sport news England unleash big guns Te'o, Tuilagi and Cokanasiga for Italy clash

England will unleash their heavy artillery against Italy at Twickenham on Saturday, with Ben Te'o and Manu Tuilagi joining forces in midfield for the first time – while Joe Cokanasiga starts out wide.

Worcester centre Te'o was on course to feature in the starting XV for the Guinness Six Nations opener against Ireland in Dublin last month, until he suffered a side strain during England's training camp in Portugal. 

His enforced withdrawal left England short of options at No 12 so Tuilagi was deployed there, even though Eddie Jones reiterated that he sees him primarily as an outside centre.

Well, on Thursday morning the national coach has picked him in that preferred position – to clear space for the return of Te'o alongside. 

It will create a new, powerful midfield alliance at the expense of Exeter's Henry Slade, who has worn the 13 shirt in the first three rounds of this championship campaign. 

Meanwhile, giant Bath rookie Cokanasiga claims a starting place, having recovered from a knee injury which struck him down after an international breakthrough in the autumn.

Eddie Jones said: 'We have had a good preparation ahead of Italy with a great week in Oxford where we competed against Georgia for two days. 

'Players have had a good break and have come back into camp reenergised and refocused for what is an important game for us.'

He added: 'Italy is a bit of an unknown quantity but when Conor allows them to play rugby they play well. They have played terrific games in the Six Nations. 

'They are fitter, physically stay in the contest a lot longer and they are quite unpredictable in the way they attack.