reshuffle.
- Selecting the matchday 23, Jamie George replaces Luke Cowan-Dickie at hooker while Alex Coles starts alongside captain Maro Itoje in the second row.
- Ben Earl, number eight, will earn his 50th cap in the back row alongside Tom Curry and Guy Pepper, with Borthwick saying it 'speaks volumes about Ben's professionalism and the consistency of his performances.'
- Italy, with home advantage, may feel they have a better chance against England, who have never beaten Italy in 32 tests, as Tommy Freeman shifts to outside centre.
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England gamble with team selection for Italy Six Nations clash
England coach Steve Borthwick announced radical changes to his team on Tuesday following their alarming Six Nations slump, bringing in Fin Smith at flyhalf as part of a whole new backline to face Italy. There are nine changes in personnel and a further three positional switches following the 42-21 rout by Ireland that realistically ended England’s title chances with two rounds remaining. It is the most changes ever made by England in the Six Nat…
·Johannesburg, South Africa
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England ring the changes with new back line for Italy test
England coach Steve Borthwick has undertaken a major reshuffle of his back line among nine changes to his starting XV with Fin Smith at flyhalf and Seb Atkinson at centre for the Six Nations Championship showdown with Italy in Rome on Saturday.
·United Kingdom
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Total News Sources24
Leaning Left4Leaning Right2Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution54% Center
Bias Distribution
- 54% of the sources are Center
54% Center
L 31%
C 54%
15%
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