Ollie Chessum will make his first England start for 11 months on Saturday with Steve Borthwick making a solitary change to his side to face Scotland. Chessum comes in at second-row with George Martin, who has been nursing an injury problem, dropping to the bench.
Otherwise, Borthwick has stuck with the same side that beat France last time out with Fin Smith continuing at fly-half and Marcus Smith sticking at fullback. Borthwick has stuck with the same back-row, meaning a second start for Tom Willis at No 8, as England seek a first win over Scotland since 2020.
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Chessum’s return comes after he made appearances off the bench against Ireland and France, impressing against the latter and, significantly, he improves England’s lineout. Against France England struggled in that regard but Chessum is a more capable lineout jumper and Borthwick will be aware of the need to improve that area of the game. It is unclear how much of part Martin’s knee problem played in the decision but he has been deemed fit enough for a place on the bench.
Chessum, who missed the autumn campaign with a knee injury and last summer’s tour of Japan and New Zealand with a shoulder problem, does not possess the same heft as Martin but has proved himself a reliable operator under Borthwick. His more recent England starts have come at blindside flanker but he did start last year’s Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland in the second row.
Elsewhere, Borthwick has gone for continuity. He will have been tempted to reunite the Curry brothers in the back-row but Ben makes do with a place on the bench again with Tom and Ben Earl again named as the flankers. The front row is the same with Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Will Stuart keeping their spots, meaning Jamie George can provide valuable experience from the bench.
In the backs, Alex Mitchell stays at scrum-half with Henry Slade and Ollie Lawrence in midfield and Tommy Freeman and Ollie Sleightholme on the wings. On the bench, Fin Baxter, Joe Heyes, Chandler Cunningham-South, Harry Randall and Elliot Daly all keep their places with Borthick again opting for a 6-2 split.
