BATH Rugby trio George Ford, Jonathan Joseph and Anthony Watson have all kept their places in the England back-line for Sunday’s RBS 6 Nations clash away against Italy.

Ford will again start at fly-half, with Joseph at outside centre and Watson on the wing.

However, fellow Bath back Ollie Devoto will again have to wait for his debut after dropping off the bench for the trip to Rome. The youngster will still travel with the squad.

England head coach Eddie Jones makes three changes to the side that beat Scotland 15-9 last weekend, with prop Mako Vunipola, lock Courtney Lawes and scrum-half Ben Youngs coming in for Joe Marler, Joe Launchbury and Danny Care, who are all among the replacements.

There is also a place among the replacements for uncapped forwards Maro Itoje and Paul Hill.

Jones said: “We've made a few changes to the line-up for Italy. I believe this is the strongest 23 to go to Rome and get the performance and result we want.

“Mako, Ben and Courtney have been pushing hard for selection during training, but they also fit the game plan we want to implement against Italy," he said.

"Danny, Joe Marler and Joe Launchbury will all have significant roles to play to finish the game.” Dylan Hartley will again lead the side with number eight Billy Vunipola, inside centre Owen Farrell and full-back Mike Brown all named as vice captains.

Jones described training this week as "intense" and said in particular Saracens' versatile forward Itoje had impressed him enough to earn a first senior international call-up.

“It has been an intense week of training and I am pleased with how the group have responded to some of the things we’ve asked them to do," he said.

"Maro has consistently impressed me this week and, together with his excellent club form, has deserved his call up to the match day squad.

“We are confident we can go to Rome and win, but we’re in no doubt of the challenge we face. Italy took France very close last weekend in Paris so they’ll be fired up."

England team to face Italy: 1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 28 caps), 2 Dylan Hartley (captain, Northampton Saints, 67 caps), 3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 57 caps), 4 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 43 caps), 5 George Kruis (Saracens, 11 caps), 6 Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, 44 caps), 7 James Haskell (Wasps, 63 caps), 8 Billy Vunipola (vice captain, Saracens, 22 caps), 9 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 53 caps), 10 George Ford (Bath Rugby, 18 caps), 11 Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 11 caps), 12 Owen Farrell (vice captain, Saracens, 36 caps), 13 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 17 caps), 14 Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 16 caps) 15 Mike Brown (vice captain, Harlequins, 44 caps). Replacements: 16 Jamie George (Saracens, 4 caps), 17 Joe Marler (Harlequins, 38 caps), 18 Paul Hill (Northampton Saints, uncapped), 19 Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 29 caps), 20 Maro Itoje (Saracens, uncapped), 21 Jack Clifford (Harlequins, 1 cap), 22 Danny Care (Harlequins, 54 caps), 23 Alex Goode (Saracens, 19 caps).