HARLEQUINS FLY-HALF Marcus Smith will pilot an England team boasting eight new caps in Sunday’s Test clash with the USA at Twickenham.
The Gallagher Premiership winner will pair up with fellow uncapped playmaker Harry Randall, with the Bristol player starting at scrum-half.
England, missing a host of British and Irish Lions stars, could hand out 12 debuts this weekend, with four more uncapped players on the bench.
Leicester full-back Freddie Steward will make his Test bow, with five uncapped forwards also in from the off.
England head coach Eddie Jones challenged the new faces to make their mark when stepping up to a new level.
“Over the past three weeks our biggest message to the players is what an opportunity this is to show what they can do and make their mark with England,” said Jones.
“They’ve applied themselves as a group and worked very hard individually during this camp to reach their personal bests.
“Now it’s all about coming together as a team, gelling and putting in a good performance at the weekend.”
1⃣2⃣ uncapped players feature in the England squad to play @USARugby on Sunday 🏴🇺🇸
— England Rugby (@EnglandRugby) July 2, 2021
We can't wait to get back to @Twickenhamstad in front of fans 🏟️
Watch live on @Channel4 with kick off at 14:00 BST ⏰#ENGvUSA #WearTheRose @O2sports pic.twitter.com/NDpwlubtYW
Uncapped Gloucester flanker Lewis Ludlow will captain Jones’ men, with Newcastle’s Callum Chick also making his Test bow in the back-row.
Sale hooker Curtis Langdon, Leicester’s Joe Heyes and Bath’s Josh McNally are the other uncapped starters.
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