Slade starts against Georgia

By Mark Stevens
12/11/20

Exeter Chiefs star Henry Slade will start for England in their Quilter International against Georgia this weekend.

England will open their Autumn Nations Cup campaign at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, November 14 (3pm KO) and will be looking to build on a successful return to international rugby after winning the Guinness Six Nations last month.

Slade keeps his place at inside centre and will pair up in a new-look midfield alongside Ollie Lawrence, who made his England debut in Rome.

There is, however, no place in the match-day 23 for Slade's Exeter team-mates, Harry Williams and Jonny Hill, the latter of whom made his Test debut last time out.

Elsewhere, head coach Eddie Jones will give a debut to Wasps forward Jack Jack Willis, who will start at open-side in a home back-row which also comprises Saracens duo Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola.

In the front row, Ellis Genge will play loosehead and Will Stuart makes his first start for England at tighthead, while Charlie Ewels and Joe Launchbury pack down in the second-row.

Outside of them, Jonathan Joseph moves to the wing, along with Jonny May, with Elliot Daly returning to the side after injury completing the line-up at full back.

Jones said: “We’ve had a really good week of training. We know there are a lot of expectations on us and we’ve applied ourselves hard and put a lot of pressure on ourselves in the early part of this week. Georgia will be a tough opponent, so we have a team with some real power in midfield. We have a good mix of youth and experience across the squad and they are completely focused on putting in an excellent performance on Saturday. We’re looking forward to being back at our home at Twickenham, we are humbled by the opportunity and want to give people a reason to smile during such a tough time for the country.”

England will play their second Quilter International, as part of the Autumn Nations Cup, against Ireland at Twickenham on Saturday, November 21 (3pm KO).

They will then travel to Llanelli to play Wales at Parc y Scarlets in their last group game on Saturday, November 28 (4pm KO) before returning to Twickenham for their final Quilter International, a tournament placing match, on Sunday, December 6 (2pm KO).

ENGLAND TEAM TO FACE GEORGIA

15. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 43 caps)
14. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 51 caps)
13. Ollie Lawrence (Worcester Warriors, 1 cap)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 30 caps)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 57 caps)
10. Owen Farrell (Saracens, capt, 83 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 100 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 19 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 50 caps)
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 4 caps)
4. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 16 caps)
5. Joe Launchbury (Wasps, 65 caps)
6. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 39 caps)
7. Jack Willis (Wasps, uncapped)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 52 caps)

16. Tom Dunn, (Bath Rugby, 1 cap)
17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 60 caps)
18. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 36 caps)
19. Ben Earl (Bristol Bears, 4 caps)
20. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks, 24 caps)
21. Dan Robson (Wasps, 3 caps)
22. Max Malins (Bristol Bears, uncapped)
23. Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 3 caps)