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Six Nations: Billy Twelvetrees to make England debut v Scotland

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Unioncomments379

Gloucester centre Billy Twelvetrees

Gloucester centre Billy Twelvetrees will make his England debut in Saturday's Six Nations match against Scotland at Twickenham.

Twelvetrees, 24, replaces Manu Tuilagi and forms a midfield partnership with Brad Barritt of Saracens.

The only other change from the starting XV that beat New Zealand 38-21 in December is Joe Marler in for Alex Corbisiero at loose-head prop.

Tom Youngs retains his place at hooker ahead of Dylan Hartley.

Leicester's Youngs, who wins his fifth cap, replaced Northampton's injured Hartley for the autumn internationals, which culminated in England's stunning defeat of the world champions.

Six of the Best: England v Scotland

Hartley, fly-half Toby Flood and winger David Strettle come on to the replacements' bench for David Paice, Freddie Burns and Jonathan Joseph respectively.

Twelvetrees is not a like-for-like replacement for Tuilagi but he has a more rounded game than the Leicester man, offering a kicking game and a presence as a second playmaker outside Owen Farrell.

"We are happy to stick with the team that did so well against New Zealand, especially in light of the fact that they have all been in good form for their clubs since then," said England head coach Stuart Lancaster.

"There were some very tight calls, with some experienced players coming back into contention, and I am sure the bench will have a significant impact on the game.

"We can't wait to get back to Twickenham and hopefully experience the same atmosphere as the autumn when the crowd was superb.

"It means a lot to the players to have such support in the ground and watching on television."

Twelvetrees joined the Leicester academy in 2007 and made his first appearance for the Tigers in 2009, scoring a try in a 14-point haul.

He was called up by the England Saxons in 2011 and moved to Gloucester at the end of last season.

Scotland are seeking their first victory at Twickenham since 1983.

England team: Alex Goode (Saracens), Chris Ashton (Saracens), Brad Barritt (Saracens), Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester), Mike Brown (Harlequins); Owen Farrell (Saracens), Ben Youngs (Leicester); Joe Marler (Harlequins), Tom Youngs (Leicester), Dan Cole (Leicester), Joe Launchbury (London Wasps), Geoff Parling (Leicester), Tom Wood (Northampton), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), Ben Morgan (Gloucester)

Replacements: Dylan Hartley (Northampton), David Wilson (Bath), Mako Vunipola (Saracens), Courtney Lawes (Northampton), James Haskell (London Wasps), Danny Care (Harlequins), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), David Strettle (Saracens)

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379 comments

  • Comment posted by U15129032, at 10:40 31 Jan 2013

    Is anyone else ridiculously excited for the 6 nations?

  • Comment posted by U15061103, at 10:27 31 Jan 2013

    I am glad SL has gone with Twelvetrees to start, I was dreading seeing Farrel, Flood and Barritt (10,12,13). Hopefully he can stand up to international rugby!

    Also good to see Tom Youngs get ahead of Hartley

  • Comment posted by U15259510, at 11:49 31 Jan 2013

    Midas, generally Twelvetrees will get the ball before Barritt as they are 12 and 13 respectively.

    Oliver, when Goode steps in at 10 it will be good to have Twelvetrees outside of him. It is a defensive headache for Scotland. If Flood and TT live up either side of a central scrum with Goode behind it the ball could go either way and still be run! England are looking beyond just a crash ball game!

  • Comment posted by GM Massingbird, at 10:38 31 Jan 2013

    I agree, the Pack does look very solid with the the only question mark over Marler.

    The backs have quality, good deffense but lacking a little pace for me. can't see us scoring from 50 yards out but then again since we rarely do, why play sprinters.

    I just don't think Foden did anything to deserve being ommited.

  • Comment posted by U15596678, at 17:13 31 Jan 2013

    257 bullitjw NZ were falling off the tackles because Eng were SOOOOO good that day! If NZ were so poor they wouldnt have scored 3 tries or crossed engs try line twice in the last 10 mins. And dont even get me started on that virus rubbish that hit them BEFORE the welsh game yet there is no mention of how wales were thrashed by an ill NZ team.....

  • Comment posted by bilbo, at 11:57 31 Jan 2013

    @73 I can't wait either :-) Hoping for a great tournament!

    Should be a cracker on Saturday....could be a close run thing as well.

    I'm lucky enough to have tickets for England v Italy on March 10th :-)

  • Comment posted by U15522366, at 10:26 31 Jan 2013

    Thank you BBC.

  • Comment posted by Caludrup, at 21:20 31 Jan 2013

    Selecting twelve trees is cheating in my opinion...

  • Comment posted by U3125334, at 17:18 31 Jan 2013

    Looks a good side obviously you lose something without Manu but you gain something else in twelvetrees who longer term might make a more creative partner for him anyway. Corbs is a big miss mind although marler/vunipola arent bad backups. Will be good to see Lawes, Hartley and Haskell all involved again as well its a strong bench.

  • Comment posted by Bosnia Herzegovina, at 17:02 31 Jan 2013

    @finlay307

    It's different because England actually develop the foreign born players in our side ie Hartley, Manu. Only Botha and Barritt are the only contentious ones. And Botha didn't become professional until he came here and wasn't capped until 4 years after the residency period was complete.

    Scotland have capped a guy straight out of the Super XV. That my friend, is poaching.

  • Comment posted by os99, at 18:48 1 Feb 2013

    I don't think Twelvetrees has developed any further since moving to Gloucester, he's been performing in the premiership and amlin. At international level, defensively he will be exposed like he was for Leicester and he has shown many times that he lacks the big-game temperament when it matters. He has good distribution skills, but when put under pressure he rarely uses them.

  • Comment posted by U14784336, at 18:29 1 Feb 2013

    Justin150, maybe you're right and maybe Hartley doesn't fully deserve his bad press. But I reckon Youngs will give away fewer penalties and offers more speed in the loose. Youngs is a real find in my view.

  • Comment posted by Chad, at 20:53 31 Jan 2013

    Hmmm - Twelvetrees. Not sure. I'm Gloucester born but live in Gala and saw him and the England A side humped 35-0 by Scotland A at Netherdale last Feb. Mind you Duncan Weir was at 10 that night and was majestic.

  • Comment posted by U13719821, at 18:35 31 Jan 2013

    @Wessexman

    Maybe Telfer wasn't so off the mark after all.

    Do you know, not many of the Scottish posts have said anything degrading towards the English.
    O well, I guess it's no wonder nobody likes you.

  • Comment posted by U15569099, at 15:21 31 Jan 2013

    36!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Comment posted by U14132132, at 15:15 31 Jan 2013

    178 Georgieee3 - It's been pointed out that over the last 7 years games between the 2 have been very close so your're very wide of the mark. Pot and kettle in reference to Telfer? You suggesting he's arrogant or pretentious?! Any knowledge him and you'd know that to be the complete opposite. He is renowned for telling it as it is, and what he believes it to be - which doesn't mean he's right!

  • Comment posted by Adam, at 14:52 31 Jan 2013

    Aside from England being a bit stronger 'on paper', belief will determine this. If Scotland start badly then they could really be in for it. If they start well then the England boys might forget NZ and start remembering Aus and SA. That said, even if Scotland have a good first half, they wont relish the likes of Hartley, Lawes and Haskell trotting off the subs bench...

  • Comment posted by nickthefish, at 14:47 31 Jan 2013

    If England are allowed to play like they did against NZ Scotland don't have a chance. But Scottish strength is always in stopping us doing that , so who knows..

  • Comment posted by FredandGinger1, at 14:30 31 Jan 2013

    The big difference is the bench. Lawes, haskell, vunipola, hartley - lots of grunt and aggression to bring into the last 20 or 30 minutes of the game.

  • Comment posted by HonestOpinion, at 13:45 31 Jan 2013

    IMMEDIATE OBSERVATION -

    - The English team don't have many caps between them

    - Big time lacking in experience

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