England Drops Smith, Slade for Italy Clash in Six Nations Shake-up

In a significant shake-up ahead of the Six Nations clash with Italy, England has dropped both Marcus Smith and Henry Slade from the starting lineup. Smith has been moved to the bench, paving the way for Elliot Daly to return at full-back and Fraser Dingwall to make his first Test appearance at inside centre. Head coach Steve Borthwick also opted for Jamie George at hooker, marking his 100th cap. Smith's exclusion highlights his decline in form, as he has struggled to secure a consistent position following a loss of the fly-half role to Fin Smith. Meanwhile, Slade's absence reflects a lack of impact over recent matches, leading to Dingwall's unexpected selection. England's squad change comes as they aim for victory against an Italy team that has had a challenging tournament thus far.