England include Maro Itoje and Josh Beaumont in squad for Italy clash

Maro Itoje and Josh Beaumont have been included in a 25-strong England squad for Sunday's Six Nations clash with Italy in Rome.

Head coach Eddie Jones was expected to name his matchday 23 on Tuesday evening but has instead chosen to retain those picked for the 15-9 victory over Scotland, with the addition of secondrow Itoje and number eight Beaumont.

Only outside centre Elliot Daly and openside Matt Kvesic have been sent back to their clubs for the weekend's round of Aviva Premiership matches.

Jones names his starting XV on Friday morning and has hinted that there will be changes to his pack due to the conditions expected at the Stadio Olimpico.

Jack Clifford made his debut off the bench in Edinburgh and could be promoted, but selecting the fast Harlequins backrow Jones would mean having to drop either James Haskell or Chris Robshaw, both of whom performed well against the Scots.

Itoje has been in outstanding form for Saracens this season and could be in line for a first cap in round two of the Championship at the expense of either Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes or George Kruis.

“We’ll pick the best 23 to play against Italy and the conditions in Italy will be different, so the squad will be slightly different,” Jones said.

“The conditions will be warmer, there will be a faster pitch and different referee, so I am anticipating we will be able to get our attack going a lot quicker than we did against Scotland.

“I’ve said it’s going to be a faster game so we could pick a faster pack.”

Italy were edged 23-21 by France in Saturday's Six Nations opener, which ended with Sergio Parisse snatching at a last-gasp drop-goal.

“Italy have some young players and they traditionally play that European style of game, heavily focused around their eight and nine, their marquee players,” Jones said.

"The halfback Edoardo Gori is an outstanding player. Parisse, if he was playing for the All Blacks, would be rated one of the best in the world.

“They’re obviously guys we have got to be very careful of. And they’ve got some good young players coming through.

"The young 10 (Carlo Canna), who plays with the headgear, looks a bit like Stephen Larkham.

“He’s got a little bit of promise and takes the ball to the line a bit more than a normal Italian. We’ve got to be right on our game.”

ENGLAND (Squad v Italy) – Forwards (15): D Cole (Leicester Tigers), J Clifford (Harlequins), J George (Saracens), D Hartley (Northampton Saints, capt), J Haskell (Wasps), P Hill (Northampton Saints), G Kruis (Saracens), J Launchbury (Wasps), C Lawes (Northampton Saints), J Marler (Harlequins), C Robshaw (Harlequins), B Vunipola (Saracens), M Vunipola (Saracens), M Itoje (Saracens), J Beaumont (Sale Sharks).

Backs (10): M Brown (Harlequins), D Care (Harlequins), O Devoto (Bath Rugby), O Farrell (Saracens), G Ford (Bath Rugby), A Goode (Saracens), J Joseph (Bath Rugby), J Nowell (Exeter Chiefs), A Watson (Bath Rugby), B Youngs (Leicester Tigers).