Gregor Townsend has dropped Jonny Gray, Josh Strauss and Jamie Ritchie from his pack and Pete Horne from the backs for Scotland’s final Guinness 6 Nations game against England at Twickenham on Saturday.
Gray, 25 today, drops out to the bench for Ben Toolis just a week after winning his 50th cap as Townsend picks an all-Edinburgh front five. Strauss loses his place to a fit-again Sam Skinner, with Magnus Bradbury moving to No 8 so the Exeter player can slot in at blindside. Strauss also is named as a replacement.
Hamish Watson makes his predicted return at open side for the unlucky Ritchie, who has perhaps been Scotland’s most consistent player this international season. Horne makes way for the return of Sam Johnson at inside centre.
Townsend has made two other encforced changes in the team that lost 18-11 to Wales at the weekend. Sean Maitland and Bryon McGuigan come in for the injured Blair Kinghorn and Tommy Seymour respectively.
Scotland have not won at the home of English Rugby since 1983.
Scotland team: Sean Maitland (Saracens); Darcy Graham (Edinburgh Rugby), Nick Grigg, Sam Johnson (both Glasgow Warriors), Byron McGuigan (Sale Sharks); Finn Russell (Racing 92), Ali Price (Glasgow Warriors); Allan Dell, Stuart McInally (capt), WP Nel; Ben Toolis, Grant Gilchrist (all Edinburgh Rugby); Sam Skinner (Exeter Chiefs), Hamish Watson, Magnus Bradbury (both Edinburgh Rugby).
Replacements: Fraser Brown (Glasgow Warriors), Gordon Reid (London Irish), Simon Berghan (Edinburgh Rugby), Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors), Josh Strauss (Sale Sharks), Greig Laidlaw (Clermont-Auvergne), Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors), Chris Harris (Newcastle Falcons).