This will be just Will Stuart’s third starting appearance for the national team since his debut during the 2020 Six Nations, Stuart's 17th cap overall. Charlie Ewels is in line for his 28th cap when he runs on at the Stadio Olimpico.

Bath Rugby’s Director of Rugby Stuart Hooper said: “It’s great for those guys to continue their run of selections for England”

“They’ll both be wanting to have more of an impact on the game than they’ve had so far and I’m sure they’ve been working hard in training to be selected in the starting team”.

The England internationals are 2 of 8 changes to the starting XV, where they will be hoping to help their side to gain their first victory of the campaign.

Both sides enter the round having lost their opening fixtures, but England will be hoping history of never losing to Italy continues this weekend.

England team to play Italy

15 Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers), 14 Max Malins (Saracens), 13 Joe Marchant (Harlequins), 12 Henry Slade (vc) (Exeter Chiefs), 11 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), 10 Marcus Smith (Harlequins), 9 Harry Randall (Bristol Bears); 1 Ellis Genge (vc) (Leicester Tigers), 2 Jamie George (Saracens), 3 Will Stuart (Bath Rugby), 4 Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby), 5 Nick Isiekwe (Saracens), 6 Maro Itoje (Saracens), 7 Tom Curry (c) (Sale Sharks), 8 Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins)

16 Luke Cowan-Dickie (vc) (Exeter Chiefs), 17 Joe Marler (Leicester Tigers), 18 Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears), 19 Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers), 20 Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs), 21 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), 22 George Ford (Leicester Tigers), 23 Elliot Daly (Saracens)

Saturday 12 February

Wales v Scotland, Principality Stadium, 14:15 kick-off
(Redpath to wear number 12)

Sunday 13 February

Italy v England, Stadio Olimpico, 15:00 kick-off (GMT)
(Ewels and Stuart to wear numbers 4 and 3 respectively)

Bath Rugby duo to start for England in Rome

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