Mark Wilson recalled for England Six Nations opener against Scotland as George Ford left on bench

England are missing a host of players, while their five Saracens – including Farrell, who is back at fly-half – have not played since December 6. Jones considers this time off as “a godsend”, saying they have a “spring in their step”.

With Mako Vunipola injured, Joe Marler absent for family reasons and Kyle Sinckler banned, Ellis Genge and Will Stuart get rare starts at prop. Loosehead Beno Obano looks set to make his debut from the bench, while Harry Williams is back in a matchday squad for the first time since August 2019.

Jonny Hill comes into the second row for Joe Launchbury, who has a stress fracture to the leg, while Courtney Lawes returns to the squad after injury on the bench. Like Lawrence and Stuart, Hill makes his first Six Nations start.

Wilson starts on the flank in place of the injured Sam Underhill. Tom Curry swaps to the openside to accommodate Wilson, who has not played for England since March. Ben Earl is the back row cover; all eight of his Test appearances have come from the bench. 

Jones has entrusted his captain Owen Farrell with the fly-half jersey, with Lawrence and Henry Slade outside him, and Ford – one of England’s key leaders – asked to manage the game’s dying minutes.

Lawrence is entrusted to bring the power usually provided by Manu Tuilagi, who is still out with an achilles injury, with Jones saying he hopes he will add “a bit of punch to the backline”. and lines up opposite his good mate Redpath, whose father Bryan played 60 times for Scotland. Lawrence and Redpath Jr were once England U20s centre pairing, and Redpath has been part of Jones’s squads before opting to play for Scotland. 

Elsewhere, Jones has opted for continuity, with Ben Youngs at scrum-half, Elliot Daly at full-back and Anthony Watson and Jonny May on the wings. 

Dan Robson and Max Malins join Ford on the bench, meaning youngsters Harry Randall and Paolo Odogwu will have to wait for their debuts.

For Scotland, Finn Russell is back at No10 outside Redpath, while George Turner starts at hooker, where David Cherry could make his debut from the bench. Gary Graham also returns on the bench. 

England’s last two meetings with Scotland have been remarkable affairs. At Twickenham in 2019, England raced into a 31-0 lead, then needed a Ford equaliser, when the clock was red, to salvage a 38-38 draw after Scotland fought back. Last year, they won a filthy game 13-6 to regain the Calcutta Cup, as Storm Ciara battered Edinburgh. 

England XV Starters

15. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 47 caps) 14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 46 caps) 13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 34 caps) 12. Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors, 3 caps) 11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 61 caps) 10. Owen Farrell (C) (Saracens, 88 caps) 9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 104 caps) 1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 23 caps) 2. Jamie George (Saracens, 54 caps) 3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 8 caps) 4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 43 caps) 5. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs, 4 caps) 6. Mark Wilson (Newcastle Falcons, 19 caps) 7. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 28 caps) 8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 56 caps)

Finishers

16. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 26 caps) 17. Beno Obano (Bath Rugby, uncapped) 18. Harry Williams (Exeter Chiefs, 18 caps) 19. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints, 85 caps) 20. Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 8 caps) 21. Dan Robson (Wasps, 7 caps) 22. George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 72 caps) 23. Max Malins (Bristol Bears, 3 caps)