Italy are looking to make it three wins on the spin against England when the two meet at Kingsholm on Friday evening in Round 2 of the Under 20 Six Nations.
After a 6-0 triumph in the corresponding fixture of last year’s Championship, Italy triumphed 38-31 in the Under 20 Six Nations Summer Series to secure a third-place finish.
But it’s England who have the momentum ahead of this fixture, having won their opening game of this year’s campaign against Scotland, while the Azzurrini were edged out by France.
Where to Watch
The action gets underway at 7pm on Friday 3 February at Twickenham Stoop, with live coverage on BBC iPlayer.
England team News
A hat-trick hero against Scotland, Josh Hathaway retains his spot on the wing, while Lewis Chessum skippers the side from the second row.
Leicester Tigers’ Chessum is partnered by Danny Eite in the engine room.
They pack behind a front row of Archie McArthur, Tim Hoyt and hooker Finn Theobald-Thomas.
Last week’s Player of the Match, Greg Fisilau, starts in the number seven shirt, alongside Chandler Cunningham-South and Finn Carnduff in the backrow.
Charlie Bracken will again partner Monty Bradbury in the halves, with Joseph Woodward and Rekeiti Ma’asi-White in the centres.
Following his three-try effort, Hathaway retains his spot on one wing, with Tobias Elliott on the other. Sam Harris will again line up at fullback.
Benjamin Waghorn comes onto on otherwise unchanged bench in place of Toby Cousins. Calum Scott, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Afolabi Fasogbon, Robert Carmichael, Tristan Woodman, Nye Thomas and Louie Johnson are the other replacements.
Head coach Alan Dickens said: “We can take many positives away from our match against Scotland, particularly from the first 25 minutes and in the final 10 when the team played with speed and intensity. While we lost the momentum early in the second half, I was really pleased with how the players wrestled back control to close out the match.
“The players are back in camp and have had a good few days of preparation. We’re now looking forward to our match against Italy at Kingsholm Stadium and will take a settled side into the fixture.
“All teams in this year’s Six Nations are quality sides. We saw Italy push France until the final whistle last week, so a full 80-minute performance will be needed against them on Friday.”
England U20 team to face Italy U20: 15. Sam Harris, 14. Tobias Elliott, 13. Rekeiti Ma’asi-White, 12. Joseph Woodward, 11. Josh Hathaway, 10. Monty Bradbury, 9. Charlie Bracken; 1. Archie McArthur, 2. Finn Theobald-Thomas, 3. Tim Hoyt, 4. Danny Eite, 5. Lewis Chessum, 6. Finn Carnduff, 7. Greg Fisilau, 8. Chandler Cunningham-South
Replacements: 16. Calum Scott, 17. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 18. Afolabi Fasogbon, 19. Robert Carmichael, 20. Tristan Woodman, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Louie Johnson, 23. Benjamin Waghorn
Italy team news
Italy’s strong pack performance against France sees Massimo Brunello name an unchanged front eight.
Captain Giovanni Quattrini lines up between Gallorini Marcos Francesco on the right and Destiny Ugiagbe Aminu on the left.
In the second row, Alex Mattioli and Pietro Turrisi start again, as is the case in the back row which comprises Matteo Rubinato, David Odiase and Carlos Berlse Lizardo.
The half-back pairing is also unchanged with Sebastiano Battara and Giovanni Sante back in the control room, while in the midfield Francois Carlo Mey climbs from full back to second centre and Dewi Passarella moves inside him.
The back three is then formed of Alessandro Gesi and Mathias Leon Douglas, and Andrea Bruniera, the one change to the side, who comes into start at full-back.
Italy Under 20s team to play England U20s: 15. Andrea Bruniera, 14. Alessandro Gesi, 13. François Carlo Mey, 12. Dewi Passarella, 11. Mathias Leon Douglas, 10. Giovanni Sante, 9. Sebastiano Battara, 8. Matteo Rubinato, 7. David Odiase, 6. Carlos Berlse Lizardo, 5. Pietro Turrisi, 4. Alex Mattioli, 3. Marcos Francesco Gallorini, 2. Giovanni Quattrini 1. Destiny Ugiagbe Aminu
Replacements: 16. Nicholas Gasperini, 17. Samuele Taddei, 18. Alex Valentino Artuso, 19. Enrico Pontarini, 20. Jacopo BOtturi, 21. Filippo Bozzoni 22. Simone Brisighella, 23. Nicola Bozzo
