Marcus Smith will start at full-back in Saturday’s Autumn Nations Series against Fiji as one of seven changes to the England squad.
Smith will replace the injured Freddie Steward, while Tommy Freeman will shift from center to wing in place of Tom Roebuck due to an ankle injury, Olly Lawrence will start at outside center and Finn Smith will start at fly-half in place of George Ford.
In the forwards, loosehead Ellis Genge, hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie, lock Alex Coles and back-rower Chandler Cunningham-South will start.
Ben Earl was shifted from number eight to openside flanker in place of Sam Underhill, while captain Maro Itoje was dropped to the bench in a Test for England for the first time since November 2017.
Itoje has been named as a possible replacement and will co-captain the team alongside Genge at Twickenham. They are supported by vice-captains Jamie George, Fraser Dingwall and Ollie Chetham.
Alongside Freeman and Earl, players who will maintain their positions from the start are center Fraser Dingwall, winger Immanuel Fay-Waboso, scrumhalf Alex Mitchell, tighthead Joe Hayes, lock Ollie Chetham and blindside flanker Guy Pepper.
Captain Maro Itoje will start on the bench in a Test for England for the first time since November 2017.
“Last weekend’s game against Australia was a good start to the series and we know we need to take another step forward against Fiji,” Borthwick said.
“Our focus this week is to improve on last weekend’s performance and continue to develop our game.
“Fiji are a dangerous team with power and quality all over the pitch. They play with physicality and skill, so we need to bring intensity, precision and discipline to everything we do.”
“It means a lot to the players to be able to play in front of their supporters at Allianz Stadium again and the team is determined to deliver a performance they can be proud of.”
England national team plays against Fiji
Starting XV: 15. Marcus Smith, 14. Tommy Freeman, 13. Ollie Lawrence. 12. Fraser Dingwall, 11. Immanuel Fay-Waboso, 10. Finn Smith, 9. Alex Mitchell. 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Luke Cowan-Dickie, 3. Joe Hayes, 4. Alex Coles, 5. Ollie Chetham, 6. Guy Pepper, 7. Ben Earl, 8. Chandler Cunningham-South.
Substitutes: 16. Jamie George, 17. Finn Baxter, 18. Asher Opoku-Forjour, 19. Maro Itoje, 20. Tom Curry, 21. Henry Pollock, 22. Ben Spencer, 23. Henry Arundel.
England Autumn Nations Series Schedule
November 1st
England 25-7 Australia – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham
November 8th
England vs Fiji – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (5.40pm)
November 15th
England vs New Zealand – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (3:10pm)
November 23rd
England vs Argentina – Allianz Stadium, Twickenham (4.10pm)
