England team vs Scotland confirmed with Maro Itoje return one of two changes | Rugby | Sport
Maro Itoje returns England’s starting line-up for Saturday’s clash with Scotland as his side attempt to break a six-year Murrayfield hoodoo. The skipper was on the bench for the opening 48-7 defeat of Wales after missing part of the training camp in Girona for his mother’s funeral.
Itoje came on after 50 minutes of the Welsh game and was sin-binned almost immediately but returns to lead the side in Edinburgh. Elsewhere, boss Steve Borthwick makes one other change to his starting line-up with Luke Cowan-Dickie given the nod at hooker and Jamie George benched.
Alex Coles moves to the replacements where he is joined by Northampton fly-half Fin Smith who featured in the first two of the four November Tests.
Borthwick has kept faith in the entire backline from last weekend with Henry Arundell, who scored a hat-trick, backed to deal with Scotland’s aerial threat.
The Bath man also supplies cover at full-back with Smith able to slot in at 12 if needed. England have not won at Murrayfield since 2020 when they triumphed 13-6, under Eddie Jones, in the middle of Storm Ciara.
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Playing Scotland at Murrayfield is always a fantastic occasion and a challenge we are relishing,” said Borthwick. “We made a pleasing start to the Championship, but we understand that we must continue to raise our standards.”
England are seeking their first Six Nations title in six years and their first Grand Slam since 2016 and after Murrayfield play Ireland, Italy and France.
Scotland v England, 4.40pm, Saturday, ITV
England team: Freddie Steward; Tom Roebuck, Tommy Freeman, Fraser Dingwall, Henry Arundell; George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Joe Heyes, Maro Itoje (capt), Ollie Chessum, Guy Pepper, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl
Replacements: Jamie George, Bevan Rodd, Trevor Davison, Alex Coles, Tom Curry, Henry Pollock, Ben Spencer, Fin Smith
