England have promoted Courtney Lawes, Mako Vunipola and Ben Youngs to their starting XV for Sunday's Six Nations clash with Italy in Rome.
Lawes replaces Joe Launchbury in the second row, Vunipola has been chosen ahead of Joe Marler at loosehead prop and Youngs is preferred to Danny Care at scrum-half for the trip to the Stadio Olimpico.
All three of the demoted players drop to the replacements, which also include uncapped lock Maro Itoje.
To accommodate the addition of Itoje, who has been in outstanding form for Saracens this season, head coach Eddie Jones has opted for a six-two split on the bench with centre Ollie Devoto dropping out.
“We’ve made a few changes to the line-up for Italy. I believe this is the strongest 23 to go to Rome and get the performance and result we want.” Jones said.
“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.
“Danny, Joe Marler and Joe Launchbury will all have a significant role to play to finish the game.”
ENGLAND: Mike Brown; Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Owen Farrell, Jack Nowell; George Ford, Ben Youngs; Mako Vunipola, Dylan Hartley (captain), Dan Cole; Courtney Lawes, George Kruis; Chris Robshaw, James Haskell, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Jamie George, Joe Marler, Paul Hill, Joe Launchbury, Maro Itoje, Jack Clifford, Danny Care, Alex Goode.
