Manu Tuilagi has been dropped by Steve Borthwick as the top coach named a revamped facet for England’s Six Nations opener in opposition to Scotland.
Tuilagi, a veteran of 46 caps and a daily selection for the Red Rose for a lot of the previous decade, has not even been named in Borthwick’s first 23-man squad.
Joe Marchant takes the 31-year-old’s place within the England line-up, with Marcus Smith and Owen Farrell to renew their playmaking axis for Saturday’s Calcutta Cup conflict at Twickenham.
Wing Ollie Hassell-Collin has been handed his first cap in a rejigged midfield following accidents to Elliot Daly, Henry Slade and Dan Kelly within the build-up to Saturday’s fixture.
Ben Curry will likely be awarded his first cap in opposition to main opposition following his debut in an underwhelming victory over the United States practically two years in the past.
Lewis Ludlam joins Curry as the opposite flanker, with Alex Dombrandt at quantity eight, whereas Jamie George begins at hooker after overcoming concussion sustained in Saracens’ defeat by Edinburgh on January 22.
Borthwick mentioned: “There are few fixtures in the rugby calendar that excite both players and supporters alike more than the annual Six Nations meeting of the Auld Enemy as they battle for the honour of lifting the Calcutta Cup.
“Another packed Twickenham will witness the start of the next chapter of English rugby in one of the most keenly contested tournaments in the world. There is no doubt that this England team shares the supporters’ sense of eager anticipation.
“To a man, the players are determined to play with the commitment, fight and desire that is at the very heart of representing England, the sort of passion that our tremendous supporters rightly expect.”
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