6N: England v Scotland: one change to home line-up for Calcutta Cup clash
02/18/2025 11:03 AM
ENGLAND head coach Steve Borthwick has made one change to the starting line-up he sent out against France a week and a half ago ahead of Saturday’s Calcutta Cup clash against Scotland at Allianz Stadium (Twickenham), with Ollie Chessum replacing the benched George Martin in the second-row.
Chessum's last Test start was 11 months,against France at blindside flanker in the last match of the 2024 Six Nations in Lyon, and his last England start at lock was against Scotland in last season's Calcutta Cup encounter at Murrayfield.
The 24-year-old then missed England’s summer tour of Japan and New Zealand so that he could undergo shoulder and thumb surgery, then he missed the autumn due to a freak knee injury that required another operation.
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Martin was on a ‘rehabilitation’ list last week, yet has been deemed fit enough to be handed a place on a bench which is split six-two between forwards and back. The five other forwards are Jamie George, Fin Baxter, Joe Heyes, Chandler Cunningham-South and Ben Curry.
"We are looking forward to what will be another challenging and exciting match against Scotland," said Borthwick. "The Calcutta Cup is a special fixture, and we are determined to perform to our very best in front of our supporters at Allianz Stadium."
England (versus Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday @ 4.30pm): M Smith; T Freeman, O Lawrence, H Slade, O Sleightholme; F Smith, A Mitchell; E Genge, L Cowan-Dickie, W Stuart, M Itoje, O Chessum, T Curry, B Earl, T Willis. Subs: J George, F Baxter, J Heyes, G Martin, C Cunningham-South, B Curry, H Randall, E Daly.
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