Ford at flyhalf for England v Italy, debuts for Dingwall and Roots

LONDON :England coach Steve Borthwick has gone with the tried and tested option of George Ford at flyhalf for their Six Nations opener away to Italy on Saturday, but has given debuts to centre Fraser Dingwall and flanker Ethan Roots in the team named on Thursday.

With Owen Farrell on a sabbatical and Marcus Smith injured, Ford is preferred at flyhalf, with Northampton's 21-year-old uncapped Fin Smith on the bench. Uncapped winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, also 21, is another of the replacements.

Alex Mitchell has recovered from an infected leg cut to start at scrumhalf, with Danny Care on the bench.

Dingwall will start at inside centre alongside Henry Slade, with Tommy Freeman and Elliot Daly on the wings.

New-Zealand-born Roots is blindside flanker, with Sam Underhill and Ben Earl completing the back row. Uncapped flanker Chandler Cunningham-South is on the bench.

New captain Jamie George is the hooker, with Joe Marler and Will Stuart alongside him.

A series of injuries, retirements and unavailability meant Borthwick's side was always going to have a new look to that which reached the World Cup semi-finals.

Only 13 of that 23-man squad who lost by a point to South Africa will be on duty in Rome, including eight of the starting XV from Paris.

NEW-LOOK SIDE

After England’s relatively successful, but tactically limited, World Cup run, fans will hope the new-look side show more variety in attack in Rome.

The presence of so many backline players from all-action Premiership leaders Northampton will give them cause for optimism.

Dingwall’s deserved call-up comes after being in nine previous training squads without ever getting into a matchday 23, while the return of Freeman is also recognition of his great club form.

Another Northampton man,