Joe Cokanasiga will make his first Guinness Six Nations start on Saturday in one of five England changes for Italy’s trip to Twickenham.
The Bath wing made his international debut in the autumn, playing two Tests and scoring a try in each against Japan and Australia, while he featured off the bench against Wales in Round Three.
But the 21-year-old is in from the start this weekend in place of the injured Jack Nowell in a powerful looking England side that also sees Ben Te’o line up in the 2019 Championship for the first time.
The centre is named alongside Manu Tuilagi, with Te’o replacing Henry Slade in the starting XV. However, he takes the No.12 jersey, with Tuilagi shifting across to Slade’s spot on the outside.
In other changes, Ellis Genge comes in at loosehead prop in place of Ben Moon, while lock Joe Launchbury and flanker Brad Shields are also promoted to the XV.
“We have had a good preparation ahead of Italy with a great week in Oxford where we competed against Georgia for two days,” head coach Eddie Jones said.
“Italy is a bit of an unknown quantity but when Conor (O’Shea) allows them to play rugby they play well. They have played terrific games in the Guinness Six Nations.
“They are fitter, physically stay in the contest a lot longer and they are quite unpredictable in the way they attack.
“We expect Italy to throw the ball around a bit so we are going to have to defend very well against their unpredictability and when we have got the ball, we have to use it wisely.”
On the bench, experienced prop Dan Cole returns and could add to his 83 caps, while Nathan Hughes is also named after missing out against Wales – he comes in to replace injured lock Courtney Lawes.
Alongside Slade and Moon, Mark Wilson drops to the bench where they are joined by Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dan Robson and George Ford.
England team to face Italy at Twickenham:
15. Elliot Daly (Wasps) 14. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath Rugby) 13. Manu Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers) 12. Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors) 11. Jonny May (Leicester Tigers) 10. Owen Farrell (Saracens) (capt) 9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers) 2. Jamie George (Saracens) 3. Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins) 4. Joe Launchbury (Wasps) 5. George Kruis (Saracens) 6. Brad Shields (Wasps) 7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks) 8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Replacements 16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs) 17. Ben Moon (Exeter Chiefs) 18. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers) 19. Nathan Hughes (Wasps) 20. Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons) 21. Dan Robson (Wasps) 22. George Ford (Leicester Tigers) 23. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
