Smiths back, Itoje on bench for much-changed England against Fiji

BAGSHOT, England :Fullback Marcus Smith and flyhalf Fin Smith have been recalled among seven changes to the England team to face Fiji on Saturday, with captain Maro Itoje having the rare experience of starting on the bench.

Marcus Smith, who missed out on last week's 25-7 win over Australia but played fullback against Fiji in the 2023 World Cup, replaces Freddie Steward, who has a finger injury.

Fin Smith, England's starting 10 in the Six Nations, comes in for George Ford, who is not included in the match 23 named by Steve Borthwick on Thursday as Marcus Smith offers flyhalf cover.

Tommy Freeman moves from outside centre to the right wing in place of the injured Tom Roebuck, allowing the return of in-form Ollie Lawrence at 13 for his first international appearance since rupturing an Achilles against Italy in the Six Nations.

In the pack, the versatile Chandler Cunningham-South comes in at Number Eight, with Ben Earl moving to openside flanker and Guy Pepper retaining the blindside spot.

It is a great opportunity for the hard-carrying Cunningham-South, who has played across the back row and at lock for Harlequins but has not been able to hold down a regular spot with England.

Borthwick seemed to have settled on Tom Willis as his Number Eight but jettisoned him when he announced he would be going to play in France next season, making him ineligible for England after that.

Borthwick then returned to the more athletic approach of Earl, who was a try-scoring man-of-the-match against Australia, but Cunningham-South offers a more bulky option.

Prop Ellis Genge will captain the team with Itoje poised to take back the duties once he joins the fray as a replacement for the first time since 2017.

Henry Arundell and Ben Spencer are the two