Second-row:
- 4. Maro Itoje (Saracens)
- 5. Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks)
DID YOU KNOW?
- As a schoolboy, Itoje played several sports including basketball, football, rugby and athletics, representing England at U17 level in shot put
- Hill is the nephew of former Rugby league international Paul Loughlin.
Back-row:
- 6. Jack Willis (Free Agent)
- 7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
- 8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
Gatland wrote: “Upfront, I’m not sure that Maro had the impact at six in terms of ball-carrying so it’s whether you put him back into the second, even though I felt Alex Coles had a great debut.
“A back row featuring Tom Curry, Jack Willis and Sam Simmonds. That could give you some real mobility, some carrying power and footwork.”
DID YOU KNOW?
- Curry is the twin brother of Sale Sharks flanker Ben Curry, son of Bishop Heber High School Head Teacher David Curry and nephew of former England hooker John Olver
- Vunipola was born in Sydney in Australia to Tongan parents, but moved to Wales with his family as a young child after his father Feʻao Vunipola signed for Pontypool RFC in 1998