England opt for Ben Te'o over Jonathan Joseph as they look for added midfield punch in Italy
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Ben Te’o returns from the injury wilderness to start for England against Italy as Eddie Jones looks to add punch to his midfield.
The Worcester centre has not started a match since October but proved himself to be as fit as a flea at last week’s Algarve training camp.
Jones liked what he saw of Te’o on the Lions tour, where he started the first Test and came off the bench in the third to help grab a share of the spoils.
And with power ball carriers Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes both lost to injury up front, the New Zealand-born cross code star will be expected to run the hard yards.
(Image: PA)
(Image: Action Images via Reuters)
Jones said: “I have selected the strongest available side. Our preparation over the last two weeks has been excellent and the players feel refreshed.
“We want to start the tournament well and are ready to go hunting against Italy.
“We know we need to get our set piece right, be defensively strong and play with aggression and plenty of energy.”
Dylan Hartley retains the captaincy and wins his 90th cap. Ben Youngs starts his 56th Test match - overtaking Matt Dawson’s record of most starts for an England halfback.
Danny Care will equal Dawson’s mark for most caps as England scrum half (77) when he comes off the bench.
England team to face Italy
15 Mike Brown (Harlequins 64 caps)
14 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby 28 caps)
13 Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors 8 caps)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens 53 caps)
11 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers 29 caps)
10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers 40 caps)
9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers 73 caps)
1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens 44 caps)
2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints 89 caps)
3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers 77 caps)
4 Joe Launchbury (Wasps 47 caps)
5 Maro Itoje (Saracens 14 caps)
6 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints 61 caps)
7 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins 59 caps)
8 Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs 3 caps)
Bench
16 Jamie George (Saracens 20 caps)
17 Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs uncapped)
18 Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs 5 caps)
19 George Kruis (Saracens 21 caps)
20 Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby 3 caps)
21 Danny Care (Harlequins 76 caps)
22 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby 35 caps)
23 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs 23 caps)