Predicted: How England could line up in their Six Nations opener

Eddie Jones' men head into the 2021 Six Nations as one of the favourites of the tournament.

The 2020 Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup champions open their campaign in a Calcutta Cup clash with Scotland on February 6 at Twickenham.

Outright odds for 6 Nations Winner

England - EVS

France - 11/4

Ireland - 7/2

Wales - 12/1

Scotland - 20/1

Italy - 500/1

_{Odds as of 29 January 2021, via Paddy Power}

Eddie Jones has been dealt early blows ahead of the competition with Joe Marler making himself unavailable while Mako Vunipola still nurses an injury picked up in the Autumn Nations Cup.

Further blows have seen Joe Launchbury and Sam Underhill being ruled out through injury.

We have a crack at predicting how England may line up for their opening game.

1. Ellis Genge

With Marler ruling himself out of the tournament and the unlikeliness that Vunipola will be fit for the opener, Genge looks seat to earn his 9th start for England.

2. Jamie George

George has been a regular starter for England ever-since Dylan Hartley's torrid run of injuries. That is unlikely to change even if Goerge's most recent game was against France in the Autumn Nations Cup.

3. Will Stuart

Stuart enjoyed a breakout year with the test side last year and with Kyle Sinckler suspended, Stuart looks set to assume the starting jumper against Scotland.

4. Maro Itoje

A certain starter and one of the first names on the teamsheet. 

5. Courtney Lawes

Joe Launchbury and Maro Itoje formed a powerful second row for England during the Autumn Nations Cup but with the former injured, the spot alongside Itoje is open.

Charlie Ewels would have put his hand up in training having missed out initially while Jonny Hill is making strides but we are expecting Jones to turn to Lawes for the start of the competition.

6. Mark Wilson

Eddie Jones has tinkered with his back row since the Rugby World Cup in Japan but Tom Curry and Sam Underhill were mainstays in the starting XV.

With Underhill absent this week, we have backed Mark Wilson to return to the starting XV. 

Earlier in the week, John Mitchell spoke of Wilson and Ben Earl battling it out for a spot in the back row saying: “As for Ben and Mark Wilson, Mark is an experienced back rower and Ben is an exciting young back rower who every campaign is making progress. It’s awesome to see these guys as people get better as back rowers as they go through each of the campaigns. 

With the numerous enforced changes in the pack, we are backing Wilson to come in a provide a similar impact to that of Underhill with Earl providing cover on the bench.

7. Tom Curry

Like Itoje, Curry has been one of the first names on any of Eddie Jones' teamsheet in recent times and rightly so.

Curry has moved around the back row starting in the #7 jersey before switch to the #6 and started a few Six Nations clashes in the #8 last year.

It's unclear if Underhill's replacement will wear the #7 jersey or not but one thing is certain, Tom Curry will start.

8. Billy Vunipola

Vunipola like many of the Saracens stars in the England squad hasn't got much rugby under his belt since the Autumn Nations Cup but the big ball carrier looks a certain starter for England.

Returning to the side for the latter stages of the Six Nations last year and the Autumn Nations Cup, Vunipola looked to be recapturing some of his best form with his last game for the side, v France, seeing him being named man of the match.

9. Ben Youngs

While a lot can change in three months, one thing that is unlikely to change is the starting England scrumhalf.

Ben Youngs became just the second Englishman to reach 100 test matches during the Autumn Nations Cup and looks on track to retain his starting role.

Harry Randall and Dan Robson are in the squad to rival Youngs for the starting jersey but Jones is likely to give the pair limited minutes off the bench.

10. George Ford

The Ford-Farrell axis starting axis returned again for the Autumn Nations Cup clash against Wales with George Ford returning from injury.

A fully fit Ford means that he will rekindle the partnership with his captain. Before the rescheduled Six Nations clash with Italy last year, England's last Six Nations match without Ford in the 23 was against Scotland in February 2014.

11. Jonny May

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May put in a few standout performances during the Autumn Nations Cup including a memorable solo try.

He is another certain starter for England.

12. Owen Farrell (c)

With Ford back to full fitness, Farrell is set to captain the side from the midfield as he did in the final two test matches of 2020.

13. Henry Slade

With the likes of Ollie Lawrence and Paolo Odogwu in the squad, Henry Slade will be feeling the pressure for a starting role.

He started at outside centre for England's last two games of the year while also featuring at inside centre for the opening two games of the Autumn Nations Cup and final two of the Six Nations. 

14. Anthony Watson

Watson is another favoured selection for Jones and understandably so. The 26-year-old is an extremely gifted and well-rounded player.

Jones is likely to keep Watson in his starting XV to start the tournament but with numerous form players in the squad, we may see a surprising pick.

15. Elliot Daly

Jones started 2020 testing George Furbank at fullback but by the end of the year Elliot Daly was once again in the #15 jumper.

Another regular in the starting line up, if Daly is not at fullback he will surely start on the wing.

Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Ben Obano, Harry Williams, Jonny Hill, Ben Earl, Dan Robson, Max Malins, Ollie Lawrence