Eddie to unleash ‘giant’ on Italy

If you want to win Six Nations, you have to win in France, says O’Brien

BEN YOUNGS, Mako Vunipola and Courtney Lawes will return to England’s starting XV to play Italy in the Six Nations in Rome tomorrow while giant 21- year- old lock Maro Itoje is in line to make his debut from the bench.

After beating Scotland 15-9 in Edinburgh in his first game in charge last week, coach Eddie Jones yesterday promoted scrumhalf Youngs, lock Lawes and prop Vunipola to the starting team after all impressed as replacements at Murrayfield.

Danny Care, Joe Launchbury and Joe Marler were dropped to the bench, joining the uncapped Itoje, England’s former Under-20 captain, as Jones opted for six forwards and two backs as his matchday replacements.

“Mako, Ben and Courtney have been pushing hard for selection during training, but they also fit the game plan we want to implement against Italy,” Jones said.

“Danny, Joe Marler and Joe Launchbury will all have a significant roles to play to finish the game.”

The most eye-catching selection, however, is that of Itoje, who has been knocking at the international door after a series of impressive performances for Saracens.

England’s new defence coach Paul Gustard said this week that Itoje, who is 1.98 and weighs over 114kg, had the potential to be the next Martin Johnson or Paul O’Connell.

“He’s massive, he’s athletic, he’s mobile, he’s a modern-day Six Nations fixtures Today: France v Ireland, Wales v Scotland. Tomorrow: Italy v England. forward that can play in the second row or back row at Test level I’d imagine,” Gustard said.

Jones is likely to give him a first taste of Test action off the bench after resisting the clamour to include him against Scotland.

“Maro has consistently impressed me this week and, together with his excellent club form, has deserved his call-up to the matchday squad,” said the Australian.

After getting his regime off to a steady start with victory in Scotland, Jones, in a rare proclamation of bullish confidence by a coach, said it was time for England to give Italy a good hiding.

England have won all 21 of the teams’ previous encounters and though they have had one or two tight ones, they were thumping 47- 17 winners at Twickenham last year and triumphed 52-11 on their last visit to Rome in 2014.

“We are confident we can go to Rome and win, but we’re in no doubt of the challenge we face,” Jones said.

“Italy took France very close last weekend in Paris so they’ll be fired up.”

Back-rower Josh Beaumont and utility back Ollie Devoto, an unused replacement last week, will also travel with the squad to gain experience of Test match rugby.

● Sean O’Brien believes victory in Paris today will ignite Ireland’s quest to become the first country to win three Six Nations titles in a row.

No team has previously pulled off a hat-trick of triumphs in the tournament that has been on the go since 1883, but the recalled back row – one of three changes in Joe Schmidt’s side following last Sunday’s opening weekend draw with Wales – claims momentum will be with the defending champions if they come home from France celebrating.

“If you have any aspirations to win this tournament you have to win in France,” said O’Brien after he recovered sufficiently from a tweaked hamstring to displace Tommy O’Donnell in a selection where the Kearney brothers, Rob and Dave, take over from Munster duo Simon Zebo and Keith Earls in the backs.

“It is that simple – that’s the way I’m thinking about it anyway and I’m sure most of the lads are in exactly the same mindset. When you lose over there you are up against it for the rest of the tournament, ( but) winning in France is momentum.”

A multitude of knocks had forced Schmidt to delay team selection until after Thursday morning’s training and Johnny Sexton, another of the week’s walking wounded, insisted he was good to go ahead of the afternoon flight to Paris.

“I’ll be fine,” he said about the sore neck that forced him off in the final minutes against Wales. “I probably feel the way front-rowers feel every day.” – Reuters, Daily Mail