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England hope to clinch Six Nations with big win over Italy

SHOWS:

ROME, ITALY (OCTOBER 30, 2020) (RFU - ACCESS ALL)

1. BEN YOUNGS (RIGHT) WALKING OUT FOR THE CAPTAIN'S RUN, SET FOR HIS 100TH CAP FOR ENGLAND AGAINST ITALY

2. JONNY HILL (BEARDED) WHO WILL BE MAKING HIS ENGLAND DEBUT AGAINST ITALY

3. OLIMPICO STADIUM SIGN

4. ROOF OF STADIUM

5. ENGLAND COACH EDDIE JONES CONDUCTING TRAINING

6. TOM DUNN PRACTISING LINE OUTS

7. BILLY VUNIPOLA (BEARDED)

8. BEN YOUNGS RUNNING AND CATCHING A BALL

9. JOE COKANASIGA LYING ON GROUND DOING STRETCHING EXERCISE

10. ENGLAND PLAYERS DISCUSSING

11. EDDIE JONES

12. RUGBY BALL

13. WIDE VIEW OF TEAM GATHERED FOR TRAINING

14. (SOUNDBITE) (English) BILLY VUNIPOLA SAYING:

"Our biggest focus is how we can set, I guess a foundation from when we can kick on from. We've watched a lot of our own training sessions and different trends within the game. We just want to make sure we play the English way and that's through our set-piece and make sure that we dominate and that's our intentions and then after that, hopefully we can play and put some points on board."

STORY: Ireland have the destiny of the 2020 Six Nations championship in their own hands as a bonus point win in Paris on Saturday (October 31) will secure the title, but it is England, seeking another big win in Italy, who are the odds-on favourites to lift the trophy.

That is because history has shown that Ireland almost never score four tries away to France whereas England routinely pummel Italy by more than the 23 point margin they currently trail Ireland by and are unlikely to open the door to France either.

To make sure of the title Ireland would need a four-try victory in the final game of Saturday's triple-header (2005GMT). However, in their 45 championship matches in France over the last 110 years Ireland have never won with four tries.

France's only hope of the title is to beat Ireland by a better margin than England manage against Italy - or hope England lose to Italy for the first time.

So, England will play in their 1645GMT kick off knowing that a bonus-point win with something like a 30-40 point margin is likely to be enough to secure a third title in five years - though of course they will have to wait to find out.

England coach Eddie Jones has selected Exeter's Jonny Hill to make his England debut while scrumhalf Ben Youngs will win his 100th cap, only the second England player to reach that landmark after Jason Leonard who reached 114.

In the absence of the injured Manu Tuilagi, Jones has opted for the creative centre pairing of Henry Slade and Jonathan Joseph, with George Furbank at fullback in place of injured Elliot Daly. Furbank and Slade will cover the flyhalf duties in the event of a Farrell injury.

After much speculation about his backrow options, Jones has returned to the trio who performed so well in the World Cup, with Sam Underhill and Tom Curry flanking Billy Vunipola, making his first appearance since the final defeat by South Africa a year ago this week. Hooker Jamie George will win his 50th cap.

There are three uncapped players on the bench - hooker Tom Dunn, powerful centre Ollie Lawrence and winger Ollie Thorley, while Dan Robson is the backup scrumhalf.

(Production: Mike Brock)