By Mitch Phillips
BAGSHOT, England Feb 2 (Reuters) – – England will
face Scotland with one of their most inexperienced lineups for
years as three uncapped starters and a further five uncapped
replacements were included in the squad named by caretaker coach
Stuart Lancaster on Thursday.
Only six players who started the World Cup quarter-final
defeat to France in October survive for Saturday’s Six Nations
game at Murrayfield as centre duo Owen Farrell and Brad Barritt
and number eight Phil Dowson make their debuts while lock
Mouritz Botha makes his first start.
There are five more uncapped players on the bench where only
prop Matt Stevens (39 appearances) has any substantial
experience, while the team is captained by flanker Chris Robshaw
in his second international.
Defending champions England edged the Scots in their
decisive World Cup Pool game in Auckland, New Zealand last year
but have lost two and drawn one of their last three games at
Murrayfield,
England team: 15-Ben Foden, 14-Chris Ashton, 13-Brad
Barritt, 12-Owen Farrell, 11-David Strettle, 10-Charlie Hodgson,
9-Ben Youngs; 8-Phil Dowson, 7-Chris Robshaw (captain), 6-Tom
Croft, 5-Tom Palmer, 4-Mouritz Botha, 3-Dan Cole, 2-Dylan
Hartley, 1-Alex Corbisiero.
Replacements: 16-Rob Webber, 17-Matt Stevens, 18-Geoff
Parling, 19-Ben Morgan, 20-Lee Dickson, 21-Jordan Turner-Hall.
22-Mike Brown.
(Editing by John O’Brien; To query or comment on this story
email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)
