Club captain Lewis Ludlam has been named in Steve Borthwick’s first England side ahead of their Guinness Six Nations opener on Saturday, with the Northampton Saints flanker to start against Scotland.
The 27-year-old will add to his 14 caps to date at Twickenham Stadium in the Calcutta Cup, in what will only be the back row’s second clash against Scotland at senior level.
Borthwick said: “There are few fixtures in the rugby calendar that excite both players and supporters alike more than the annual Six Nations meeting of the Auld enemy as they battle for the honour of lifting the Calcutta Cup.
“Another packed Twickenham will witness the start of the next chapter of English rugby in one of the most keenly contested tournaments in the world.
“There is no doubt that this England team shares the supporters’ sense of eager anticipation.
“To a man, the players are determined to play with the commitment, fight and desire that is at the very heart of representing England, the sort of passion that our tremendous supporters rightly expect.”
England v Scotland is live on ITV and BBC Radio 5 Live.
England side to face Scotland
15 Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps)
14 Max Malins (Saracens, 14 caps)
13 Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 13 caps)
12 Owen Farrell (Saracens, 101 caps) (C)
11 Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish, uncapped)
10 Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 17 caps)
9 Jack van Poortvliet (Leicester Tigers, 7 caps)
1 Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 43 caps) (VC)
2 Jamie George (Saracens, 72 caps)
3 Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 56 caps)
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens, 62 caps)
5 Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
6 Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 14 caps)
7 Ben Curry (Sale Sharks,1 cap)
8 Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 9 caps)
Replacements:
16 Jack Walker (Harlequins, uncapped)
17 Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 74 caps)
18 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 95 caps)
19 Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 8 caps)
20 Ben Earl (Saracens, 13 caps)
21 Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 121 caps)
22 Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby, 7 caps)
23 Anthony Watson (Leicester Tigers, 51 caps)
