Sale’s Tom Curry has become the youngest England test captain since Will Carling after being named as captain to take on Scotland this Saturday.
Eddie Jones’ 23 blends experience with young talent.
Upcoming superstar Marcus Smith starts at fly-half, alongside the experience of Ben Youngs at scrum-half.
Other notable starters include Nick Isiekwe making his first Six Nations start alongside Maro Itoje in the second row.
Sam Simmonds starts ahead of Alex Dombrandt at Number 8.
Lewis Ludlam starts at flanker opposite Curry.
Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Kyle Sinkler form a strong-looking front row.
Henry Slade and Elliot Daly start at centre, with Joe Marchant starting at wing, having finished his COVID isolation.
Alongside Marchant, Max Malins starts ahead of Jack Nowell, who makes the bench after his return to the squad.
Freddie Steward keeps the 15 shirt after an impressive Autumn.
Jones said: “As the first game, this match is hugely important to both sides and we will both want to get off to a winning start.
“We have a good, young team but we understand the task ahead and we’ll be ready to go after it from the first kick.
On Curry’s captaincy, Jones said that he “has the respect of the team around him”.
“He has the support of the vice captains and other leaders in the team such as Maro Itoje and Ben Youngs.
“We have prepared really well for this game.
“We’ve had a number of obstacles thrown at us, but we’ve overcome them as a more together group and we’re looking forward to getting started.”
England begin their Six Nations campaign in the Calcutta Cup at Murrayfield, before heading to Rome to take on Italy next weekend.
They return to Twickenham to face Wales and Ireland. They face France in the championship finale at the Stade de France in Paris.
Jones has named a young squad with a look to the future, after a disappointing last Six Nations campaign, finishing fifth.
However, a more positive Autumn followed, including a victory over world champions South Africa at Twickenham.
There are 4 international campaigns before the 2023 World Cup in France, where England will be hoping to go one better than their second place finish in 2019.
England: Henry Steward, Max Malins, Elliot Daly, Henry Slade, Joe Marchant; Marcus Smith, Ben Youngs; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, Nick Isiekwe, Lewis Ludlam, Tom Curry (c), Sam Simmonds.
Replacements: Jamie George, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Charlie Ewels, Alex Dombrandt, Harry Randall, George Ford, Jack Nowell.
(Featured Image credit to JaCastro7 under Creative Commons.)
