EDDIE JONES HAS dropped experienced scrum-half Ben Youngs ahead of England’s Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday in the second round of the Six Nations.
30-year-old Youngs has paid the price for a poor showing in England’s defeat to France in Paris last weekend, with Gloucester’s Willi Heinz promoted into the starting team in his place.
The introduction of Heinz is one of five changes made by Jones, with Jonathan Joseph starting at 13 after Manu Tuilagi was ruled out with the groin injury he suffered against the French.
Mako Vunipola’s return at loosehead prop is a boost after England missed his ball-carrying last weekend. His Saracens team-mate, George Kruis, replaces Charlie Ewels in the second row.
Lewis Ludlam comes in at blindside flanker as Courtney Lawes drops to the bench. Jones has opted to continue with Tom Curry – usually a flanker – at number eight in the ongoing absence of Billy Vunipola.
Northampton Saints man George Furbank gets his second cap at fullback after a shaky debut in Paris last weekend.
Saracens back row Ben Earl is set for his debut off the bench as Jones opts for a 6/2 split of forwards and backs, while Bath hooker Tom Dunn is also in line for his first cap after replacing Luke Cowan-Dickie on the bench.
Meanwhile, Scotland have made just one change after their defeat to Ireland in Dublin, with head coach Gregor Townsend opting to drop number eight Nick Haining after his debut last weekend. Magnus Bradbury starts in his place.
England:
15. George Furbank
14. Jonny May
13. Jonathan Joseph
12. Owen Farrell (captain)
11. Elliot Daly
10. George Ford
9. Willi Heinz
1. Mako Vunipola
2. Jamie George
3. Kyle Sinckler
4. Maro Itoje
5. George Kruis
6. Lewis Ludlam
7. Sam Underhill
8. Tom Curry
Replacements:
16. Tom Dunn
17. Ellis Genge
18. Will Stuart
19. Joe Launchbury
20. Courtney Lawes
21. Ben Earl
22. Ben Youngs
23. Ollie Devoto
Scotland:
15. Stuart Hogg (captain)
14. Sean Maitland
13. Huw Jones
12. Sam Johnson
11. Blair Kinghorn
10. Adam Hastings
9. Ali Price
1. Rory Sutherland
2. Fraser Brown
3. Zander Fagerson
4. Scott Cummings
5. Jonny Gray
6. Jamie Ritchie
7. Hamish Watson
8. Magnus Bradbury
Replacements:
16. Stuart McInally
17. Allan Dell
18. Simon Berghan
19. Ben Toolis
20. Nick Haining
21. George Horne
22. Rory Hutchinson
23. Chris Harris
C’mon Scotland
Absolutely wild call putting Curry at 8 again
Keep it up Eddie!
That England team doesn’t look like the best team the rugby world has ever seen.
@Tom Reilly: only one can
I’d give the scots every chance against that England team if they can bring the same physicality as they did v Ireland
Fair play to Eddie Jones. Chasing the season, some might even say, they’re playing Ketchup. All in all though, some serious bottle with that choice at 9. Does picking Heinz mean they’re likely to do the beans-ness? only time will tell.
Fair play to Eddie Jones. I don’t like him. But if players aren’t performing. They get dropped. That’s how you propel a squad to better themselves as a whole. Irish coaches don’t have the guts or file to manage to do this.
@Caoimhín O’Cheallacháin: That’s one way to look at it. Another would be that after 5 years or so in the job he still doesn’t know his best side. Albeit with injuries he’s been constantly tinkering with the team the best example being at 10 where he can’t make his mind up what to do with Farrell or Ford.
@Elton Heffernan: for me personally I don’t think their should be a “best side”. Players come in and out of form. Inform players and combinations should be picked. In the modern game I don’t think you can have a settled starting 15. The squad should be settled enough but not the starting 15. You are either playing well or your not. If your not let the man behind step up and you wait for your turn again to impress. These are professional players remember.
@Caoimhín O’Cheallacháin: So Tom Curry is the in form no. 8 in England right now? Has Courtney Lawes or Maro Itodje been the in form blind side flankers for the last few seasons? Eddie Jones is not the man to look to regarding team selections.
Eddie is going a bit bonkers.
On paper, that side doesn’t look nearly as fearsome as it did last season.
@Oval Digest: so we won’t get hammered as badly this year?
@Kohn Jeenan: Do you think the English lads said that coming to the Aviva last year after the pasting we gave them in Twickenham for the grand slam? Be more confident.
@Gar Eth: No but their fans probably weren’t going around saying our team “didn’t look as fearsome as last season” either, if that’s the way we’re judging the teams here I don’t know what that makes us..
Problems is at 10 not 9.