England have dropped scrum-half Ben Youngs as one of five changes to their starting XV for the Six Nations rugby Test against Scotland at Murrayfield.
Coach Eddie Jones has performed major surgery to the team defeated by France in their opening match and Youngs is the biggest-name casualty.
The veteran No.9 has been demoted to the bench for the second-round fixture in Edinburgh, making way for Willi Heinz.
Also gone is loosehead prop Joe Marler, who is jettisoned from the 23. He is replaced in the starting XV by Mako Vunipola, with Ellis Genge deputising among the replacements.
Courtney Lawes has been relieved of his blindside flanker duties in a move which elevates Lewis Ludlam into the back row, but Tom Curry is retained at No.8 for a second match.
In the second row, George Kruis comes in for Charlie Ewels, the lock also paying the price for a below-par opening to the championship in Paris.
Jonathan Joseph’s selection at outside centre is an enforced change after Manu Tuilagi had been ruled out by a groin strain. He should return two weeks later against Ireland.
George Furbank, despite an error-strewn Test debut at the Stade de France, survives at fullback as part of an unchanged back three.
There is no Luke Cowan-Dickie on the bench due to his wife going into labour, so Tom Dunn might debut as a replacement, as could uncapped flanker Ben Earl.
Jones has opted for a six-two split of forwards and backs on the bench, pointing to a game plan 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.”
ENGLAND:
15 – George Furbank; 14 – Jonny May; 13 – Jonathan Joseph; 12 – Owen Farrell (capt); 11 – Elliot Daly; 10 – George Ford; 9 – Willi Heinz; 1 – Mako Vunipola; 2 – Jamie George; 3 – Kyle Sinckler; 4 – Maro Itoje; 5 – George Kruis; 6 – Lewis Ludlam; 7 – Sam Underhill; 8 – Tom Curry. Res: 16 – Tom Dunn; 17 – Ellis Genge; 18 – Will Stuart; 19 – Joe Launchbury; 20 – Courtney Lawes; 21 – Ben Earl; 22 – Ben Youngs; 23 – Ollie Devoto.
