Ford gets fly half nod as Roots and Dingwall set for England debuts

Sign up to our free sport newsletter for all the latest news on everything from cycling to boxing Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news Sign up to our free sport email for all the latest news SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy George Ford has been selected to start at fly half for England in their Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on Saturday, in a starting XV that also includes a pair of uncapped players – Ethan Roots and Fraser Dingwall. Exeter Chiefs back row Roots, who was born in New Zealand and previously played for the Maori All Blacks but qualifies for England through his father, gets the nod at No 6, while Northampton centre Dingwall finally gets his opportunity in midfield, having been in 10 previous England squads but yet to make his debut. Exeter speedster Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and powerful Harlequins back row Chandler Cunningham-South are the other potential debutants on the bench, with Feyi-Waboso set to be capped after choosing to play for England rather than Wales – who he represented at age-grade level. “We’ll need to make good decisions, keep our discipline, and maintain a level of intensity to our performance from the first whistle to the last.” open image in gallery England have a perfect record against Italy in the Six Nations Borthwick’s decision to name five uncapped players in his squad may raise eyebrows but he was keen to stress that all of the quintet deserve the nod.