Jack Willis, after his outstanding season with Wasps, makes his debut as the hype train continues apace. He looks a very good player and let’s hope it goes well, but everyone needs to calm down quite a bit and let this early part of his career play out without badging him as as the Fantastic Four all rolled into one young man. His surprising partner on the flank is Maro Itoje who moves from his usual berth of being the one of the best locks on the planet, and there’s also starts in the pack for Charlie Ewels, Joe Launchbury and Will Stuart.
Fit again Elliot Daly replaces George Furbank at fullback, with Jonathan Joseph moved to the wing to both cover for the injured Anthony Watson and accomodate young Ollie Lawrence in midfield. Max Malins, who was at the heart of everything good at Bristol post-lockdown one, is on the bench with Joe Marchant.
Georgia shuffle their forwards a bit and also replace Soso Matiashvili at fullback after his mini horror show vs Scotland with Lasha Khmaladze. Gela Aprasidze, the still young scrum half is back in the starting line-up to win his 23rd cap at the age of 22.
England: Elliot Daly; Jonathan Joseph, Ollie Lawrence, Henry Slade, Jonny May; Owen Farrell (capt), Ben Youngs; Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Will Stuart, Charlie Ewels, Joe Launchbury, Maro Itoje, Jack Willis, Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Tom Dunn, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Kyle Sinckler, 19 Ben Earl, 20 Tom Curry, 21 Dan Robson, 22 Max Malins, 23 Joe Marchant.
Georgia: Lasha Khmaladze; Akaki Tabutsadze, Giorgi Kveseladze, Merab Sharikadze (capt), Sandro Svanidze; Tedo Abzhandadze, Gela Aprasidze; Mikheil Naraashvili, Shalva Mamukashvili, Beka Gigashvili, Lasha Jaiani, Grigol Kerdikoshvili, Beka Saghinadze, Giorgi Tkhilaishvili, Beka Gorgadze.
Replacements: 16 Jaba Bregvadze, 17 Guram Gogichashvili, 18 Lexo Kaulashvili, 19 Otar Giorgadze, 20 Tornike Jalaghonia, 21 Vasil Lobzhanidze, 22 Deme Tapladze, 23 Sandro Todua.