Tom Curry will lead England out against Scotland in their Calcutta Cup clash while Marcus Smith will make his Guinness Six Nations debut at BT Murrayfield on Saturday.
With Owen Farrell sidelined through injury, 23-year-old Curry will fill the void left by the usual Red Rose skipper with back up from vice-captains Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ellis Genge and Henry Slade.
Curry takes his place in the back row alongside Northampton Saints’ Lewis Ludlam at blindside and Exeter Chiefs No.8 Sam Simmonds, who will win just his tenth cap in Edinburgh.
Genge and Cowan-Dickie are joined in the front row by Kyle Sinckler while Saracens teammates Maro Itoje and Nick Isiekwe pack down behind them in the lock positions.
Eddie Jones has named the experienced Ben Youngs as Smith’s half-back partner, with Slade and Elliot Daly outside of them as they form the centre partnership.
Joe Marchant has returned to the side after completing COVID isolation protocols at left wing, with Max Malins on right wing and Freddie Steward at full-back.
Jamie George, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Charlie Ewels, Alex Dombrandt, Harry Randall, George Ford and Jack Nowell are named on the replacements bench.
Jones eyes Smith-Slade partnership in Guinness Six Nations
Jones said: “As the first game, this match is hugely important to both sides and we will both want to get off to a winning start.
“We have a good, young team but we understand the task ahead and we’ll be ready to go after it from the first kick.
“Tom Curry will captain the side for this game and has the respect of the team around him, in Owen and Courtney’s absence. He also has the support of the vice captains and other leaders in the team such as Maro Itoje and Ben Youngs.
“We have prepared really well for this game. We’ve had a number of obstacles thrown at us, but we’ve overcome them as a more together group and we’re looking forward to getting started.”
ENGLAND XV
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
14. Max Malins (Saracens, 10 caps)
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 52 caps)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 43 caps)
11. Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 7 caps)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 5 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 112 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 31 caps)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 31 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 47 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 51 caps)
5. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 3 caps)
6. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 36 caps) (C)
8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps)
FINISHERS
16. Jamie George (Saracens, 61 caps)
17. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 74 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 15 caps)
19. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 26 caps)
20. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 4 caps)
21. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 2 caps)
22. George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 77 caps)
23. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 34 caps)
