Farrell back in 10th place as England Bank Young Gun Smith
England have ditched their controversial playmaker axis Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell as part of a revamped midfield chosen for the Six Nations clash against Italy.
After starting the final eight Tests together, Young Gun Smith was demoted to the bench to accommodate Farrell’s selection to five-eighths rather than the middle.
Former England manager Eddie Jones was hoping the creative alliance would blossom in time for the World Cup and Steve Borthwick kept the duo for his first game as manager against Scotland last Saturday – but they have only sporadically fired as a partnership.
Borthwick has made a major overhaul in midfield, replacing Joe Marchant with Henry Slade at wide center, while Ollie Lawrence fills the 12 spot.
Slade has recovered from the hip injury that forced him to sit out the 29-23 Calcutta Cup loss in round one while the hard-running Lawrence was sent off the bench.
Only one change was made to the field, with turnover specialist Jack Willis replacing Ben Curry at the openside flanker in his first start since suffering a horrific knee injury in the same game two years ago.
Henry Arundell is ready to win his fourth cap after being called up on the bench, where he will cover the back three as the ankle injury that forced him to miss the autumn has now fully healed.
“Despite the disappointment of last weekend’s Calcutta Cup result, we know positive steps have been taken towards the way we want to play our rugby in a very short space of time,” said Borthwick.
“We are at the beginning of a whole new cycle in English rugby. Implementing new systems takes time and the squad are showing a hunger to deliver the kind of performance we know they’re capable of.
“From the squad for Sunday’s game, I have selected a team that I believe is best suited to face the particular challenges that Italy will bring.
“It’s a selection of players whose form, individual strengths and combined qualities suit the way we want to play against Italy, in which we expect another hard-fought and entertaining spectacle.”
