TE’O IS GOING FOX HUNTING

EddIE JONES has told Ben Te’o to go ‘fox hunting’ against Italy as England look to get their campaign off to a flying start in Rome tomorrow afternoon.

Jones gave the former rugby league star his first England start against the Azzurri in the corresponding fixture at Twickenham last season.

The home side, however, were flummoxed by Italy’s no-ruck tactic known as ‘the fox’, which created havoc at the breakdown.

England eventually adapted to the ploy and managed to grind out a 36-15 victory, but Te’o got little opportunity to showcase his trademark power.

Twelve months on from that fiasco, England coach Jones is ready to unleash the centre on the Italians again.

‘We played him against Italy last year and the fox got him big time,’ said Jones. ‘So, he wants to go fox-hunting this week.

‘We want to see him carry the ball. If there are no foxes out there, he might have a chance.’

The selection of Te’o aside, Jones has named an experienced squad boasting 689 caps for the Stadio Olimpico assignment, with captain dylan Hartley set to make his 90th appearance.

Mike Brown, who has suffered from blurred vision in recent weeks, will start at full-back after Jones resisted calls to install the more attack-minded Anthony Watson in the No 15 shirt.

‘It’s an ongoing debate,’ said Jones. ‘He’s a bloody good player, Brownie. He’s tough, he owns that high ball in the back field, he runs hard and he adds to the team’s defence. You’ve got to do a lot to put him out.’

In the injury-enforced absence of Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes, Jones has backed Exeter Chiefs starlet Sam Simmonds to fill the void at No 8. ‘He’s a good ball-runner, he runs good lines, he carries hard and he’s a strong defender. He does the basics of the game well, that’s what I like about him,’ added Jones.’