WORCESTER Warriors prospect Sam Ripper-Smith is set to win his first cap for England U20s when they travel to Italy in the Six Nations on Friday night (6.10pm).

The young flanker, who has previously been capped at under 18 level, has been named in the starting line-up as England bid to bounce back from their 24-6 defeat by Scotland last week.

Worcester aces Huw Taylor and Jack Singleton have also secured spots in the first 15, while Jamie Shillcock maintains his place on the bench.

However, Andrew Kitchener has not been selected in Jon Callard’s 23-man squad, which features seven debutants.

Head coach Callard, who has made six changes to the starting line-up that faced Scotland, said: “It is good to be able to give a number of players an opportunity this Friday after others have unfortunately been ruled out with injury.

“Max Malins and Sam Smith also come into the mix after being unavailable for selection against Scotland. “The opening loss is in the past and now we have to look forward at ways to improve our performance. We had 64 per cent possession and the positive is that we had clear chances. “We want the players to take confidence from that and this week one of our key aims is to be clinical enough to take points from those plays.”

Twelve clubs are represented in the squad, but Warriors have the most, with four of their academy aces poised to face Italy at the Stadio Pacifici, San Dona' Di Piave.

England U20s squad: Malins (Saracens), Perkins (Saracens), Marchant (Harlequins), Thacker (Leicester Tigers), Thorley (Gloucester Rugby), Protheroe (Gloucester Rugby), Green (Yorkshire Carnegie); West (Wasps), Singleton (Worcester Warriors), Stuart (Wasps), Taylor (Worcester Warriors), Nott (Sale Sharks), Mercer (Bath Rugby), Ripper-Smith (Worcester Warriors), Chick (Newcastle Falcons) ©.
Replacements: Langdon (London Irish), Adams-Hale (Saracens), Keast (Exeter Chiefs), South (Harlequins), Willis (Wasps), Shillcock (Worcester Warriors), Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs), Odogwu (Leicester Tigers)