Hill and Slade to start for England
EXETER Chiefs will have two representatives in the England side that begins their Six Nations campaign with a Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland at Twickenham tomorrow.
Jonny Hill will line up for just his fifth cap for his country in the second row, while Henry Slade, winning his 35th cap, starts at outsode centre.
Luke Cowan-Dickie and Harry Williams are named among the replacements as England look to make it back to back titles having won the prolonged 2020 Six Nations at the end of last year.
The game marks the 150-year anniversary of the fixture, after the first ever international rugby Test match was played between the two nations at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh in 1871 and head coach Eddie Jones is looking forward to the occasion.
“We’re really looking forward to this game and getting the Guinness Six Nations back underway. It’s even more special to be taking part in a 150th anniversary game, it will be a good occasion.
“It was difficult to pick the 23 players. We’ve had a really good week of training, it’s been very competitive but I’ve gone with what I feel is the strongest 23 for this week.
“The Six Nations is a short tournament, it’s a real sprint so we’ll need to be on the front foot straight away. We know Scotland will be raring to go – but so will we.”
Owen Farrell will start England’s Guinness Six Nations clash with Scotland at fly-half as part of physical midfield selected by Jones, with George Ford dropping to the bench, to make way for the more muscular trio of Farrell, Ollie Lawrence and Slade.
Exeter’s Luke Cowan-Dickie and Harry Williams are named as replacements.