The inclusion of Owen Farrell at inside centre is one of 10 changes to England’s starting lineup for Saturday’s warm-up match against Ireland at Twickenham.
Fullback Elliot Daly, wing Joe Cokanasiga, flyhalf George Ford, No 8 Billy Vunipola and lock Maro Itoje are the only survivors from last week’s run-on side.
Coach Eddie Jones has opted to start with Farrell and Manu Tuilagi in midfield, with the former also reclaiming the captaincy. Wing Jonny May comes into the back three ahead of Anthony Watson and Ben Youngs is back at scrumhalf in place of Willi Heinz.
In a new-look pack of forwards, flanks Sam Underhill and Tom Curry, lock George Kruis, props Kyle Sinckler and Joe Marler and hooker Jamie George are the new additions to the run-on XV.
Mako Vunipola has been named as a reserve following his recovery from long-term injury.
‘It is the third of four games for us and come the 8th of September, when we get on the plane, we want to be ready to go. This is another step forward for us,’ Jones said.
‘This weekend we will be looking to gain more game fitness and testing different sorts of game strategies. We have a specific way of how we want to play and the focus is very much on ourselves.’
England – 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Joe Cokanasiga, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Owen Farrell (c), 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Tom Curry, 5 George Kruis, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Kyle Sinckler, 2 Jamie George, 1 Joe Marler.
Subs: 16 Luke Cowan-Dickie, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Dan Cole 19 Courtney Lawes, 20 Mark Wilson, 21 Willi Heinz, 22 Piers Francis, 23 Jonathan Joseph.
Photo: Ashley Western/Getty Images