QBE Autumn Internationals: England take on Samoa at Twickenham on Saturday
Last Updated: 22/11/14 7:56am
Both England and Samoa have made six changes as they prepare to go head-to-head at Twickenham on Saturday.
Stuart Lancaster’s hosts are looking for a morale-boosting victory following a run of five straight defeats, the latest a narrow 31-28 loss to South Africa last weekend.
George Ford will make his full England debut in the game, starting at fly-half with Owen Farrell moving to inside centre and Ben Youngs replacing Danny Care at scrum-half.
Kyle Eastmond has dropped out of the 23-man squad altogether after sustaining a concussion in the defeat to the Springboks and Farrell moves to the midfield to replace him.
Rob Webber starts in place of Dylan Hartley at hooker, while there are two changes in the back row with James Haskell in for Tom Wood at blind-side flanker and Ben Morgan taking Billy Vunipola's place at No 8.
Wood drops to the bench along with Hartley, with centre Billy Twelvetrees and scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth also earning places among the replacements.
Explaining the changes, Lancaster, whose side also lost narrowly to world champions New Zealand earlier this month, said: “There’s some exciting combinations we want to look at.
"Ben Morgan deserved to get his chance after what he’s one off the bench and Ben Youngs also in great form - and we’re excited to see George Ford get that first start at 10.
"I felt the team that played against New Zealand deserved a second chance and while some players improved there were one or two areas which weren’t as good as I hoped so we get a chance now to look at some other players and combinations."
Incredibly competitive
Lancaster is expecting an ‘incredibly competitive’ clash against a ‘hugely motivated’ Samoa side.
“We're expecting physicality, pride and passion from Samoa,” he admitted.
“This game is their cup final. It's a great opportunity for them and they'll be hugely motivated.
"I watched them beat Wales in Cardiff a couple of years ago (29-16 in November 2012) in a similar fixture. They are very difficult opposition, so we need to be at our best.
"It will be incredibly competitive right from the start. Just look at the Wales v Fiji game last weekend... Fiji almost won it (losing 17-13).
"We know it's not a game we can take lightly whatsoever because they'll be putting us under pressure."
Samoa have also made six changes to the side that ran out 23-13 winners over Canada last Friday.
Ken Pisi is selected at full-back, John Leota comes into inside centre and Tusiata Pisi starts at fly-half, while a new-look forward line includes Jack Lam, Kane Thompson and Ti'i Paulo.
Samoa captain David Lemi believes the game will be a barometer of where his side are ahead of next year’s World Cup.
He said: "It's a massive opportunity for us - it has been a while since we played England so we are grateful to have this chance going into the World Cup.
"It is a good test for us - we play the tier-two nations but to play against a top-five side in the world is a test for us and will tell us where we are ahead of the World Cup."
Samoa's players had considered boycotting the game due to concerns over the mismanagement of their union but it was confirmed earlier in the week that the potential strike had been called off.
Lemi added: "It has brought us together and given us more tightness in our preparation and focus for Saturday.”
England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Brad Barritt, 12 Owen Farrell, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs; 1 Joe Marler, 2 Rob Webber, 3 David Wilson, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 Courtney Lawes, 6 James Haskell, 7 Chris Robshaw (capt), 8 Ben Morgan.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Hartley, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 George Kruis, 20 Tom Wood, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Billy Twelvetrees, 23 Marland Yarde.
Samoa: 15 Ken Pisi, 14 Alapati Leiua, 13 Reynold Lee-Lo, 12 Johnny Leota, 11 David Lemi (capt), 10 Tusi Pisi, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i; 1 Sakaria Taulafo, 2 Ti'i Paulo, 3 Census Johnston, 4 Teofilo Paulo, 5 Kane Thompson, 6 Maurie Fa'asavalu, 7 Jack Lam, 8 Ofisa Treviranus.
Replacements: 16 Manu Leiataua, 17 Vilamu Afatia, 18 Anthony Perenise, 19 Fa'atiga Lemalu, 20 Daniel Leo, 21 TJ Ioane, 22 Pete Cowley, 23 Michael Stanley.
Watch England take on Samoa this Saturday, live on Sky Sports 2 from 6.30pm