Head coach Steve Borthwick makes 11 changes for warm-up against Wales at Twickenham on Saturday with Owen Farrell returning to captain the side while Billy Vunipola is back; Jonny Hill makes the bench despite not being included in the final 33-man World Cup squad
Thursday 10 August 2023 16:48, UK
Owen Farrell will return to captain England as head coach Steve Borthwick makes 11 changes to his side to face Wales at Twickenham on Saturday.
Farrell captains a side that sees Billy Vunipola make his first Test appearance since the autumn, having missed out on the Six Nations on form grounds and then undergone successive knee operations.
"We are very much looking forward to our return to Twickenham on Saturday, and the opportunity to play in front of our supporters again," said Borthwick, who hopes to ignite their World Cup preparations in the wake of a tame defeat in Cardiff last weekend.
"England versus Wales is always a special fixture, and we are pleased to be playing the visitors again so soon."
Vunipola is the only specialist No 8 selected in England's World Cup squad, making the Twickenham showdown a key moment in his comeback having been sidelined since April.
Following a 20-9 loss in the first of four warm-up matches, Borthwick has picked a team close to his strongest XV that also features Jamie George, Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes.
In the front row, loosehead prop Joe Marler joins hooker George and Will Stuart, who retains his place at tighthead. Behind them, George Martin partners Itoje in the second row to win his third England cap and his first at Twickenham.
Vice-captain Lawes is named on the blindside flank alongside Ben Earl on the openside.
Earl wins his first start for England after 15 previous appearances as a replacement, joining Saracens team-mate Vunipola to round off an all-new back row at No 8.
Scrum-half Jack van Poortvliet links up with Farrell at half-back while Ollie Lawrence, the Premiership player of the season, Ollie Lawrence starts at inside centre next to Joe Marchant at 13.
Elliot Daly is named on the left wing, with 20-year-old Henry Arundell on the right and Freddie Steward keeps his place at full-back.
Among the replacements, loosehead prop Ellis Genge, who is also named as a vice-captain, will win his 50th England cap when he joins the action.
Elsewhere, Theo Dan, Dan Cole, Jack Willis, Ben Youngs, George Ford, Max Malins and Jonny Hill will all be hoping to make a difference from the bench.
Sale star Hill has been included despite not making the final 33-man squad for the World Cup and Borthwick said: "Jonny has trained with us throughout the week, and I am pleased to be able to name him in the match-day 23. I have no doubt he will provide a big impact for us off the bench."
After Wales on Saturday, England have games against Ireland in Dublin on Saturday August 19, and Fiji at Twickenham on Saturday August 26 before the start of Rugby World Cup in France in September.
Northampton Saints flanker Lawes, back in the team after an injury-affected 2022/23 season for both club and country, believes there is enough quality in England's squad for them to defy the naysayers in France.
Last week's defeat to Wales in Cardiff and the nature of the performance saw plenty of questions asked of Borthwick's side ahead of the World Cup, which begins on Saturday September 9 for England against leading Pool D rivals Argentina in Marseille.
But Lawes is confident in the 33-player squad the head coach has selected and knows they need to justify that belief at Twickenham on Saturday.
"We've got pretty much every player we could have asked for," Lawes told Sky Sports News.
"I think we've got every chance of surprising people. We've got a really talented team and it's just about putting it together in the right way, learning every way and making sure we peak at the right time.
"It's very important we learn from last week and we go out there and perform at home. It's something we have to get right this weekend, and that's been the main focus this week."
The 34-year-old, who has 96 Test caps for England, is feeling back to his best after a rigorous training camp with England as well.
"It's been really tough," Lawes said. "It's been a pretty long pre-season, but the body will be good by the weekend. I can't wait.
"Getting a really good pre-season under my belt is quite important. It gives you a little bit more sturdiness in terms of rugby. I'm hoping for a bit of luck and hopefully I can put a run of games together."
15 Freddie Steward, 14 Henry Arundell, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 Owen Farrell (c), 9 Jack van Poortvliet; 1 Joe Marler, 2 Jamie George, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 George Martin, 6 Courtney Lawes, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Jonny Hill, 20 Jack Willis, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 George Ford, 23 Max Malins.
