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BENCH<br />

16 Jamie George (Saracens 20 caps)<br />

17 Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs uncapped)<br />

18 Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs 5 caps)<br />

19 George Kruis (Saracens 21 caps)<br />

20 Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby 3 caps)<br />

21 Danny Care (Harlequins 76 caps)<br />

22 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby 35 caps)<br />

23 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs 23 caps)<br />

England opt for Te'o for midfield punch<br />

Ben Te’o returns from the injury wilderness to start for England against Italy as Eddie Jones<br />

looks to add punch to his midfield.<br />

The Worcester centre has not started a match since October but proved himself to be as fit<br />

as a flea at last week’s Algarve training camp.<br />

Jones liked what he saw of Te’o on the Lions tour, where he started the first Test and came<br />

off the bench in the third to help grab a share of the spoils.<br />

And with power ball carriers Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes both lost to injury up front,<br />

the New Zealand-born cross code star will be expected to run the hard yards.<br />

Jones said: “I have selected the strongest available side. Our preparation over the last two<br />

weeks has been excellent and the players feel refreshed.<br />

“We want to start the tournament well and are ready to go hunting against Italy.<br />

“We know we need to get our set piece right, be defensively strong and play with aggression<br />

and plenty of energy.”<br />

(Image: Getty)

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