Worsley back for England to play Scotland

England manager Martin Johnson has stuck with the majority of his team, making just two changes to the starting XV for Saturday’s Calcutta Cup match against Scotland at Murrayfield. Wasps Joe Worsley replaces Lewis Moody at open-side flanker, while Leicester lock Louis Deacon comes in for the injured Simon Shaw.

Full-back Delon Armitage retains the 15 jersey ahead of Ben Foden.

There is one new man on the bench, with Leicester scrum-half Ben Youngs taking the place of Paul Hodgson. It is good to see Johnson has added to the bench Northampton lock Courtney Lawes, who won his first cap as a replacement against Australia last November, and Brive hooker Steve Thompson.

Johnson said: (quote) It was probably the toughest selection we have had, not because we lost the last game but because of the squad we have now, if we lose someone, we have someone in that position who can come in and we would not miss a beat. It was a harsh call on Paul Hodgson who has been fantastic for us on and off the pitch but Ben Youngs is playing well and deserved his chance. We felt it was the best call to put Joe Worsley in the starting team and have Lewis on the bench to make an impact. It is not a reflection at all on how Lewis has played, it is more of a reflection on the strength and depth of the players we have in the squad. They are two different players. They can both play six and seven. There is not a weakness in Lewis’s game but Joe’s defence is good and his ball-carrying is particularly strong. (end quote)

Team

Delon Armitage; Mark Cueto, Mathew Tait, Riki Flutey, Ugo Monye; Jonny Wilkinson, Danny Care; Tim Payne, Dylan Hartley, Dan Cole; Louis Deacon, Steve Borthwick (captain); James Haskell, Joe Worsley, Nick Easter.
Replacements: Steve Thompson, David Wilson, Courtney Lawes, Lewis Moody, Ben Youngs, Toby Flood, Ben Foden.

RBS SIX NATIONS: Scotland v England Murrayfield, Edinburgh Saturday 13 March Kick-off: 1700 GMT

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