Maro Itoje will miss part of a Six Nations game for the first time in six years after being named on the bench by Steve Borthwick for England’s championship opener against Wales on Saturday (4.40pm, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).
Borthwick had been due to name his team on Thursday but went early.
Itoje missed part of England’s build-up due to the funeral of his mother in Nigeria and this will be the first time in 30 Six Nations matches that he has missed a single minute.
Alex Coles and Ollie Chessum will start in the second row, with hooker Jamie George captaining the team until Itoje comes on.
Freddie Steward claims the full-back position, with Marcus Smith again providing cover for him and fly-half…