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U20

International

England change 11 starters and include non-RWC pick on their bench

By Liam Heagney

10 Aug 2023

(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Steve Borthwick has made 11 changes to his England XV for this Saturday’s Summer Nations Series rematch with Wales in London, granting Ben Earl his first-ever Test start after 15 caps off the bench and including Elliot Daly, Joe Marler, Courtney Lawes and Billy Vunipola for their first international starts since the head coach took over from Eddie Jones last winter.

England were beaten 9-20 last weekend by the Welsh, failing to build on a 9-6 interval lead. They then confirmed on Monday their official squad of 33 for the Rugby World Cup but one of the 10 players who didn’t make the cut – Jonny Hill – is named on the bench for this Saturday’s Twickenham match.

Hill and fellow RWC omissions Jonny May and Guy Porter were back training with England on Tuesday despite not being included in the squad that will go to France, and the second row Hill will now provide Summer Nations Series bench cover this weekend as David Ribbans is unavailable due to his HIA last weekend in Wales.

The Bunker explained in rugby

The four repeat starters for this second warm-up outing are full-back Freddie Steward, outside centre Joe Marchant, tighthead Will Stuart and second row George Martin. Steward now has Henry Arundell and Elliot Daly as his supporting wingers, Ollie Lawrence will partner Marchant in the midfield while World Cup skipper Owen Farrell is paired with Jack van Poortvliet at half-back.

Marler and Jamie George join Stuart in the front row, Maro Itoje will partner Martin at lock, while the revamped back row consists of Lawes, Earl and Vunipola.

Dan Cole, Jack Willis, Ben Youngs are the new names on the bench this weekend, with Ellis Genge – who will win his 5oth cap if he plays – and Malins dropping down from last weekend’s XV. Theo Dan, Hill and George Ford are the three repeat bench picks.

Regarding the bench selection of Hill, who missed out on World Cup selection, Borthwick explained: “Jonny has trained with us throughout the week and I am pleased to be able to name him in the match day 23. I have no doubt he will provide a big impact for us off the bench.”

England (vs Wales, Saturday – 5:30pm)
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 23 caps)
14. Henry Arundell (Racing 92, 7 caps)
13. Joe Marchant (Stade Francais, 16 caps)
12. Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 11 caps)
11. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 57 caps)
10. Owen Farrell © (Saracens, 106 caps)
9. Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 13 caps)
1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 79 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 77 caps)
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 26 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 67 caps)
5. George Martin (Leicester Tigers, 2 caps)
6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 97 caps)
7. Ben Earl (Saracens, 15 caps)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 68 caps)

Replacements:
16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 1 cap)
17. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 49 caps)
18. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 100 caps)
19. Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks, 20 caps)
20. Jack Willis (Toulouse, 10 caps)
21. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 122 caps)
22. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 82 caps)
23. Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 19 caps)

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Comments

1 Comment

Mark 705 days ago

Glad to see Earl given a start, thoroughly deserved, and George Martin definately warrants another go.

Thank god Farrell is playing 10 and not 12.

No Tuilagi!! Assume he's injured.....again.

Borthwicks window of oppurtunity to field his 1st choice centre pairing prior to the WC looks to be ever narrowing.

Join free and tell us what you really think!

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Hammer Head 4 minutes ago

Why Henry Pollock's x-factor could earn him a Lions Test start

Their 2018 form, for me, eclipses their 2022/23 run and it’s all on Joe. He played to their limitations rather than their strengths.

Yes. I agree with this. My sense has always been that Joe is a structural and systems guy. So his work tends to have a longer term impact. I mean Andy worked with Joe, so that’s evidence in itself.

I think they will suprise many in the series.

I agree. I thought they looked good in November too. Really good at times. I was saying they’d possibly spring a few surprises during the RC - but I’m not so sure now whether Les Kiss will take them up a notch or whether they’ll take a step back in the short-term.

It’s a real pity Joe isn’t sticking around to 2027.

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Hammer Head 16 minutes ago

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Young, old, fellas, gals.

We’re all on steroids over here! We call it “Jungle Oats”.

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Evans 22 minutes ago

Bok rule-benders are changing the game. They deserve respect

SA have a fierce manager who has always favoured physical dominance whether legally or illegally! His intro of virtually a whole pack change at HT is not in the spirit of the game & should be banned! It creates 40 minute players who can play over & above their normal play knowing that they & their freash replacements will have an edge over their 80 minute opponents.

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pw 31 minutes ago

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This won’t be a good spectacle it’l be a hundred pointer, if they want a match like this they should choose from international teams

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Wit Kant 42 minutes ago

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you really need to start watching the games.

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BA 51 minutes ago

Noah Lolesio's injury highlights the Wallabies' fragile depth at 10

Mos def they have been to use a hot word “ disrespected” and still are especially considering the challenges they face around boys going straight overseas ( French rugby has signed a bunch of Aussie schoolboys ) and NRL especially as they can sign kids at 15 and they do ( add in a absolute heap of NZ schoolboys to that list too ) not that I got a problem with NRL I ❤️it !!! or the boys getting hooked up bloody good on them , can’t forget Basketball in this part of the world too immensely popular! they just need to get some of that talent not all not the majority just some of them will make a world of difference, I have always thought Rugby was a real community when it cane down to it but I get this feeling that a lot of rugby “ fans” “ media” “ pundits” actually want rugby to fail in these parts of the world which i find bizarre at the least , especially considering a strong Oz makes for a better ABs 😂😂

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Brett McKay 57 minutes ago

Noah Lolesio's injury highlights the Wallabies' fragile depth at 10

Worth remembering guys, that this AU comp in September is going to start off at a really small scale - 3 games + a one-off Final, and the whole thing done in a month.

But it’s certianly going to be an important return, and is certainly better than nothing at all!

And this is the great shame in the demise of the NRC - well over 100 player graduated to SR debuts over the six years, and plenty went on to play International rugby. It was doing exactly what it was deisgned to do…

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Cantab 1 hour ago

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Very narrowly and the Boks have improved from there. Like to think JABs have as well but will need to. Repeat that this will be a close one between the 2 unbeaten sides.

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SadersMan 1 hour ago

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Saffas over-hyping tests v Italy & Georgia 🤣🤣🤣

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SadersMan 1 hour ago

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More power to our Rugby Women, I say.

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IkeaBoy 1 hour ago

Noah Lolesio's injury highlights the Wallabies' fragile depth at 10

With the will comes the path. They need to get smarter about plundering young talent.

AFL is insane with it's core skills. Scout them and get them at the right age and on to a rugby pitch.

A positive going in this series could get a generation of kids back into what should be their national sport.

I was of the understanding that you respect yourself by respecting your opponent.

The wallabies have been degraded since this tour was confirmed. I hope that added motivation is the extra 5% that gets them over the line and wins this series.

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Wit Kant 1 hour ago

Siya Kolisi back to face Georgia with Boks set to hand out 3 new caps

I would say that is a fairly good opinion, but like you said we never know what Rassie has up his sleeve.

28 Go to comments

Wit Kant 2 hours ago

Siya Kolisi back to face Georgia with Boks set to hand out 3 new caps

thats only your ill informed opinion.

28 Go to comments

BA 2 hours ago

Chart-topping superstar named to open Women's Rugby World Cup

The longer the black ferns can sneak under the radar the better in my book 😂