England team for Six Nations opener announced, big Ben Te’o starts

Ben Te’o will start his first match since October after being named in the England side to face Italy, ahead of Jonathan Joseph.

The outside centre has been sidelined after suffering two long-term injuries, while both Brown and Chris Robshaw are fit to start.

Eddie Jones named the Worcester Warriors player in his starting line-up to face Italy in this Sunday’s Six Nations opener, ahead of Jonathan Joseph, while Courtney Lawes will start at 6 and Sam Simmonds at 8.

The rest of Jones’s team is as expected, with Dylan Hartley named captain and Mike Brown fit to start at full-back, meaning Anthony Watson remains on the wing.

Chris Robshaw is passed fit to take his place at openside flanker, while Courtney Lawes is named on the blindside with Maro Itoje joining Joe Launchbury in the second row.

England begin their Six Nations defence this Sunday against Italy in Rome.

Eddie Jones’s side are aiming for a record-breaking third consecutive title, no other country has managed the feat in the tournament’s 135-year history.

Starting 15

1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens 44 caps)
2. Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints 89 caps)
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers 77 caps)
4. Joe Launchbury (Wasps 47 caps)
5. Maro Itoje (Saracens 14 caps)
6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints 61 caps)
7. Chris Robshaw (Harlequins 59 caps)
8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs 3 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers 73 caps)
10. George Ford (Leicester Tigers 40 caps)
11. Jonny May (Leicester Tigers 29 caps)
12. Owen Farrell (Saracens 53 caps)
13. Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors 8 caps)
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby 28 caps)
15. Mike Brown (Harlequins 64 caps)

Replacements

1.  Jamie George (Saracens 20 caps)
2. Alec Hepburn (Exeter Chiefs uncapped)
3. Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs 5 caps)
4. George Kruis (Saracens 21 caps)
5. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby 3 caps)
6. Danny Care (Harlequins 76 caps)
7. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby 35 caps)
8. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs 23 caps)