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One change as Steve Borthwick names his England team two days early
By Liam Heagney
Steve Borthwick has named his latest England team two days earlier than planned, making one change to his starting side to host Scotland in next Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations round three match in London.
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The head coach wasn’t due to declare his hand until Thursday lunchtime, but he ended all the speculation with his Tuesday afternoon confirmation of an XV where Ollie Chessum has been promoted from the bench to start at lock in place of the benched George Martin.
Chessum was a 61st-minute replacement for Martin in the dramatic February 8 round two win over France and with Martin on last week’s injury rehabilitation list at training, Chessum has leapfrogged his Leicester teammate in the selection pecking order.
While the Allianz Stadium visit of the Scots will see a first start for Chessum since the round five game away to France in Lyon last March, Borthwick has backed his 14 other most recent starters to deliver along with a six/two bench split where the only alteration is the accommodation of Martin.
It means that Borthwick has given his endorsement for Marcus Smith to retain the No15 shirt and start for a second successive time at full-back following eight successive appearances as the starting No10, the position now occupied by Fin Smith.
“We are looking forward to what will be another challenging and exciting match against Scotland,” said Borthwick in an RFU statement. “The Calcutta Cup is a special fixture, and we are determined to perform to our very best in front of our supporters at Allianz Stadium.”
England (vs Scotland, Saturday)
15. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 41 caps)
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 17 caps)
13. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 33 caps)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 71 caps)
11. Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints, 6 caps)
10. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, 8 caps)
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 20 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 68 caps) – vice-captain
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks, 46 caps)
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 47 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 90 caps) – captain
5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 25 caps)
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 58 caps)
7. Ben Earl (Saracens, 39 caps)
8. Tom Willis (Saracens, 3 caps)
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Replacements:
16. Jamie George (Saracens, 98 caps) – vice-captain
17. Fin Baxter (Harlequins, 7 caps)
18. Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers, 9 caps)
19. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 21 caps)
20. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, 12 caps)
21. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks, 8 caps)
22. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 12 caps)
23. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 70 caps)
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