7 changes as Ford and Care are axed

EDDIE JONES has made the most radical selection of his England tenure by dropping George Ford and moving Owen Farrell to No 10 for tomorrow’s showdown with Ireland. In the wake of back-to-back defeats against Scotland and France, the England coach has dropped seven players for the Six Nations finale at Twickenham. Scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth will start his first Six Nations game in a decade to form an all-Saracens half-back partnership. Hooker Dylan Hartley returns to lead the side, while Ben Te’o has been brought in at inside centre in a powerful team designed to get England on ‘the front foot’. Kyle Sinckler starts at prop to add muscle in the pack after Jones opted to axe trusted tighthead Dan Cole for the first time in two years. ‘The team’s up for the fight,’ said Jones. ‘No one’s dropped their bundles. Guys are disappointed their role in the team’s changed and that’s natural. I’d be disappointed if they weren’t disappointed.’ George Kruis replaces Joe Launchbury at lock and Jones has been forced to rip up his back-row combination following season-ending injuries to Courtney Lawes and Nathan Hughes. James Haskell takes over the No 7 jersey in his first Test start for a year and Sam Simmonds is selected at No 8 ahead of Don Armand, with Chris Robshaw reverting to blindside. Ireland, who are going for the Grand Slam, make only one change, with Lions lock Iain Henderson replacing Devon Toner.