Tom Curry has filled England's leadership void after being named captain for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener against Scotland at Murrayfield.
The 23-year-old back row becomes the country’s youngest skipper since Will Carling in 1988 and is appointed after injury ruled Owen Farrell and Courtney Lawes out of contention.
Marcus Smith has held off the challenge of George Ford to continue at out-half for the Calcutta Cup clash.
Smith will marshal a new-look midfield that features Henry Slade at inside centre and Elliot Daly in the 13 jersey, the position he filled for the Lions in the first two Tests of last summer’s South Africa tour.
Joe Marchant has recovered from Covid in time to take his place on the left wing while Max Malins takes the number 14 jersey, forcing Jack Nowell to settle for a spot among the replacements.
England have been ravaged by injury and the impact is also seen in the second and back rows.
Maro Itoje is joined at lock by Nick Isiekwe, who was only called into the squad last week as cover for Lawes.
A much changed back row sees Curry switched from number eight to openside, Lewis Ludlam take over at six and Sam Simmonds complete the trio.
Jonny Gray returns to Scotland's line-up for the first time since their defeat to Ireland last March.
After missing out on the Autumn Nations Cup matches through injury, Exeter's Gray returns at lock where he is joined by Edinburgh’s Grant Gilchrist in the second row, who will be one appearance away from reaching 50 caps after stepping out against England.
Worcester prop Rory Sutherland is named after playing in all of last year's Six Nations matches.
He is joined in the front row by Glasgow pair, hooker George Turner and prop Zander Fagerson.
Edinburgh duo Jamie Ritchie and Hamish Watson will combine with Matt Fagerson from Glasgow in the back row.
Racing 92’s Finn Russell and Glasgow’s Ali Price will partner each other at nine and 10 respectively for the fourth-consecutive game, while Worcester’s Duhan Van Der Merwe starts on the wing.
Darcy Graham will be on the opposite flank following some impressive form with Edinburgh.
Gloucester's Chris Harris and Glasgow’s Sam Johnson are set to combine in the centre once again, with captain Stuart Hogg starting at full-back in his ninth Calcutta Cup match.
Scotland: Stuart Hogg; Darcy Graham, Chris Harris, Sam Johnson, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, Ali Price; Rory Sutherland, George Turner, Zander Fagerson; Jonny Gray, Grant Gilchrist; Jamie Ritchie, Hamish Watson, Matt Fagerson
Replacements: Stuart McInally, Pierre Schoeman, WP Nel, Sam Skinner, Magnus Bradbury, Ben White, Blair Kinghorn, Sione Tuipulotu
England: Freddie Steward; Max Malins, Elliot Daly, Henry Slade, Joe Marchant; Marcus Smith, Ben Youngs; Ellis Genge, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Kyle Sinckler; Maro Itoje, Nick Isiekwe; Lewis Ludlam, Tom Curry (capt), Sam Simmonds.
Replacements: Jamie George, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Charlie Ewels, Alex Dombrandt, Harry Randall, George Ford, Jack Nowell.
