England, who go into the game on the back of a 25-15 defeat of Wales on March 2 at Worcester Warriors’ Sixways Stadium, will also face France and Scotland over the coming week.
“This is our first game of the tournament and it’s really important we make a good start”, said England Coach Alex Sanderson. “We have come here with the mind set and goal to win every game but at the moment all our focus is on playing Italy.
“We know a little about our opponents. They were recently beaten by France but they ran them close. We know that they have a big, physical pack and we expect them to be as passionate as every Italian team. I would like to think, though, that in the latter stages of the game we will be able to better them in terms of physicality and individual skills.
“We arrived here on Monday and all the lads have settled in well. Spirits are high and we are feeling confident. The players are certainly chomping at the bit to get the tournament under way.”
England U-18s (vs Italy, Wednesday March 26,Temple Hill RFC, Cork, 5pm)
15 Jack Wallace (RGS High Wycombe & London Wasps)
14 Christian Wade (RGS High Wycombe & London Wasps)
13 Tom Casson (Sedbergh & Sale Sharks) C
12 Tom Homer (Milton Abbey & London Irish)
11 Sam Smith (Cranleigh & Harlequins)
10 Freddie Burns (Bath College & Bath Rugby)
9 Sam Harrison (John Cleveland College & Leicester Tigers)
1 Lee Imiolek (Myerscough College & Sale Sharks)
2 David Blackwell (Hartpury College & Gloucester Rugby)
3 James Currie (Millfield & Bath Rugby)
4 Joe Quinn (St Wilfred's School & Leeds Carnegie)
5 James Gaskell (Sandbach & Sale Sharks)
6 Jacob Rowan (Bradford GS & Leeds Carnegie)
7 Joe Barker (QEGS Wakefield & Leeds Carnegie)
8 Rob Milligan (Rugby School & Northampton Saints)
Replacements
16 Joe Marler (Richmond College & Harlequins)
17 Jamie George (Haileybury & Saracens)
18 Mako Vunipola (Millfield & Bristol Rugby)
19 Tom Holmes (Sandbach & Sale Sharks)
20 Joe Trayfoot (Epsom College & Harlequins)
21 Alex Gray (Barnard Castle & Newcastle Falcons)
22Jordi Pasqualin (The King’s School Gloucs & Gloucester Rugby)
23 Rory Clegg (Barnard Castle & Newcastle Falcons)
24 Will Hurrell (Wyggeston & QE1 College Leicester Tigers)
25 Andy Forsyth (QEGS Wakefield & Leicester Tigers)
26 Tom Catterick (Barnard Castle & Newcastle Falcons)
