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England back Anthony Watson says harms will not be feared by England .
Number eight Billy Vunipola starts for the fourth successive match and captain Owen Farrell will play from the beginning.
The game at St James’ Park Newcastle on Friday is England before they travel on Sunday to Japan.
“You can’t be worried about it and I’m not concerned,” said Watson, who earns his first start at full-back for England because an Achilles injury in March 2018.
“As soon as you start going into contact at 85 percent and start worrying about making sure you get on the airplane on Sundayyou will not play as well as you can and you would likely get hurt anyway.”
England open their World Cup campaign against Tonga on 22 September.
While Jonathan Joseph and centers Henry Slade are recovering from leg and knee muscle issues wing Jack Nowell will fly to Japan despite fighting with an ankle injury and appendicitis.
1 player who won’t be clubbed on Friday is middle Manu Tuilagi, together with Joe Marchant starting despite not being a part of this World Cup squad.
Vunipola, who broke his arm three times in 2018, is the sole participant in head coach Eddie Jones’ 31-man World Cup squad that will have started all four of those summertime Tests, which may be thought of as a threat given Wales have already lost beginning fly-half Gareth Anscombe into some warm-up injury.
But Farrell states Vunipola would not need to be seated on the sidelines.
“Billy loves being on the market, he enjoys being concerned,” he said. “He’s appeared in excellent condition. He has been working well and playing nicely. It’s very good for him to find a workout.”
England started their World Cup preparations with a victory against Wales at Twickenham, before dropping to the exact opponents the subsequent week. Jones’ side recorded their biggest winning margin from Ireland then travelled to Treviso, Italy for a training camp.
Friday’s match marks the first time an England Test will happen to be played in St James’ Park.
Elliot Daly was Jones’ since last summer, however the 26-year-old was rested for the visit of Italy.
Jonny May and Bath team-mate Ruaridh McConnochie, who’s at the World Cup squad, joins at the three watson, 25 but has not yet won a cap because of harm.
Watson insists he won’t need a different strategy for the reversal of position, after playing wing for both of the matches from Wales.
“My mindset doesn’t actually change that much. The roles of wing and also full-back are very synonymous,” he explained.
“Playing wing in the previous two matches gives me a much better view on what is expected from the full-back and what the full-back anticipates from his wingers.
“I just need to be very vocal, apart from that nothing really changes.”
Italy coach Conor O’Shea has made 11 changes to the side which has been beaten on 47-19 by France a week, with captain Sergio Parisse rested to get their match.
New Zealand-born lock both sides will be led by Dean Budd and can be joined in the bunch.
Gloucester scrum-half Callum Braley, who captained England Under-20s into World Championship victory in 2014, makes his first start for Italy.
Italy begin their World Cup campaign against Namibia on 22 September.
England: Watson; McConnochie, Marchant, Francis, May; Farrell (c), Youngs; Marler, George, Cole, Launchbury, Lawes, Curry, Wilson, B Vunipola.
Replacements: Cowan-Dickie Sinckler, Ewels, Kvesic Ford, Cokanasiga.
Italy: Hayward; Bellini, Bisegni, Benvenuti, Padovani; Canna, Braley; Quaglio, Fabiani, Ferrari, Sisi, Budd (c), Negri, Steyn,Tuivaiti.
Replacements: Zani Riccioni Zanni Palazzani, Allan.
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