England bench Youngs as Jones rings changes for Scotland Six Nations clash

England coach Eddie Jones ringed in wholesale changes for their Six Nations match against Scotland to be held on Saturday.

As a part of major reshuffle, which saw as many as five changes in the side, experienced scrum-half Ben Youngs has been benched. He had a horrid match against France, who beat them 24-17. He will be replaced by Willi Heinz match at Murrayfield.

Heinz had missed England’s World Cup final against South Africa prior to their Six Nations Opener due to a niggling injury. Springboks beat England in the final to be crowned new champions. The final was also not a pleasant experience for Youngs, who was seen struggling throughout the match.

Prop Joe Marler is out of the matchday 23 completely, his place in the starting XV taken by Mako Vunipola, with Ellis Genge among the replacements.

Lewis Ludlam comes into the back-row in place of Courtney Lawes while Tom Curry keeps his place at number eight in the ongoing absence of the injured Billy Vunipola.

George Kruis replaces the dropped Charlie Ewels to partner Saracens team-mate Maro Itoje in the second row.

Jonathan Joseph, who came on for the injured Manu Tuilagi in Paris, now starts in the centres as the Leicester powerhouse continues to be sidelined by a groin strain.

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.

Luke Cowan-Dickie is no longer on the bench due to his wife going into labour, meaning Tom Dunn could make his debut as a replacement, as could uncapped Saracens flanker Ben Earl.

Veteran Australian coach Jones has opted for a six-two split between forwards and backs on his bench, indicating a wish to overpower Scotland up front.

England will be looking for a first Six Nations win over Scotland in three years following a 25-13 loss at Murrayfield in 2018 and last year’s extraordinary 38-38 draw at Twickenham -- a match where they led the Scots 31-0 in the first half.

Scotland also lost their opening match of the Six Nations, going down 19-12 away to Ireland.

“We have sought to address the issues from As a part of major reshuffle, the France game,” said Jones. “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.” Scotland named their side later Thursday, with back-row forward Magnus Bradbury recalled at number eight in the only change to the starting XV defeated in Dublin.

 England (15-1) George Furbank; Jonny May, Jonathan Joseph, Owen Farrell (capt), Elliot Daly; George Ford, Willi Heinz; Tom Curry, Sam Underhill, Lewis Ludlam; George Kruis, Maro Itoje; Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Mako Vunipola Replacements: Tom Dunn, Ellis Genge, Will Stuart, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Ben Earl, Ben Youngs, Ollie Devoto Coach: Eddie Jones (AUS) jdg/lp By Julian

Meanwhile, Magnus Bradbury has been recalled by Scotland to face England. The Edinburgh back-row missed Scotland’s 19-12 defeat by Ireland in their Six Nations opener in Dublin last week with a thigh strain.

Agencies