Tarek Haffar, Luke Green and Phil Cokanasiga have all been named in the England U20 squad that is set to take on Italy on Tuesday in the final round of the U20 Six Nations (KO 1.45pm BST LIVE on EnglandRugby.com, Six Nations YouTube and S4C Clic).
There is one change to the starting line-up from England’s bonus point, 45-3 win against Wales last Wednesday.
Tommy Mathews makes his first start of the 2021 Six Nations at fly half. Captain Jack van Poortvliet is his half back partner.
An unchanged pack sees last week’s player of the match Fin Baxter win his second U20 cap at loose head, Sam Riley – who has scored five tries in the championship to date – starts at hooker and Harvey Kindell-Beaton at tight-head prop.
Arthur Clark and Alex Groves pair up in the second row, with Ewan Richards (blind-side flanker), Jack Clement (open-side flanker) and Nahum Merigan (number 8) in the back row.
Tom Roebuck and Arthur Relton continue on the wings. Orlando Bailey completes the back three at full back.
Fin Smith is named among the replacements with Tarek Haffar (loose-head prop) returning to the match day 26.
Dickens said: “I think the players have really grown together as a group throughout the competition.
“Each week we have asked them to go out and improve on the previous performance and each time they’ve done that.
“They’ve worked really hard and really driven each other to get better every training session and I’ve been pleased to see such great character from the squad.
“We know the Italians are a tough outfit and I think they have been excellent so far in this competition.
“I’m sure they’ll be looking to take their first-half performance from their game against Ireland and build on that going into our game and we need to be prepared for that.
“This will be the last time this group of players takes to the pitch together and I want them to go out, put in a good performance, enjoy the moment and take away some special memories from our time here in Cardiff.”
Teams are permitted to name a squad of 26 players for each fixture in this year’s competition due to Covid-19 regulations. Eight of the 11 replacements named in a squad can be used during the match.
England U20 starting XV
15 Orlando Bailey (Bath Rugby)
14 Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
13 Jack Bates (Bristol Bears)
12 Dan Lancaster (Leeds Tykes)
11 Arthur Relton (Exeter Chiefs)
10 Tommy Mathews (Hartpury University RFC)
9 Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers) Captain
1 Fin Baxter (Harlequins)
2 Sam Riley (Harlequins)
3 Harvey Kindell-Beaton (Saracens)
4 Arthur Clark (Gloucester Rugby)
5 Alex Groves (Bristol Bears)
6 Ewan Richards (Bath Rugby)
7 Jack Clement (Gloucester Rugby)
8 Nahum Merigan (Bath Rugby)
Replacements
16 Archie Vanes (Leicester Tigers)
17 Tarek Haffar (London Irish)
18 Luke Green (London Irish)
19 Freddie Thomas (Gloucester Rugby)
20 Josh Gray (Gloucester Rugby)
21 Ollie Stonham (Saracens)
22 Tom Carr-Smith (Bath Rugby)
23 Fin Smith (Worcester Warriors)
24 Phil Cokanasiga (London Irish)
25 Deago Bailey (Bristol Bears)
26 Charlie Atkinson (Wasps)
England men’s U20 Six Nations results and fixtures (all at Cardiff Arms Park)
ENGLAND (3) 38
Tries: Brooke, Riley 2, O. Bailey, Relton Cons: Smith 5 Pen: Smith
FRANCE (19) 22
Tries: Eppe 3 Cons: Debaes 2 Pen: Debaes
ENGLAND (19) 31
Tries: Van Poortvliet, Smith, D. Bailey, Riley, Relton Cons: Smith 3
SCOTLAND (5) 12
Tries: Townsend, Leatherbarrow Con: Scott
IRELAND (0) 15
Tries: Soroka, De Buitléar Cons: Doak Pen: Doak
ENGLAND (7) 24
Tries: Merigan, Richards 2, Riley Cons: Smith 2
WALES (3) 3
Pens: Costelow
ENGLAND (19) 45
Tries: Clement, Riley, Van Poortvliet, Relton 2, Merigan 2 Cons: Smith 2, Mathews 3
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