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ROME (AP) — Coach Steve Borthwick is confident England will hit the ground running in the Six Nations.
England starts its campaign on Saturday against Italy in Rome at a high state of readiness, according to Borthwick, thanks to the competitiveness of its clubs.
Six English clubs have reached the last 16 of the European Cup, and the English Premiership has been more enthralling after the reduction in teams.
“The players are match-hardened, so that’s a great benefit,” Borthwick says. “They are ready to go.
“Everything we’re getting is saying all the clubs are running more than they were 12 months ago, so that’s a real positive.”
Form has earned selection for five uncapped players.
Flanker Ethan Roots and center Fraser Dingwall will make starting debuts. On the bench are newcomers Chandler Cunningham-Smith and backs Fin Smith and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
“Winning a first cap for your country is always a very special occasion,” Borthwick says. “My message to them has been to be themselves, to grasp their opportunity, and to play with the strengths and skills that deservedly got them selected to a strong Six Nations squad.”
Roots has taken over the No. 6 jersey from the retired Courtney Lawes. Roots played for New Zealand Maori and has been a revelation at Exeter after two seasons at the Ospreys. Dingwall first represented Scotland then switched to England and captained the under-20s. He’s been around the senior squad since 2020.
The matchday squad has only two players from outside the top six clubs; 91-cap flyhalf George Ford from Sale in place of the injured Marcus Smith, and reserve prop Ellis Genge from Bristol, both of them vice captains.
New Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada hasn’t strayed far from the Rugby World Cup squad for his first match in charge.
He’s recalled two who missed the World Cup because of injuries: Hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi, who tore ligaments in his left knee at the end of 2022, and center Tommaso Menoncello, who tore a bicep in a pre-World Cup game against Ireland.
“Getting back onto the field will have a huge significance for me, especially on an emotional level,” Lucchesi says. “But the group has stayed much the same, and there’s a great relationship between us. Many of us have known each other since the international youth teams. It’s a group that wants to show a lot.”
Italy beat Wales in 2022 to end a seven-year losing streak in the tournament but has lost all five games since, though nearly toppled France in Rome last year. Italy has never beaten England.
“It’s a tough tournament for us but what keeps us going is the belief that we can get the results we want,” flanker Sebastian Negri says. “We want to keep building because we’re on to something special, we have a really good group of young players who are gaining more and more experience. I wouldn’t be playing international rugby if I didn’t believe in the process we are going through.”
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Lineups:
Italy: Tommaso Allan, Ange Capuozzo, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Montanna Ioane, Paolo Garbisi, Alessandro Garbisi; Lorenzo Cannone, Michele Lamaro (captain), Sebastian Negri, Federico Ruzza, Niccolo Cannone, Pietro Ceccarelli, Gianmarco Lucchesi, Danilo Fischetti. Reserves: Giacomo Nicotera, Mirco Spagnolo, Giosuè Zilocchi, Andrea Zambonin, Edoardo Iachizzi, Manuel Zuliani, Stephen Varney, Lorenzo Pani.
England: Freddie Steward, Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Fraser Dingwall, Elliot Daly, George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Ben Earl, Sam Underhill, Ethan Roots, Ollie Chessum, Maro Itoje, Will Stuart, Jamie George (captain), Joe Marler. Reserves: Theo Dan, Ellis Genge, Dan Cole, Alex Coles, Chandler Cunningham-Smith, Danny Care, Fin Smith, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
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AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby
