Scotland vs England team news: Eddie Jones makes five changes for Calcutta Cup clash

Ben Youngs and Courtney Lawes among those dropped from the starting line-up as Jones makes radical changes for trip to Murrayfield

Jack de Menezes
Pennyhill Park
Thursday 06 February 2020 11:33 GMT
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Eddie Jones says England have 'no World Cup hangover' after defeat

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.

“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.

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