The Saxons have made two changes for their meeting with Scotland A as Jonny May and Matt Mullan come into the XV for Friday's clash in Newcastle.
May takes over from Christian Wade on the right wing and Worcester Warriors' prop Mullan replaces Gloucester's Nick Wood at loosehead.
Jon Callard has kept changes to a minimum to build on the momentum established with last week's 14-10 win against the Ireland Wolfhounds.
"We put in a really gritty performance against Ireland and to win over there was a deserved reward for all that hard work," said Callard.
"Jonny May and Matt Mullan are both talented players who've trained hard to earn the chance to show what they can do against Scotland."
The Saxons have trained on the all-weather surface at Druid Park this week, including a conditioned session with the Newcastle Falcons Academy, and will put the finishing touches to their game plan at the RFU Championship club's Kingston Park home on Thursday night.
They will want to be at their best against Scotland after going down 35-0 in last year's encounter at Galashiels.
"If you don't get it right at international level, sides like this Scotland one will punish you heavily and that's what happened last year," added Callard.
"We've all learned from that and we're determined to get it absolutely right this time round."
England Saxons: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Jonny May, 13 Joel Tomkins, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 George Ford, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Jordan Crane (capt), 7 Will Fraser, 6 George Kruis, 5 George Robson, 4 Graham Kitchener, 3 Paul Doran-Jones, 2 Joe Gray, 1 Matt Mullan.
Replacements: 16 Rob Buchanan, 17 Nick Wood, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Ed Slater, 20 Jamie Gibson, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 George Lowe, 23 Kyle Eastmond.
Date: Friday, February 1
Kick-off: 20:00
Venue: Kingston Park
Comments
APV1 says...
@ ArmchairGeneral - if I don't see the veritable superstar who is Ann Widdecombe in your line up soon, I'm dismissing the whole concept as just plain rediculous.
Now get on it man!
Posted 12:28 01st February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Forget Allen 12. Has to be Erinle. He was great!. I'm into this!
Posted 12:19 01st February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
I'm the same. England invest time etc into players and drop them when they've done no wrong. Should have had Sharples on the wing. Hipkiss at 13, Allen 12. Haskell 6. Mullans 1. Then I just need a 3. As Stevens retired. Any ideas. It is a good team actually. Would like to see them play England in a Pre EPS final selection friendly. Sorry to say Armitage replaces Abendenon too. Do need churn to find the X factor players like Launcbury but ... I don't know.
Posted 12:12 01st February 2013
APV1 says...
@ ArmchairGeneral - you're right, I know. But Bananaman has just signed a new deal with Bath, so he'll be sporting the Blue, Black & White for a while longer. Perhaps he was always destined to be a good club player and no more. No shame in that - it's still a damned sight better than most of us.
Nice team too.
;-)
Posted 10:40 01st February 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Coach: MJ
Posted 22:16 31st January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
APV1: Here's your team: (ignore the fact some are out.) it's a forgiven 15. Didn't do anything wrong 15:
1. Freshwater
2. Chuter
3. Stevens
4. Botha (c)
5. Kennedy
6. Alex Sanderson / Worsley
7. Lund
8. Waldrom
9. Hodgson, P
10. Goode, Andy
11. Bananaman
12. Hape
13. Farrell snr
14. Ojo
15. Abendenon ( just for you)
Posted 22:14 31st January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
APV1: you are too forgiving. Banahan, Botha,... Had their chances. They've not been dropped so much as surpassed.
Posted 22:01 31st January 2013
Warrior7 says...
3 Worcester boys in this game, Matt Mullan (England), Alex Grove and Nikki Walker for Scotland!
Well done wuss ;) Shame its only an A game
Posted 19:43 31st January 2013
APV1 says...
Why has Bananaman dropped off the radar? I appreciate that I'm Bath-bias, but he's not THAT bad, is he?
Just need Attwood and Bendy in, with Biggs into the EPS.
Posted 17:01 31st January 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
TVaddict you stole my comment. Anyhow these two replacements are improvements with regards to England starting potential long term. Especially Mullan. Think Saxons team will do better than England on the score board.
Posted 15:52 31st January 2013
APV1 says...
It's being shown on Sky - in my planner already.
Gonna be a cracking opener for the tournament too.
I'm looking forward to Ford vs Heathcote - added spice if the rumours about Ford coming to Bath come to fruition...
And Biggs tearing it up from the wing (EPS for Strettle please).
Posted 13:39 31st January 2013
TVaddict says...
Still no fly-half cover, Simpson deserves to start above Wigglesworth and Turner-Hall doesn't deserve to be anywhere near this 23, especially when he can't even start for his club. Other than that I'm happy with it.
Posted 12:09 31st January 2013
melkdave says...
Again thats a very strong team,hopefully another victory for the Saxons this weekend aswell.Lets hope its on TV or the online links work this week .
Posted 11:37 31st January 2013