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Eddie Jones ruthless in England rugby team selection for Calcutta Cup

Eddie Jones has been ruthless in his England rugby team selection for Saturday's Calcutta Cup cla...



Eddie Jones has been ruthless in his England rugby team selection for Saturday's Calcutta Cup clash with the Scots at Murrayfield.

Anthony Watson and Manu Tuilagi were already ruled out through injury but the England rugby side shows five changes from the one beaten by France in Paris on the opening weekend of the Guinness Six Nations.

Ben Youngs is replaced at scrum-half by Willi Heinz for the match in Edinburgh. Jonathan Joseph, Mako Vunipola, George Kruis and Lewis Ludlam are the other players to come into the starting team to face the Scots.

Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and Kyle Sinckler are named in the front row with George Kruis and Maro Itoje selected in the second row.

Lewis Ludlam starts at blind-side flanker with Sam Underhill at openside and Tom Curry at number 8.

George Ford and captain Owen Farrell will play at outside half and inside centre with Jonathan Joseph named at outside centre.

George Furbank, who made his England debut last weekend, is selected at full-back with Elliot Daly and Jonny May on the wings.

Uncapped players Tom Dunn and Ben Earl will be on the bench or named as "finishers" according to Jones. Joe Launchbury returns to the matchday 23 after recovering from injury.

Eddie Jones said: “Preparation this week has been great. 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.”

England starting team

15 George Furbank (Northampton Saints, 1 cap)
14 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers, 53 caps)
13 Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 48 caps)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 80 caps) C
11 Elliot Daly (Saracens, 40 caps)
10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 66 caps)
9 Willi Heinz (Gloucester Rugby, 10 caps)
1 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 58 caps)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 46 caps)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins, 32 caps)
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 35 caps)
5 George Kruis (Saracens, 42 caps)
6 Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 7 caps)
7 Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 16 caps)
8 Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 20 caps)

Finishers

16 Tom Dunn (Bath Rugby, uncapped)
17 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 15 caps)
18 Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 1 cap)
19 Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 62 caps)
20 Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 82 caps)
21 Ben Earl (Saracens, uncapped)
22 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 96 caps)
23 Ollie Devoto (Exeter Chiefs, 2 caps)

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Read more about

Calcutta Cup Eddie Jones England Rugby Six Nations