Three Exe players named for England

EXETER Chiefs ace Luke Cowan-Dickie has been recalled to the England team for their must-win Six Nations clash against Italy at Twickenham tomorrow.

The 27-year-old Cornishman is one of three Chiefs players in the team with Jonny Hill retaining his place at lock and Henry Slade named at outside centre.

Head coach Eddie Jones has made several changes to the side that lost with a whimper to Scotland at Twickenham in their Six Nations opener with George Ford starting at fly-half and Owen Farrell moving to inside centre.

Ford was dropped for the Calcutta Cup debacle against Scotland but is reinstated with Jones resisting calls to axe Farrell, who disappointed in the 11-6 defeat that opened their Championship.

Ollie Lawrence has been jettisoned from the 23 altogether to make room for Farrell despite having to wait until the 63rd minute to make his first carry against the Scots.

Jones has performed more extensive surgery up-front where props Kyle Sinckler and Mako Vunipola return from suspension and injury respectively, displacing Will Stuart and Ellis Genge to the bench.

“As always, we’ve picked what we think is our strongest 23 to try and win the game,” Jones said.

“We’re pleased to have Mako and Kyle back into the team and we’ve made some changes to our starting XV, but our finishers are just as important to our game plan. We look at the whole 80 minutes.

“We’ve trained very well this week, I’ve been very pleased with the players’ attitudes and workrate. We’re hoping to put on a good performance on Saturday and kick on with our Guinness Six Nations campaign.”

England: E Daly; A Watson, H Slade, O Farrell (capt), J May; G Ford, B Youngs (Leicester Tigers); M Vunipola, L Cowan-Dickie, K Sinckler, M Itoje, J Hill, C Lawes, T Curry, B Vunipola. Replacements: J George, E Genge, W Stuart, C Ewels, B Earl, J Willis, D Robson, M Malins.