Conlon starts against Italy

By Mark Stevens

Exeter Chiefs forward Joel Conlon has been named in the England Under-20s starting line-up for Friday's Six Nations clash with Italy at the Stadio Peroni on Friday evening (kick-off 6pm GMT)

The 19-year-old, who featured at No.8 in last week's emphatic 67-7 win against Wales in Newcastle, reverts back to his preferred position on the open-side flank as England make five changes to their side.

Full-back Aaron Morris, wing Nathan Earle, fly-half Sam Olver, lock Jonny Hill and No.8 James Chisholm all come into the side and will be captained by Saracens’ Maro Itoje who moves into the back row from lock. Scrum-half Callum Braley comes back onto the bench after recovering from injury, meaning Conlon's Exeter team-mate Stu Townsend is only a travelling reserve for the trip.

Nick Walshe and Ian Peel’s side head to Calvisano knowing that only a win will give them a chance of retaining the Championship, while Ireland will also need to defeat France.

Walshe said: “We enjoyed the win against Wales but focus is very much on the task in hand and preparing to play a well-drilled Italy side. There’s no doubt that they have improved over the past couple of seasons and we know that we’ll be in for a tough match.”

England Under-20s starting XV to play Italy

15 Aaron Morris (Bedford Blues)
14 Howard Packman (Northampton Saints)
13 Nick Tompkins (Saracens)
12 Harry Sloan (Harlequins)
11 Nathan Earle (Saracens)
10 Sam Olver (Northampton Saints)
9 Henry Taylor (Loughborough University)
1 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints)
2 Harry Thacker (Leicester Tigers)
3 Scott Wilson (Newcastle Falcons)
4 Tom Ellis (Bath Rugby)
5 Jonny Hill (Gloucester Rugby)
6 Maro Itoje (Saracens, capt)
7 Joel Conlon (Exeter Chiefs)
8 James Chisholm (Harlequins)

Replacements:

16 Tom Woolstencroft (Bath Rugby)
17 Alex Lundberg (London Wasps)
18 Paul Hill (Leeds Carnegie)
19 Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby)
20 Hayden Thompson Stringer (Saracens)
21 Callum Braley (Bristol Rugby)
22 Billy Burns (Gloucester Rugby)
23 Henry Purdy (Leicester Tigers)