Steve Borthwick and Gregor Townsend both name Bath Rugby duos for their Summer Nations fixtures this weekend.
stuart & Lawrence in for England
Borthwick has selected tighthead, Will Stuart, for his second start in as many games in the Summer Nations Series.
The prop is one of four players to retain their place in Borthwick’s starting XV after England’s defeat to Wales at the Principality Stadium last weekend.
Stuart was named in Borthwick’s official Rugby World Cup squad earlier this week and will head to France for the World Rugby competition next month.
Playing at Twickenham on Saturday, Stuart will take to the field in the front row alongside Joe Marler and Jamie George.
Getting his first run out of the summer, Ollie Lawrence, who has also been named in Borthwick’s Rugby World Cup squad, will add to his 11 England Rugby caps.
The centre was named Premiership Rugby’s Player of the Season earlier this year and was the hot topic of the 2022/23 season.
Lawrence has returned to full fitness after rehabilitating with England over the summer, making himself available to face Wales at Twickenham this weekend.
Saturday’s Summer Nations Series clash against Wales will be shown live on Amazon Prime Video, with their subsequent games against Ireland (19 Aug) and Fiji (26 Aug) also being streamed on the platform.
England XV: 15 Freddie Steward, 14 Henry Arundell, 13 Joe Marchant, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Elliot Daly, 10 Owen Farrell (c), 9 Jack van Poortvliet; 1 Joe Marler, 2 Jamie George, 3 Will Stuart, 4 Maro Itoje, 5 George Martin, 6 Courtney Lawes, 7 Ben Earl, 8 Billy Vunipola
Replacements: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Ellis Genge, 18 Dan Cole, 19 Jonny Hill, 20 Jack Willis, 21 Ben Youngs, 22 George Ford, 23 Max Malins
Russell & Bayliss line up for the scots
Elsewhere, Townsend has announced his third team of the Summer Nations Series, selecting Finn Russell at fly-half and as vice-captain.
The playmaker assisted Scotland to a win after trailing three points to 21 at half-time against Six Nations champions France last weekend.
Playing them once again on Saturday but on their own turf, Russell will look to ignite the magic early on to get an early advantage over Les Bleus and some of his former Racing 92 teammates.
Also named in Townsend’s matchday-23 is Josh Bayliss who will don the 21 jersey as he comes off the bench in Scotland’s six-two split.
After scoring a try any wing would be proud of in Scotland’s opening summer fixture, Bayliss certainly made a good impression off the bench and will be looking for some of the same try-line fever against France.
Scotland’s match takes place on Saturday 12 August at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, St Etienne, kick-off 20:05.
Scotland XV: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Sione Tuipulotu, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell (vc), 9 Ali Price; 1 Pierre Schoeman, 2 George Turner, 3 WP Nel, 4 Richie Gray, 5 Grant Gilchrist (vc), 6 Jamie Ritchie, 7 Rory Darge, 8 Jack Dempsey
Replacements: 16 Stuart McInally, 17 Rory Sutherland, 18 Javan Sebastian, 19 Scott Cummings, 20 Sam Skinner, 21 Josh Bayliss, 22 George Horne, 23 Ollie Smith
CATCH OUR INTERNATIONALS IN ACTION THIS SEASON
Secure yourself a Club Membership and get yourself priority ticket access to all Bath Rugby home fixtures ahead of general sale!
You’ll also unlock a host of other benefits, including exclusive member content, matchday discount at the bars and member-only invites to exclusive Bath Rugby events.
BECOME A CLUB MEMBER