England Head Coach Steve Borthwick has named Ollie Hassell-Collins in his starting XV to face Italy this weekend in the Guinness Six Nations, with Henry Arundell on the bench.

Hassell-Collins made his senior international debut last weekend in the Calcutta Cup game against Scotland at Twickenham Stadium, and is now joined by his Clubmate in the England matchday squad.

England opened their Championship with a 29-23 defeat at home to Scotland, Hassell-Collins kicking 110 metres, made two tackles and broke one, with 91 metres made with ball in hand.

After three months away from the field due to injury, Arundell made his return to Club rugby in an appearance off the bench against Harlequins and will look to attain his fourth England cap this Sunday as a replacement.

Arundell’s first three caps arrived last summer in Australia, touring alongside Academy graduate Will Joseph under Eddie Jones to aid in a 2-1 series win for the Rose.

Borthwick said: “We welcome an exciting and in form Italy team to Twickenham on Sunday.

“We recognise and respect the very real threat they pose in this Six Nations Championship and we are preparing accordingly.

“Notwithstanding the disappointment of last weekend’s Calcutta Cup result, we know that in a very short space of time positive steps have been taken towards the manner and style in which we want to play our rugby.

“We are at the start of what is a completely new cycle of England Rugby. 

“The implementation of new systems does take time and the squad is showing themselves to be hungry to deliver the sort of performance that we know they are capable of.

“From the squad, I have selected a team for Sunday’s fixture that I believe is best placed to meet the specific challenges that Italy will bring.

“It is a selection of players whose form, individual strengths and combined qualities suit the way we want to play against Italy, in what we anticipate will be another hard-fought and entertaining spectacle.”

England v Italy takes place this Sunday (12th), kicking-off at 3pm and is live on ITV and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.

 

ENGLAND XV

15 Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 18 caps)

14 Max Malins (Saracens, 15 caps)

13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 52 caps)

12 Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 8 caps)

11 Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, 1 cap)

10 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 102 caps) (C)

9 Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 8 caps)

1 Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 44 caps) (VC)

2 Jamie George (Saracens, 73 caps)

3 Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 57 caps)

4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 63 caps)

5 Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 6 caps)

6 Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 15 caps)

7 Jack Willis (Toulouse, 6 caps)

8 Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 10 caps)

 

REPLACEMENTS

16 Jack Walker (Harlequins, uncapped)

17 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 75 caps)

18 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 96 caps)

19 Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 9 caps)

20 Ben Earl (Saracens, 14 caps)

21 Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)

22 Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 18 caps)

23 Henry Arundell (London Irish, 3 caps)

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