England v Scotland: Ollie Lawrence to make first Six Nations start

By Chris JonesBBC rugby union correspondent

Last updated on 42 minutes ago.From the section Rugby Union171

Ollie Lawrence playing against Italy — Ollie Lawrence was a replacement in England's 2020 Six Nations win against Italy

Guinness Six Nations: England v Scotland
Venue: Twickenham Stadium Date: Saturday 6 February Kick-off: 16:45 GMT
Coverage: Listen to commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live and BBC Radio Scotland; live text commentary and post-match video highlights on the BBC Sport website and app.

Centre Ollie Lawrence will make his first Six Nations start for defending champions England against Scotland in the Calcutta Cup on Saturday.

The 21-year-old will win his fourth cap and line up at inside centre with Henry Slade wearing number 13 at Twickenham.

Owen Farrell captains from fly-half with George Ford among the replacements.

In the forwards there are starts for lock Jonny Hill and returning flanker Mark Wilson.

Bath prop Beno Obano is set for his debut off the bench, while experienced forward Courtney Lawes has also been named as a replacement after making his comeback from injury.

In the absence of the suspended Kyle Sinckler, Will Stuart will make his first Six Nations start at tighthead prop.

Sinckler is one of five absent forwards, with prop Mako Vunipola, lock Joe Launchbury and flanker Sam Underhill injured. Prop Joe Marler withdrew from the squad for personal reasons.

"It was difficult to pick the 23 players. We've had a really good week of training. It's been very competitive but I've gone with what I feel is the strongest 23 for this week," said head coach Eddie Jones.

This game marks the 150-year anniversary of the sport's oldest fixture, after the first rugby international was played between the two sides in Edinburgh in 1871.

"We're really looking forward to this game and getting the Guinness Six Nations back under way. It's even more special to be taking part in a 150th anniversary game," added Jones.

Worcester centre Lawrence, 21, has already earned three England caps. He made his debut when he came off the bench in England's final 2020 Six Nations game against Italy in October.

Jones showed yet more faith in Lawrence with two starts in the Autumn Nations Cup and it seems the England head coach thinks the promising young back is ready for more.

With Manu Tuilagi ruled out because of an Achilles injury, Jones cited Lawrence's "power" as one of the reasons for his inclusion in the England squad back in October.

Another young centre, Wasps' Paolo Odogwu, had also been named in this year's Six Nations squad but it would appear the 23-year-old will have to wait for his England debut.

England team to face Scotland

England: Daly; Watson, Slade, Lawrence, May; Farrell (capt), Youngs; Genge, George, Stuart, Itoje, Hill, Wilson, Curry, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Cowan-Dickie, Obano, Williams, Lawes, Earl, Robson, Ford, Malins.

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173 comments

Despite the adverts, England have four games on ITV this year.

The only England game on BBC is v Wales and Eddie Butler commentating!

Shame impartiality (on and off rugby pitch) doesn't apply to him despite his employer's "stance"!
Pete replied:
He's an independent journalist... he doesn't have an "employer" and ITV always show all England home games....
Daly hasnt done anything to warrant a start at fullback.
Niggle13 replied:
The “Daly is no good at fullback” campaign is a bit yesterday now
Nice to see players picked in their preferred positions. Centers, Locks and Flankers where they should be. Eddie seems to be getting the hang of this.
rugby is my game replied:
👍😂
Wilson starting over Earl jumps out. Must have impressed in training. Malins has been electric each time I have watched him this season would like to have seen him have a go over Daly. Seems likely Odogwu will get his solitary cap against Italy.
FatFly replied:
Wilson is a bigger unit and Earls will profit from the more open spaces in the latter parts of the game
It’s a strong team on paper but it is a bit undercooked as the Sarries haven’t played for months and he’s backing some guys who are off form like Watson.

I think Wilson’s gnarl will be key. Shame Malins didn’t start at 15.
Jack replied:
Huge fan of Watson, hoping he can find his 2017 Lions form again soon, would love to see him tear up against the Saffas
Disappointed to see Farrell at 10...I guess we’re going to be doing a lot of kicking again!
Ceebs replied:
Even if Ford was starting, he kicks the leather off it as well. Up and under's or kicking the corners nearly every time he gets the ball
No Willis but places for Youngs and Daly worry me. 2019 we got properly done with the same back row. Hopefully Youngs can remember how to pass quickly and semi accurately. Daly as well as being next to useless in the air was also anonymous in the autumn. Despite all that the pack should surely deliver us enough territory to win.
rheyx4rj replied:
Worth noting that the 2019 game England had lost Itoje to injury vs Ireland, and that the bench vs Scotland included Moon, Hughes and Shields. Hopefully Obano, Lawes, Earl, LCD will add more impetus.

I was hoping for Malins at FB, but Russell's kicking from hand is world class, so I could understand picking the experienced back three, even though the aerial game is probably Daly's weakness.
Please tell Youngs, Farrell and Daly to run with the ball rather than kicking it all the time
Rememberthename replied:
We can hope. The recent Itoje interview indicated kick-chase sadly.
disappointed to see Randal, Willis and Odogwu are not involved. i suspect they will be limited to a few minutes against Italy
England's pack has been badly hit with injuries, chuck in the fact that the Sarries guys haven't played a game for months and we're looking at 1 regular starter who's match fit. Not great, especially in an area that's our main strength.

I hope England will win, but we're facing a pretty much full strength Scotland side, so any talk of thrashings or bound to win, is just crazy.
at what point will Jones start playing a 9 that can go through to the next rwc and inject some urgency.

Utterly pointless carrying on with Youngs.

Daly at f/b..?? We have Watson who can play there.
Steve D replied:
Sigh, you saying exactly what I did all last year. Daley not a particularly good 15, Watson way better. Youngs in fairness did well in ANC but he's not future. However, too important a game to put Randall in to start and it seems Jones doesn't rate Robson to do so.
I'd have Malins at 15 and Watson on wing and maybe interchange.
Cowan-Dickie, Obano and Lawes are a strong forward set of finishers. It will be a tight contest.
Niggle13 replied:
Only tight if England don’t turn up
Jones obsession with Youngs really hinders this team. His delivery is too slow. It needs to be much quicker to get the go forward teams so desperately crave these days as there is less space due to better defences.
Scotland will come hard and will be as competitive as they ever have been but i still don't think it will be enough. France to take the GS
Linalmeemow replied:
True. I'm a Tigers supporter, but Youngs has been England's weakest link for 3-4 seasons now. Slow and uninspired distribution, really poor box kicking and average at best in defence. He's been a great servant over the years but it's time to blood someone new.
As a Warriors fan so pleased for Lawrence.He's come a long way in a short space of time.

But he is his own person,can't keep comparing him to Tuilagi though I understand why people do.

Could've done with him tearing Tigers to shreds on Saturday but I'm confident we will win.

I worry about the lack of game time the Sarries contingent have had.

Excited by Stuart.Has done well since his 1st cap.
38-37 would work this time. 12 tries and an England win! Lucky enough to be at TW for the 38-38 draw. Incredible match.
Gambling with inclusion of Saracens' players, who were without competitive club games for quite a long time, is risky.
Let's hope they do well!
Looking at that back line and Scotland's likely choices I know which I would sooner have. That said the English pack can sometimes be pretty unbeatable. Good Scottish pack this time but can they get the sort of parity that might allow the backs to shine? The pessimist in me worries about some of the nice things being said about Scotland from unlikely quarters. Expectation often does for us.
What’s the point of picking an attacking player like Lawrence if you have kickfest merchants Youngs and Farrell at 9 & 10 ?
Strong team to start the six Nations title defence, you feel it will be a good tournament because of the competition for a seat on the plane to South Africa. Just hope England don't mess it up like last time they played the Scots at Twickenham...
Rememberthename replied:
Plane to Australia?!
England have strength in depth, but are weakened in the pack for this one. Big opportunity for Scotland at a crowdless Twickenham. At some point, they're going to win their first game at HQ since 1983. When it comes there'll certainly be some 'dancing in the streets of Arbroath' and it will join the BCC's 'remember when' video library of famous England defeats that it loves to wheel out.