WORCESTER Warriors lock James Scott will start for England under 20s in their Six Nations match against Italy at Goldington Road in Bedford on Friday (7.45pm).

Scott has been a replacement in England’s first three matches in the tournament but has been promoted to the starting XV as one of three changes made by head coach Steve Bates.

Number eight Rus Tuima will make his first under-20s start with Tom Seabrook replacing the injured Connor Doherty at inside centre.

Warriors prop Kai Owen, who has come off the bench in England’s last two matches against France and Wales, has again been named as a replacement.

Centre Ollie Lawrence and flanker Ted Hill who were involved in the first two games of the campaign are set to be available for Warriors on Saturday when they host Exeter Chiefs in the Gallagher Premiership (3pm).

Bates said: “On reflection we had a disappointing result against Wales but we played a lot of rugby in the manner we had prepared to, we just didn’t execute it as clinically as we’d liked to.

“The message to the squad is to continue to believe in what we are doing, be a bit more accurate in the final third and make sure the pressure we are putting on our opponents is turned into some scoreboard advantage.

“We saw against France in Exeter how much of a part home support can have and the players are all looking forward to taking on Italy in Bedford and we are hopeful it can give us that extra edge over Italy.”

England U20s: Hodge; Sleightholme, Seabrook, de Glanville, Hassell-Collins; Wilkinson, Fox; Adkins, Dolly, Petch, Kpoku, Scott, Willis, Hinkley, Tuima.

Replacements: Ma’asi, Owen, Bartlett, Coles, Capstick, Maunder, Vunipola, Reeves.