SIx NATIONS: No new faces in familiar England XV to face Scotland on Saturday, and Ashton's appeal is denied

England's new era under Eddie Jones will get off to a familiar feel, with no new faces in the starting XV to face Scotland in Saturday's Six Nations opener.
DINNINGTON RUFC round-up.DINNINGTON RUFC round-up.
DINNINGTON RUFC round-up.

The biggest talking points appear to be the selections of scrum-half Danny Care and loose-head prop Joe Marler, ahead of Ben Youngs and Mako Vunipola respectively.

There are, however, three potential debutants on the bench in the form of back row forward, Jack Clifford, prop Paul Hill and centre Ollie Devoto.

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Courtenay Lawes has passed a fitness test and mediacal staff have decided his hamstring has recovered sufficiently for him to take a place on the bench.

Coach Jones, ahead of his first Six Nations in charge, said: “There were some tight calls on selection, but we have picked a match-day squad with a blend of experience and youth.”

Nine of the men who started England’s last test match will start on Saturday.

Meanwhile Chris Ashton will miss the entire tournament, after his bid to appeal a 10-week suspension for eye gouging was denied.

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The England and Saracens winger was banned for making contact with the eye area of Ulster centre, Luke Marshall.

England: Mike Brown, Anthony Watson, Jonathan Joseph, Owen Farrell, Jack Nowell, George Ford, Danny Care; Joe Marler, Dylan Hartley (captain), Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, George Kruis, Chris Robshaw, James Haskell and Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Jamie George, Mako Vunipola, Paul Hill, Courtney Lawes, Jack Clifford, Ben Youngs, Alex Goode and Ollie Devoto.