Eddie Jones has labelled Scotland as red-hot favourites ahead of Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash at Murrayfield.
With a depleted England side, Jones outlined: “This is a special game. Its the first time I have gone to Murrayfield as underdogs.”
He added: “Scotland are red hot favourites.”
Tom Curry has been named as England’s captain for the Six Nations opener, with both Owen Farrell and Courtney Lawes absent through injury.
On captaincy, Jones said: “Captaincy isn’t about number of caps. It’s about person who can lead the players on the field and lead by example. There’s no better person than Tom to do that.”
“He leads by example. (Curry) reminds me of a young Ritchie McCaw in the way he leads by example.
“He wants to get the team on the front foot – which aligns with how we play the game”
23-year-old Tom Curry said that captaincy “means hell of a lot” to him.
He added: “You grow up wanting to play for England and being named as captain is emotional.
Curry is the youngest England captain since Will Carling captained the side at 22 years of age in 1988. Carling is still an influence on the England group, having regular chats with the England leadership team which includes Ellis Genge and Luke Cowan-Dickie.
Curry said: “Will (Carling) has been a great help. We speak regularly and he has been a great influence.”
Recalled flanker Lewis Ludlam added: “Cuz (Curry) is the man. I’m chuffed for him and he is the right man for the role. He is a fantastic leader and speaker; I’m so chuffed for him.”
Jones outlined that the recalled Lewis Ludlam “has been one of the most outstanding players in the Premiership.”
Ludlam has spent two years in the England wilderness before being recalled for last summers tests with Canada and the USA. However, Ludlam chose to look positively at his experience out of the test side.
Ludlam said: “The good thing about sports is the opportunities to learn. The last two years have been a real learning. I came into the set up a tad naïve. I came into an environment where I didn’t know myself.”
Elliot Daly returns to the side, having initially been left out of Jones’ 42-man training squad trough injury and a lack of game time.
“It was a choice between Elliot and Marchant at 13 and we went with the experience of Elliot,” said Jones.
Marchant’s inclusion on the left wing is a shock considering last Friday’s positive covid test. However, two negative tests and a health check allowed him to train this morning and be selected in the side for Saturday’s match.
Jones finished, saying: “We’re a young but good side. We have had obstacles thrown but we have come together really well.”
ENGLAND XV
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
14. Max Malins (Saracens, 10 caps)
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 52 caps)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 43 caps)
11. Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 7 caps)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 5 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 112 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 31 caps)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 31 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 47 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 51 caps)
5. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 3 caps)
6. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 36 caps) (C)
8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps
By Ben Redwood
