Youngs axed by England as Jones rings changes after French defeat
TIGERS SCRUM-HALF DROPPED TO BENCH FOR TOMORROW’S CALCUTTA CUP CLASH
ENGLAND have performed major surgery to the team defeated by France by making five changes for tomorrow’s Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland, writes Duncan Bech, PA England Rugby Correspondent.
Ben Youngs is the biggest casualty after the veteran Leicester Tigers scrum-half was demoted to the bench for the Guinness Six Nations second round fixture, making way for Willi Heinz.
Also dropped is loosehead prop Joe Marler, who is jettisoned from the 23 completely and loses his place in the starting XV to Mako Vunipola, with Tigers’ Ellis Genge deputising among the replacements.
Courtney Lawes has been relieved of his blindside flanker duties in a move that elevates Lewis Ludlam into the back row, but Tom Curry is retained at number eight for a second match.
The second row sees George Kruis come in for Charlie Ewels, the Bath lock who has also paid the price for a below-par opening to the
Championship in Paris. Jonathan Joseph’s selection at outside centre is an enforced change after Tigers’ Manu Tuilagi was ruled out of the trip to Edinburgh by a groin strain that should see him return against Ireland two weeks later. George Furbank endured an error-strewn Test debut at the Stade de France but he survives at full-back and is present as part of an unchanged back three. There is no Luke CowanDickie on the bench due to his partner going into labour, so Tom Dunn could make his debut as a replacement, as could uncapped Saracens flanker Ben Earl.
Head coach Eddie Jones, left, had opted for a six-two split of forwards and backs on the bench, pointing to a gameplan of overpowering Scotland up front.
“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,” Jones said
“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.”
Magnus Bradbury has returned to the Scotland line-up to face the old enemy at Murrayfield.
The Edinburgh flanker, who scored in last year’s thrilling 11-try Calcutta Cup draw at Twickenham, sat out the Scots’ Guinness Six Nations opener with Ireland in Dublin due to a thigh strain.
His recall in place of club-mate Nick Haining is the only change to the XV which went down 19-12 at the Aviva Stadium.
Haining drops back to the bench, taking Cornell Du Preez’s place, while prop Simon Berghan also comes into the replacements for WP Nel.
Head coach Gregor Townsend said: “We were proud of parts of our performance in Dublin at a very difficult venue.
“The challenge for the squad is to replicate that level and take our chances when they come, in order to win tight games.
“We were disappointed not to beat Ireland but the opportunity to face England, against whom we are bidding to retain the Calcutta Cup, is one that excites players, coaches and supporters alike.
“England are an excellent team whose run to the Rugby World Cup final was no fluke. They will be smarting from their opener in Paris and Eddie will have them primed to come to Edinburgh and put in an improved performance.
“This famous fixture is one that stands out given the history surrounding it and we will have to be at our very best to stand a chance of winning against our oldest rivals.”