Interim England coach Stuart Lancaster has handed debuts to Phil Dowson, Owen Farrell and Brad Barritt as part of a new-look team for the Six Nations opener against Scotland on Sunday (England 4/7, Scotland 11/8, draw 20/1 – Match Betting).

Lancaster had promised to bring in some fresh blood and has stood by his word, including Dowson at No.8 for his first international appearance at the age of 30. Dowson will form a back row with new captain Chris Robshaw and Tom Croft, with Ben Morgan missing out.

Lancaster has turned to Saracens duo Barritt and Farrell to replicate their club form on the international scene after pairing them together at centre.

Sarries team-mates Charlie Hodgson and David Strettle are recalled to the side after extended absences from the national set-up, Hodgson starting at fly-half while Strettle is on the wing.

Mouritz Botha completes a heavy Saracens presence in the starting XV, joining Tom Palmer in the second row for just his second cap.

Lancaster has also named an inexperienced bench, with five uncapped players amongst the replacements, with Rob Webber, Geoff Parling, Morgan, Lee Dickson and Jordan Turner-Hall poised to make their debuts.

Lancaster said: “We have been impressed with how the whole group has come together in the last ten days and we have done a lot of work on and off the field.
 
“Now is the time to turn all that into a performance against Scotland that we can all be proud of. It is a massive challenge – Murrayfield, the first game of the Six Nations – but one we are relishing.”

England are 4/1 to retain their Six Nations crown, with France 6/4 and Wales 5/2.