England Under-18s will give first starts to seven players as they attempt to end the AER (Association Europeenne de Rugby) Championship on a high by beating Italy in the third place play-off in Treviso tomorrow (1.30pm GMT).

England missed out on a place in the final when they were beaten 8-3 by Ireland in Wednesday’s semi-final but they will secure a third seed place for next season’s competition if they win their final game.

Gloucestershire lock Dan Wright has been ruled out with an ankle injury which means a first start for Aaron Hall.

But the selectors have made six other changes bringing a new front of Yann Thomas, Arthur Ellis and Kane Palma-Newport, a new fly-half in Mark Atkinson, Henry Staff on the left wing and Ollie Stedman at number eight.

Jon Kennedy, who played on the wing in England’s win over Georgia last Sunday, has been moved to the centre in place of Jordan Davies.

“We were devastated to lose against Ireland but we are determined to finish the competition on a high,“ said England team manager Ted Atkinson, who steps down after tomorrow’s game.

“We have managed to pick the players up and the medical team have worked very hard indeed to get everyone back on their feet.

“Apart from the usual bumps and bruises we have had a bit of sickness in the camp but, apart from Dan Wright, everyone is fit.

“We are expecting a tough final game because Italy are a stronger side than they were last year and they came very close to beating France, the defending champions, on Wednesday night.“

England Under-18s:
15 Marcus Watson (St George's College, London Irish and Surrey); 14 Nico Fraser (Haileybury College, Saracens and Essex), 13 Will East (St Paul's School, Barnes, London Wasps and Middlesex - captain), 12 Jon Kennedy (Sale Sharks and Cheshire), 11 Henry Staff (Bedford Modern School, Saracens and East Midlands); 10 Mark Atkinson (St Ambrose College, Sale Sharks and Cheshire), 9 Matt Keyte (Dulwich College, Harlequins and Surrey); 1 Yann Thomas (Weston-super-Mare and Somerset)
2 Arthur Ellis (St Benedict’s School Ealing, London Wasps and Middlesex), 3 Kane Palma-Newport (Beechen Cliff School, Bath and Somerset), 4 Aaron Hall (Berwick HS, Newcastle Falcons and Northumberland), 5 Rhys Jones (Corsham School, Corsham and Dorset & Wiltshire), 6 Will Welch (RGS Newcastle, Newcastle Falcons and Northumberland), 7 Matt Everard (Queen Elizabeth II School, Leicester Tigers and Leicestershire), 8 Ollie Stedman (Kings School Tynemouth, Percy Park and Northumberland). Replacements: Jake Parker (Millfield School, South West Regional Academy and Cornwall), Craig Hampson (Harrogate College, Leeds Carnegie and Yorkshire) , Jordan Davies (Denstone College, Eccles and Lancashire), Joe Ford (Rishworth School and Yorkshire), Peter Austin (Worthing College, Havant and Hampshire), Jimmy Stevens (Truro College, SWERA and Cornwall), Shaun Knight (St Peter's Gloucester, Gloucester and Gloucestershire), James Freeman (Bromsgrove School, Camp Hill and North Midlands), Reuben Haile (St Peter’s Gloucester, Gloucester and Gloucestershire), Ross Chisholm (Brighton College, Harlequins and Sussex).