Mako Vunipola will start at loose-head prop for England in Saturday’s Six Nations match against Italy in Rome.
The Saracens forward replaces 23-year-old Harlequins prop Joe Marler, who is with his partner waiting for the birth of their first child.
Head coach Stuart Lancaster said: “We have prepared for being without Joe.
“It is important that Joe is with his partner at this exciting time. Family must always come first and everyone in the squad wishes them well.”
Who can win the Six Nations?
Ireland
have a points difference of 81 and a win of any kind against France should see them take the title, although England could catch them with a massive win against Italy. However, Ireland have only won in Paris once in 42 years.
England
must beat Italy. If France then beat Ireland, the title should be England’s. However, if Ireland win by as little as one point then England must win in Rome by 51 points to overhaul the current 49-point gap.
France
must beat Ireland and hope England lose. But if England beat Italy by one point then the French must win by 31 points to overturn the current 29-point gap to claim the title.
If teams are level on points and points difference, then the title goes to the team who scored the most tries during the Championship.
Vunipola’s inclusion is the only change to the starting XV, although Leicester centre Manu Tuilagi, 22, is also new on the bench.
He replaced Saracens’ Alex Goode in the squad after recovering from injury.
Italy recall captain Sergio Parisse, who returns after a thigh injury, and the number Eight will equal Martin Castrogiovanni’s Italian record of 105 test caps.
Castrogiovanni misses out after picking up an injury in last week’s
with Lorenzo Cittadini, who was his replacement, and fellow prop Matias Aguero making their first starts of this year’s competition.
Robert Barbieri makes way for Parisse, moving onto the flank while Alberto de Marchi and Paul Derbyshire drop to the bench, alongside 28-year-old Scotland-born Zebre lock, George Fabio Biagi who makes the bench for the first time.
Second-placed England retain a chance of winning the title on the final weekend, although Ireland lead the standings on points difference.
Lancaster’s side
at Twickenham on Sunday to keep the pressure on the Irish, who travel to France on Saturday.
Manu Tuilagi returned from a pectoral injury in Leicester’s 41-18 win against Newcastle on 2 March
Before it was revealed Marler could miss the match, Lancaster said: “Rome is a fantastic opportunity for us to finish the Six Nations on a high point. We want to put in a performance that backs up the previous performances. That is a big motivation for the players.”
British and Irish Lion Tuilagi can play on the wing as well as at centre and will likely make his first appearance for England in a year.
He has been capped 21 times and has scored 50 international points but has played only 70 minutes for Leicester since recovering from a
that kept him out for six months.
“It is great to be back with the England boys, joining in and trying to continue the good work,” said Tuilagi. “I know I have only had one game but I have been working hard and training hard at Leicester and now with England.
“It has been a really frustrating watching my team-mates at Leicester and then the England boys in the autumn Tests and Six Nations.
“It has been a long time – now I’m really excited to be playing in a tough game on Saturday.”
England:
M Brown (Harlequins); J Nowell (Exeter), L Burrell (Northampton), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester), J May (Gloucester); O Farrell (Saracens), D Care (Harlequins); J Marler (Harlequins), D Hartley (Northampton), D Wilson (Bath), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton), T Wood (Northampton), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), B Morgan (Gloucester).
Replacements:
T Youngs (Leicester), M Vunipola (Saracens), H Thomas (Sale), D Attwood (Bath), T Johnson (Exeter), L Dickson (Northampton), G Ford (Bath), M Tuilagi (Leicester).
Article source: http://www1.skysports.com/rugby-union/news/12507/9211383/six-nations-leigh-halfpenny-facing-four-months-on-sidelines
Six Nations 2014: Mako Vunipola in for Italy v England in Rome
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