Eddie Jones has cut four players from his England squad and retains 24 men to take on the Azzurri this Sunday.

Charlie Ewels, Teimana Harrison and Mike Williams have all returned to their clubs, as well as stalwart Jonathan Joseph – which will come as a shock to some supporters.

Joseph has started almost every game during Eddie Jones’ reign as head coach, so his exclusion is something of a curveball from the Australian.

Henry Slade keeps his place in the squad this week, meaning the Exeter Chiefs fly-half and centre is very likely to add to the 4 caps he has won since making his debut in 2015.

Based on the squad that Jones has selected, it is probable we will see a line-up of:

Vunipola, Hartley, Cole, Launchbury, Lawes, Itoje, Haskell, Hughes, Youngs, Farrell, Watson, Te’o, Daly, Nowell, Brown

Bench: George, Marler, Sinckler, Clifford, Wood, Care, Ford, Slade

24 players retained for the Italy match

Forwards (13)

Jack Clifford (Harlequins), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Jamie George (Saracens), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), James Haskell (Wasps), Nathan Hughes (Wasps), Maro Itoje (Saracens), Joe Launchbury (Wasps), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Joe Marler (Harlequins), Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints)

Backs (11)

Mike Brown (Harlequins), Danny Care (Harlequins), Elliot Daly (Wasps), Owen Farrell (Saracens), George Ford (Bath Rugby), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby), Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs), Ben Te’o (Worcester Warriors), Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

Paul Wassell, Pundit Arena

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