Six Nations: England name unchanged XV to face Italy at Twickenham on Saturday
Friday 13 February 2015 13:39, UK
Bath centre Jonathan Joseph and Saracens second row George Kruis start for England for the first time at Twickenham in an unchanged line-up against Italy on Saturday.
Stuart Lancaster's men stunned hosts Wales 21-16 at the Millennium Stadium in their Championship opener last Friday and the head coach keeps faith with his same 23 for the visit of the Azzurri.
Joseph scored his first international try in Cardiff on his seventh appearance while Kruis was also to the fore in his fifth game for his country.
Lancaster had hoped to pick Geoff Parling as specialist second row cover among the replacements at the expense of Nick Easter or Tom Croft, only for the Leicester lock to suffer a setback in his recovery from a knee injury.
Joseph resumes his promising centre partnership outside Luther Burrell with George Ford pulling the strings at fly-half.
Tighthead Dan Cole is given another chance to gain match fitness after a year interrupted by neck and foot problems, while on the other side of the scrum Joe Marler continues to be first choice loosehead.
England have never lost to Italy in 20 matches dating back to 1991, but have won by only seven points or less in three of their last five matches.
The rivals' last meeting at Twickenham two years ago saw Lancaster's men prevail just 18-11 through six penalties from Toby Flood.
England, who start as 1/100 match favourites, have finished Six Nations runners-up on points difference for the last two seasons and must seek to rout Italy knowing the Championship's weakest team can also prove dogged opponents.
Lancaster said: “It’s always good to be able to name an unchanged team and to build some consistency. We did the same last year after France heading into the Scotland game.
"Italy are going to be fired up, they always are when they come to Twickenham - especially after last week's loss to Ireland.
"We know what's coming at us, but we have prepared well and are looking forward to getting back home and playing in front of our fantastic supporters."
England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 1 Joe Marler, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 George Kruis, 6 James Haskell, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 8 Billy Vunipola,
Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Nick Easter, 20 Tom Croft, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Billy Twelvetrees.
Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Andrea Masi, 11 Giovambattista Venditti, 10 Kelly Haimona, 9 Edoardo Gori, 1 Alberto De Marchi, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 4 George Fabio Biagi, 5 Marco Bortolami, 6 Mauro Bergamasco, 7 Francesco Minto, 8 Sergio Parisse (c).
Replacements: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 Joshua Furno, 20 Samuela Vunisa, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Giulio Bisegni.
