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Eddie Jones has made radical changes to his England side to face Scotland in the Calcutta Cup clash this Saturday, with the head coach making five changes to his starting line-up after last weekend's Six nations defeat by France.
Mako Vunipola, George Kruis, Lewis Ludlam, Willi Heinz and Jonathan Joseph all come into the side, with Joseph the only one enforced through injury as Manu Tuilagi has been ruled out with a groin injury.
Joe Marler and Charlie Ewels drop out of the matchday squad completely following last Sunday’s 24-17 defeat in France, while Luke Cowan-Dickie was a late withdrawal on Thursday morning after his girlfriend went into labour, resulting in Bath hooker Tom Dunn being recalled to the squad and named on the replacements’ bench for his potential debut.
“Preparation this week has been great," Jones said. "We have sought to address the issues from the France game and have had a really good and sharp preparation for Scotland.
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1/31 France 24-17 England
France recorded a deserved 24-17 victory over England on the opening weekend of the Six Nations - but who were the star players? Click through the gallery to see out player ratings.
Getty Images
2/31 France: 15. Anthony Bouthier – 7
Very assured on his debut as he looked composed in defence, with a crucial tackle on George Kruis to hold up the lock over the line.
AFP via Getty Images
3/31 14. Teddy Thomas – 7
Return to international rugby came with a reminder of how dangerous he can be with the ball in hand Devastating break in the build-up to the first try.
AFP via Getty Images
4/31 13. Virimi Vakatawa – 6
Had been built up as the major threat to England but was kept fairly quiet, largely due to a knock he suffered early on.
AFP via Getty Images
5/31 12. Gael Fickou – 6
Linked the play well in midfield but wasn't able to do much of note with the ball in hand.
AFP via Getty Images
6/31 11. Vincent Rattez – 8
Was due to start the game on the bench yet found himself celebrating a try five minutes into the match, having beaten Youngs to score. Played a key role in the try after linking with Ollivon and certainly made the most of his chance in the starting XV.
Getty Images
7/31 10. Romain Ntamack – 8
Pulled the strings well at 10 as he controlled the game with his half-back partner, and did well to shake off a huge tackle from Ellis Genge that could well have ended his game early.
AFP via Getty Images
8/31 9. Anthony Dupont – 9
France love a scrum-half who controls so emphatically and in Dupont they have a gem of a player on their hands. It was his box-kicks that caused England problems and led to Ollivon's first try, before he single-handedly set up his second score by beating Sinckler and Youngs. Had it not been for kicking the ball dead a minute early at the end of the match - and subsequently handing England the penalty they used to clinch a bonus point - he could have received a perfect 10, although the site of fans chanting his name after the huge tackle on Willi Heinz was worth the ticket price alone.
AFP via Getty Images
9/31 1. Cyril Baile – 7
Not overly outstanding in the scrum but did a good job of not giving England the advantage, which came after he and Haouas departed.
AFP via Getty Images
10/31 2. Julien Marchand – 7
Accurate throwing in the lineout came unstuck midway through the second half as England started to pick him off, but he contributed well with ball in hand.
AFP via Getty Images
11/31 3. Mohamed Haouas – 7
Another who impressed on debut as he stood up to the challenge int he set-piece well.
Getty Images
12/31 4. Bernard Le Roux – 7
Made an outstanding 22 tackles to lead the charts as their defensive general.
AFP via Getty Images
13/31 5. Paul Willemse – 7
Like his second-row partner, it was his defensive effort that really stood out.
AFP via Getty Images
14/31 6. Francois Cros – 7
Dovetailed beautifully with Ollivon to cause problems for England at the breakdown.
EPA
15/31 7. Charles Ollivon – 9
Got himself into good supporting positions and was duly rewarded with two tries on his first outing as France captain. The ideal way to start his new reign as skipper.
AFP via Getty Images
16/31 8. Gregory Alldritt – 8
Another standout performer who claimed the man of the match award, Alldritt was a real nuisance over the ball and contributed well with ball in hand.
EPA
17/31 England: 15. George Furbank – 5
Struggled badly on his first outing in what proved increasingly poor weather conditions. Knocked on a high ball and kicked a chip and chase effort needlessly.
PA
18/31 14. Jonny May – 8
One eye-catching take late in the first half was followed by a spectacular solo try in the second.
AFP via Getty Images
19/31 13. Manu Tuilagi - 5
One hard tackle on Thomas aside, he did nothing in the 16 minutes he was on the field before departing.
AFP via Getty Images
20/31 12. Owen Farrell – 5
Set the tone for England’s poor showing as he made a number of errors. His kicking for touch was good.
Getty Images
21/31 11. Elliot Daly – 5
Forced onto the back foot throughout as he received very little ball in attacking situations.
AFP via Getty Images
22/31 10. George Ford – 5
The more assured of England’s two midfield playmakers, but he couldn’t get much going outside him.
PA
23/31 9. Ben Youngs – 4
Off-colour from the get-go that makes you wonder whether it’s worth persisting with him at scrum-half. Missed two crucial tackles, the second on Rattez to allow him to score, and his box-kicking was wayward as he repeatedly kicked too long.
Getty Images
24/31 1. Joe Marler - 5
Sturdy enough in the scrum but just couldn’t get the edge needed to produce results from the set piece.
The RFU Collection via Getty Ima
25/31 2. Jamie George – 5
Had one of his throws picked off in the first half and was not able to make much of an impact carrying.
Getty Images
26/31 3. Kyle Sinckler – 5
Had two good runs that got England going forward but lacked that little something extra to make them clean breaks.
Getty Images
27/31 4. Maro Itoje – 4
At fault for the move that finished with Rattez’s try as he rushed out of defence to create the whole for Thomas. Lost his bearings when he ended up on the French side of the breakdown and conceded a needless penalty.
AP
28/31 5. Charlie Ewels – 4
Made little impact in the loose until he coughed up possession on the stroke of half-time, and replaced by George Kruis short of the hour mark.
AFP via Getty Images
29/31 6. Courtney Lawes – 5
Stole a lineout early in the second half that got England into a position where they should have scored from.
The RFU Collection via Getty Ima
30/31 7. Sam Underhill – 5
Beaten by Thomas in the lead up to the first try and he just looked half-a-yard off the pace set by the French pack.
AFP via Getty Images
31/31 8. Tom Curry – 5
Looked like a flanker playing at No 8, as he gave England pretty much no attacking threat from the base of the scrum. His defensive effort was up at his usual levels, but it brought little success.
EPA
1/31 France 24-17 England
France recorded a deserved 24-17 victory over England on the opening weekend of the Six Nations - but who were the star players? Click through the gallery to see out player ratings.
Getty Images
2/31 France: 15. Anthony Bouthier – 7
Very assured on his debut as he looked composed in defence, with a crucial tackle on George Kruis to hold up the lock over the line.
AFP via Getty Images
3/31 14. Teddy Thomas – 7
Return to international rugby came with a reminder of how dangerous he can be with the ball in hand Devastating break in the build-up to the first try.
AFP via Getty Images
4/31 13. Virimi Vakatawa – 6
Had been built up as the major threat to England but was kept fairly quiet, largely due to a knock he suffered early on.
AFP via Getty Images
5/31 12. Gael Fickou – 6
Linked the play well in midfield but wasn't able to do much of note with the ball in hand.
AFP via Getty Images
6/31 11. Vincent Rattez – 8
Was due to start the game on the bench yet found himself celebrating a try five minutes into the match, having beaten Youngs to score. Played a key role in the try after linking with Ollivon and certainly made the most of his chance in the starting XV.
Getty Images
7/31 10. Romain Ntamack – 8
Pulled the strings well at 10 as he controlled the game with his half-back partner, and did well to shake off a huge tackle from Ellis Genge that could well have ended his game early.
AFP via Getty Images
8/31 9. Anthony Dupont – 9
France love a scrum-half who controls so emphatically and in Dupont they have a gem of a player on their hands. It was his box-kicks that caused England problems and led to Ollivon's first try, before he single-handedly set up his second score by beating Sinckler and Youngs. Had it not been for kicking the ball dead a minute early at the end of the match - and subsequently handing England the penalty they used to clinch a bonus point - he could have received a perfect 10, although the site of fans chanting his name after the huge tackle on Willi Heinz was worth the ticket price alone.
AFP via Getty Images
9/31 1. Cyril Baile – 7
Not overly outstanding in the scrum but did a good job of not giving England the advantage, which came after he and Haouas departed.
AFP via Getty Images
10/31 2. Julien Marchand – 7
Accurate throwing in the lineout came unstuck midway through the second half as England started to pick him off, but he contributed well with ball in hand.
AFP via Getty Images
11/31 3. Mohamed Haouas – 7
Another who impressed on debut as he stood up to the challenge int he set-piece well.
Getty Images
12/31 4. Bernard Le Roux – 7
Made an outstanding 22 tackles to lead the charts as their defensive general.
AFP via Getty Images
13/31 5. Paul Willemse – 7
Like his second-row partner, it was his defensive effort that really stood out.
AFP via Getty Images
14/31 6. Francois Cros – 7
Dovetailed beautifully with Ollivon to cause problems for England at the breakdown.
EPA
15/31 7. Charles Ollivon – 9
Got himself into good supporting positions and was duly rewarded with two tries on his first outing as France captain. The ideal way to start his new reign as skipper.
AFP via Getty Images
16/31 8. Gregory Alldritt – 8
Another standout performer who claimed the man of the match award, Alldritt was a real nuisance over the ball and contributed well with ball in hand.
EPA
17/31 England: 15. George Furbank – 5
Struggled badly on his first outing in what proved increasingly poor weather conditions. Knocked on a high ball and kicked a chip and chase effort needlessly.
PA
18/31 14. Jonny May – 8
One eye-catching take late in the first half was followed by a spectacular solo try in the second.
AFP via Getty Images
19/31 13. Manu Tuilagi - 5
One hard tackle on Thomas aside, he did nothing in the 16 minutes he was on the field before departing.
AFP via Getty Images
20/31 12. Owen Farrell – 5
Set the tone for England’s poor showing as he made a number of errors. His kicking for touch was good.
Getty Images
21/31 11. Elliot Daly – 5
Forced onto the back foot throughout as he received very little ball in attacking situations.
AFP via Getty Images
22/31 10. George Ford – 5
The more assured of England’s two midfield playmakers, but he couldn’t get much going outside him.
PA
23/31 9. Ben Youngs – 4
Off-colour from the get-go that makes you wonder whether it’s worth persisting with him at scrum-half. Missed two crucial tackles, the second on Rattez to allow him to score, and his box-kicking was wayward as he repeatedly kicked too long.
Getty Images
24/31 1. Joe Marler - 5
Sturdy enough in the scrum but just couldn’t get the edge needed to produce results from the set piece.
The RFU Collection via Getty Ima
25/31 2. Jamie George – 5
Had one of his throws picked off in the first half and was not able to make much of an impact carrying.
Getty Images
26/31 3. Kyle Sinckler – 5
Had two good runs that got England going forward but lacked that little something extra to make them clean breaks.
Getty Images
27/31 4. Maro Itoje – 4
At fault for the move that finished with Rattez’s try as he rushed out of defence to create the whole for Thomas. Lost his bearings when he ended up on the French side of the breakdown and conceded a needless penalty.
AP
28/31 5. Charlie Ewels – 4
Made little impact in the loose until he coughed up possession on the stroke of half-time, and replaced by George Kruis short of the hour mark.
AFP via Getty Images
29/31 6. Courtney Lawes – 5
Stole a lineout early in the second half that got England into a position where they should have scored from.
The RFU Collection via Getty Ima
30/31 7. Sam Underhill – 5
Beaten by Thomas in the lead up to the first try and he just looked half-a-yard off the pace set by the French pack.
AFP via Getty Images
31/31 8. Tom Curry – 5
Looked like a flanker playing at No 8, as he gave England pretty much no attacking threat from the base of the scrum. His defensive effort was up at his usual levels, but it brought little success.
EPA
“Scotland are a dangerous side. They like to play with a lot of width and with a lot of flow and tempo in their game. We want to make sure we dominate the gain line.
“Their win record against England at Murrayfield is substantially higher than their overall record against us, so we have to recognise they are a dangerous beast and we have to be at our best to beat them.”
Vunipola returns as expected after being rested for the trip to Paris, taking the place of Marler who misses out completely as Ellis Genge is preferred on the bench, with Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler continuing in the front row.
Maro Itoje remains at lock but is joined by Saracens colleague Kruis, who replaces the dropped Ewels, while Ludlam comes in for Courtney Lawes at blindside flanker. Sam Underhill and Tom Curry continue, with the latter named once again at No 8.
Ben Youngs has been dropped for Gloucester scrum-half Heinz, who will make his first Six Nations start and fourth in total since making his England debut last August, though it is undoubtedly the biggest start of the lot after facing Wales twice in the World Cup warm-ups and the United States at the World Cup.
The only other change comes as expected as Jonathan Joseph replaces the injured Manu Tuilagi, with George Ford and Owen Farrell continuing their 10-12 partnership and the back three untouched of Elliot Daly, Jonny May and full-back George Furbank.
Jones has also elected to go for a six-two split on the bench in favour of forwards, meaning there will once again be no debut for Gloucester’s Ollie Thorley. Dunn, Genge and Will Stuart provide front-row cover, with both Lawes and fit-again Joe Launchbury named alongside uncapped Saracens back-rower Ben Earl, leaving Youngs and Ollie Devoto to cover the back line.
England team to face Scotland:
George Furbank; Jonny May, Jonathan Joseph, Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly; George Ford, Willi Heinz; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, George Kruis; Lewis Ludlam, Sam Underhill, Tom Curry,
Replacements: Tom Dunn, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Ben Earl, Ben Youngs, Ollie Devoto.