‘We need to get on front foot’
if performance isn’t as good, selection has to change,” said Jones.
“Sometimes you need something a little bit different and this is a time.
“One of things we needed to consider without those two [Lawes and Hughes] is how are we going to get on the front foot.
“To beat any team you’ve got to get on the front foot and I’ve picked a side I think can get on the front foot.”
Jones has dispensed with the twin playmaker approach he has favoured throughout his time in charge of England and switched Owen Farrell to No 10.
Farrell’s half-back partner will be a familiar one in Saracens team-mate Richard Wigglesworth, back 10 years to the day since his last Six Nations start. “I’d probably be lying to myself if I said I saw this coming but I’ve prided myself on not giving up and making sure I always give myself a chance with the way I work and the way I trained.
“That chance has come and hopefully I’ll take it at the weekend,” said Wigglesworth.
The 34-year-old’s promotion points to a reversion to a kicking game after England’s failure to make inroads with the ball in hand in their last two games. There is another Saracens axis in the second row with lineout specialist George Kruis brought back to partner Maro Itoje, while Kyle Sinckler and James Haskell will be assigned with providing the ball-carrying firepower.
Ireland, chasing the Grand Slam, have preferred Lions second row Iain Henderson to 6ft 10ins Devon Toner, who is on the bench.
EDDIE JONES has ripped up his England template and changed half his side for the challenge of facing Six Nations champions Ireland tomorrow.
The England coach axed half-backs George Ford and Danny Care as well as forwards Dan Cole and Joe Launchbury after the defeat in France which ended their title hopes last Saturday. And with Courtney Lawes and Nathan Hughes out injured, and fit-again Dylan Hartley replacing Jamie George, it makes for a massive upheaval for the final game of the championship.
“Selection always has to be a reflection of performance because it is a merit-based process, so