\n<\/p>\n
With England’s prop stocks hit by injuries to Will Stuart, Fin Baxter and Asher Opoku-Fordjour, England’s strongest pairing of Ellis Genge and Joe Heyes start.<\/p>\n
While England powered to four successive wins in the autumn with the aid of a ‘Pom Squad’ set of experienced replacements, there is less Test-proven ability on the bench for this tournament opener.<\/p>\n
Bevan Rodd, who has made two Test starts in the last couple of years, and Trevor Davison, who has three caps, are the prop replacements.<\/p>\n
Guy Pepper, Sam Underhill and Ben Earl – the back-row combination for England’s three toughest autumn internationals – start together again.<\/p>\n
As expected, Alex Mitchell and George Ford reprise their half-back partnership with Henry Pollock, who has won all five of his caps off the bench, and Tom Curry among the replacements once again.<\/p>\n
Sale wing Tom Roebuck, who has not played since picking up a toe injury in November’s victory over New Zealand, is left out of the matchday squad and is given another week to get up to match sharpness.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n