Marcus Smith drops to the bench as Elliot Daly and Fraser Dingwall come into XV for Sunday’s match
Head coach Steve Borthwick has made three changes to the England Six Nations 2025 starting line-up that narrowly won the Calcutta Cup for the first time in five years.
Jamie George comes back into the XV to face Italy on the day he wins his 100th cap, with Luke Cowan-Dickie dropping to the bench. Elliot Daly gets the nod over Marcus Smith at full-back, while Fraser Dingwall makes his first start of this year’s championship at inside centre. Smith drops to the bench to make way for Daly, while Henry Slade drops out of the 23 entirely.
Dingwall links up with four of his Northampton Saints teammates in the backs, with Alex Mitchell selected at scrum-half, Fin Smith at fly-half, and Ollie Sleightholme and Tommy Freeman on the wings. Bath’s Ollie Lawrence continues at outside centre.
In the forwards, George joins Ellis Genge and Will Stuart in the front row, with captain Maro Itoje and Ollie Chessum behind them at lock. The back row is unchanged, with Tom Willis at number 8, and Tom Curry and Ben Earl on the flanks.
Borthwick continues with a 6-2 split on the replacements bench for the visit of the Azzurri, who’ll be desperate to bounce back from a humbling 24-73 loss to France. Forward cover is provided by Cowan-Dickie, Fin Baxter, Joe Heyes, Ted Hill, Chandler Cunningham-South and Ben Curry. Jack van Poortvliet comes in for Harry Randall as substitute scrum-half, with Marcus Smith providing cover across the back line.
“England versus Italy is always an exciting fixture to be part of,” said Borthwick. “Playing in front of our home supporters at Allianz Stadium is something we’re really looking forward to, and we’re sure it will be a fantastic game of rugby.
“Reaching 100 caps is a wonderful achievement that reflects Jamie’s talent, dedication and hard work. He has consistently given his all while wearing an England shirt and the team couldn’t be prouder of his incredible milestone.”
England v Italy kicks off at 3.00pm GMT on Sunday 9 March.
England Six Nations team v Italy
15. Elliot Daly
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Fraser Dingwall
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Jamie George (vice-captain)
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis
Replacements:
16. Luke Cowan-Dickie
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ted Hill
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Jack van Poortvliet
23. Marcus Smith
England Six Nations team v Scotland
15. Marcus Smith
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. Ollie Chessum
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis
Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ted Hill
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Harry Randall
23. Elliot Daly
England Six Nations team v France
15. Marcus Smith
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Ollie Sleightholme
10. Fin Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. George Martin
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Earl
8. Tom Willis
Replacements:
16. Jamie George
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Ben Curry
22. Harry Randall
23. Elliot Daly
England Six Nations team v Ireland
15. Freddie Steward
14. Tommy Freeman
13. Ollie Lawrence
12. Henry Slade
11. Cadan Murley
10. Marcus Smith
9. Alex Mitchell
1. Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie
3. Will Stuart
4. Maro Itoje (captain)
5. George Martin
6. Tom Curry
7. Ben Curry
8. Ben Earl
Replacements:
16. Theo Dan
17. Fin Baxter
18. Joe Heyes
19. Ollie Chessum
20. Chandler Cunningham-South
21. Tom Willis
22. Harry Randall
23. Fin Smith
England Six Nations squad 2025
Forwards
Fin Baxter
Ollie Chessum
Arthur Clarke
Luke Cowan-Dickie
Chandler Cunningham-South
Ben Curry
Tom Curry
Theo Dan
Ben Earl
Ellis Genge (vice-captain)
Joe Heyes
Ted Hill
Maro Itoje (captain)
Curtis Langdon
George Martin
Asher Opoku-Fordjour
Henry Pollock
Bevan Rodd
Will Stuart
Tom Willis
Backs
Oscar Beard
Elliot Daly
Fraser Dingwall
George Ford
Tommy Freeman
Ollie Lawrence
Alex Mitchell
Cadan Murley
Raffi Quirke
Harry Randall
Tom Roebuck
Henry Slade
Ollie Sleightholme
Fin Smith
Marcus Smith
Ben Spencer
Freddie Steward
England Six Nations squad: Line-ups from every match in 2024
Round 1: v Italy (Stadio Olimpico, Rome)
Starting XV: Freddie Steward, Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Fraser Dingwall, Elliot Daly, George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Joe Marler, Jamie George (captain), Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Ethan Roots, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl
Replacements: Theo Dan, Beno Obano, Dan Cole, Alex Coles, Chandler Cunningham-South, Danny Care, Fin Smith, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
Result: Italy 24-27 England
Round 2: v Wales (Twickenham)
Starting XV: Freddie Steward, Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Fraser Dingwall, Elliot Daly, George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Joe Marler, Jamie George (captain), Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Ethan Roots, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl
Replacements: Theo Dan, Ellis Genge, Dan Cole, Alex Coles, Chandler Cunningham-South, Danny Care, Fin Smith, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
Result: England 16-14 Wales
Round 3: v Scotland (Murrayfield)
Starting XV: George Furbank; Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Elliot Daly; George Ford, Danny Care; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, Ollie Chessum, Ethan Roots, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl.
Replacements: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, George Martin, Chandler Cunningham-South, Ben Spencer, Fin Smith, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso
Result: Scotland 30-21 England
Round 4: v Ireland (Twickenham)
Starting XV: George Furbank; Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Tommy Freeman; George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Ollie Chessum, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl
Replacements: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Chandler Cunningham-South, Alex Dombrandt, Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Elliot Daly
Result: England 23-22 Ireland
Round 5: v France (Groupama Stadium, Lyon)
Starting XV: George Furbank; Tommy Freeman, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Elliot Daly; George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, San Cole, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Ollie Chessum, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl.
Replacements: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Ethan Roots, Alex Dombrandt, Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Manu Tuilagi
Result: France 33-31 England
England Six Nations squad 2024
Forwards
Jamie Blamire (Newcastle Falcons)
Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Alex Coles (Northampton Saints)
Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins)
Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
Theo Dan (Saracens)
Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)
Ben Earl (Saracens)
Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby)
Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears)
Jamie George (Saracens) – captain
Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers)
Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
George Martin (Leicester Tigers)
Beno Obano (Bath Rugby)
Tom Pearson (Northampton Saints)
Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs)
Will Stuart (Bath Rugby)
Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby)
Backs
Danny Care (Harlequins)
Elliot Daly (Saracens)
Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints)
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs,)
George Ford (Sale Sharks)
Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints)
George Furbank (Northampton Saints)
Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby)
Will Muir (Bath Rugby)
Max Ojomoh (Bath Rugby)
Harry Randall (Bristol Bears)
Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)
Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Fin Smith (Northampton Saints)
Ben Spencer (Bath Rugby)
Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers)
Manu Tuilagi (Sale Sharks)
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