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

Marcus Smith (l) and Fin Smith both start against Fiji
Marcus Smith (l) and Fin Smith both start against Fiji

Full-back Marcus Smith and fly-half 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 full-back 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-day 23 named by Steve Borthwick as Marcus Smith offers out-half 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 (below) 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 8, 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 8 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 backs in a 6:2 bench split.

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"Fiji are a dangerous team with power and quality right across the pitch," said Borthwick. "They play with physicality and skill, so we'll need to bring intensity, accuracy and discipline in everything that we do.

"Playing in front of our supporters again at Allianz Stadium means a huge amount to the players, and the team are determined to deliver a performance they can be proud of."

After facing Fiji, England will play New Zealand and Argentina on the following two Saturdays.

Fiji's last match was a 33-27 victory over Japan in the Pacific Cup final in September but they should be a stronger side on Saturday with full access to their many Europe-based players.

England: Marcus Smith; Tommy Freeman, Ollie Lawrence, Fraser Dingwall, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso; Fin Smith, Alex Mitchel; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Joe Heyes; Alex Coles, Ollie Chessum; Guy Pepper, Ben Earl, Chandler Cunningham-South.

Replacements: Jamie George, Fin Baxter, Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Maro Itoje, Tom Curry, Henry Pollock, Ben Spencer, Henry Arundell.

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Watch Ireland v Japan in the Quilter Nations Series on Saturday from 12pm on RTÉ2 and the RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on the RTÉ News App and on rte.ie/sport. Listen to live commentary on RTÉ Radio 1 Extra

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