England Under 20 Head Coach Rob Hunter has rung the changes ahead of his side’s fourth Under 20 Six Nations game against Italy and moves Worcester ace Ben Howard to the wing for Friday night’s clash at Northampton.
Wing Jack Nowell, full back Ollie Devoto, scrum half Callum Braley, props Scott Wilson and Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi and flanker David Sisi all come into the starting fifteen, while there is also a first appearance of the season on the bench for young prop Alex Lundberg.
England are coming off the back of a scintillating 40-10 victory against France at Sixways, which followed on from victory in the opening game against Scotland and a narrow 16-15 loss to Ireland, but captain Jack Clifford is taking nothing for granted against the Azzurri.
He said: “This will be the third time I’ve played against Italy at this level and every time it’s a physical battle. The Italians improve year on year and we’re expecting an extremely tough match against them in Northampton. Fingers crossed we get a decent crowd down at the Gardens and it makes for a good atmosphere.”
On making his first Under 20 appearance Jack Nowell said: “I missed the 20s campaign last season through injury so to have this opportunity is one that I’m really looking forward to. I played Italy at Under 18 level and they are in your face and physical, but this is a game that we’re really looking forward to.”
England Under 20 starting XV to play Italy
15 Ollie Devoto (Bath Rugby)
14 Ben Howard (Worcester Warriors)
13 Mark Jennings (Sale Sharks)
12 Sam Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
11 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
10 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
9 Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby)
1 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints)
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs)
3 Scott Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
4 Elliott Stooke (Gloucester Rugby)
5 Dominic Barrow (Leeds Carnegie)
6 Harry Wells (Leicester Tigers)
7 David Sisi (London Irish)
8 Jack Clifford (Harlequins) (c)
Replacements:
16 Nathan Morris (London Wasps)
17 Alex Lundberg (London Wasps)
18 Danny Herriott (Northampton Saints)
19 Tom Jubb (Saracens)
20 Gus Jones (London Wasps)
21 Alex Day (Northampton Saints)
22 Tom Stephenson (Northampton Saints)
23 Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers)