Chiefs trio to face Samoa

Exeter Chiefs trio Henry Slade, Sam Simmonds and Harry Williams have all been named in the England side to face Samoa at Twickenham on Saturday. Picture: @PPAUK

By Mark Stevens
23/11/17

Sam Simmonds will make his first start for England after he was today named in Eddie Jones' England side to face Samoa in the final Test of the Old Mutual Wealth Series on Saturday (3pm).

The talented back-row forward is one of nine changes Jones has made to his starting line-up that beat Australia 30-6 last weekend at Twickenham Stadium.

George Ford (Leicester Tigers) and Chris Robshaw (Harlequins) are named as co-captains, a role they played in England’s Old Mutual Wealth Cup match against the Barbarians in May.

Robshaw moves to open side with Maro Itoje (Saracens) starting at blind side. Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs) will make his first start for England at number 8 in the absence of Nathan Hughes (Wasps).

There are two changes in the front row with Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers) and Jamie George (Saracens) replacing Mako Vunipola (Saracens) and Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), while Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby) will start alongside last weekend’s man-of-the-match Joe Launchbury (Wasps) in the second row.

This weekend will see Alex Lozowski (Saracens) and Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs) as the centre combination with Mike Brown (Harlequins) returning to the starting 15 after missing the Australia Test due to injury. Danny Care (Harlequins) will start his first Test of the series with Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers) named as a finisher.

England head coach Jones said: “This is an exciting squad to play against Samoa and we are expecting them to be immensely physical and committed this weekend.

“We want to follow up last week’s performance against Australia and play better again this week. Our intent in every game and every training session is to be better.

“This week it is an opportunity for some squad members who haven’t been playing to put their best foot forward. We will have to play smart and will need to find ways to win the contest against Samoa. The crowd last week were outstanding and we want to put on a good performance again for them this weekend.”

Exeter prop Harry Williams has again been named on the bench.

England team to play Samoa

15 Mike Brown (Harlequins 63 caps)

14 Jonny May (Leicester Tigers 28 caps)

13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs 9 caps)

12 Alex Lozowski (Saracens 3 caps)

11 Elliot Daly (Wasps 15 caps)

10 George Ford (Leicester Tigers 39 caps) co-captain

9 Danny Care (Harlequins 75 caps)

1 Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers 4 caps)

2 Jamie George (Saracens 19 caps)

3 Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers 76 caps)