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Eddie Jones has eliminated George Ford for England’s opener of the Six Nations against Scotland on Saturday with the captain, Owen Farrell, switching to midfield and Ollie Lawrence entering midfield. Jones has made five changes to the team that won the Fall Nations Cup in December, with Mark Wilson also getting the nod as a blind end.
Ford missed the rescheduled Six Nations victory over Italy in October, as well as the first two games of the Fall Nations Cup with an Achilles tendon injury, but was back in shape to claim his place in the middle. aerial. Jones’ decision to bench him for the Calcutta Cup is therefore the first time he has fallen since the World Cup quarter-finals against Australia.
Lawrence, 21, made his fall debut from the bench in Rome before starting the next two games alongside Henry Slade, with Farrell in between. Then a hip injury ruled him out of the next two games, but Jones repeated that midfield trio at Ford’s expense. Notably, however, Slade and Lawrence swap positions with the Exeter Chief outside center and the Worcester youth occupying jersey number 12.
Wilson is the preferred wing to replace the injured Sam Underhill. The 31-year-old last appeared with England against Wales last March, but comes in at No. 6 with Tom Curry moving to the open side. On the other hand, Will Stuart makes only his second start as a closed head prop, rather than suspended Kyle Sinckler, and Ellis Genge is selected as a loose head. Jonny Hill is the favorite in the second row alongside Maro Itoje, with the new Courtney Lawes among the replacements. Beno Obano is set to win his first international match after being named to the bench as well.
Jamie George continues as a hooker, as does Elliot Daly as a winger, in what will be his first games since England beat France in overtime in the Fall Nations Cup final. Billy Vunipola, who has played once for the Saracens since then, is back at No. 8, while Anthony Watson and Jonny May are on the wings. Luke Cowan-Dickie, Harry Williams, Ben Earl, Dan Robson and Max Malins are the other replacements.
Elliot Daly; Anthony Watson, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Jonny May; Owen Farrell (captain), Ben Youngs; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Will Stuart, Maro Itoje, Jonny Hill, Mark Wilson, Tom Curry, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Beno Obano, Harry Williams, Courtney Lawes, Ben Earl, Dan Robson, George Ford, Max Malins.
“We are looking forward to this game and the Six Nations getting back on track,” Jones said. “It was difficult to choose the 23 players. We had a very good week of training, it was very competitive, but I opted for what I think are the 23 strongest this week. The Six Nations is a short tournament, it is a real sprint, so we will have to be in the lead immediately. We know Scotland will really want to go, but so will we. “
