With Owen Farrell out with injury it was always going to be interesting to see how Eddie Jones lined up his midfield for England's Six Nations opener against Scotland at Murrayfield on Saturday.
He has picked Marcus Smith with the experienced heads of Henry Slade and Elliot Daly in the centres, the former playing in an unfamiliar inside-centre role with late call-up Daly outside of him.
Bristol are strongly represented in the front row with current star Kyle Sinckler and Bristol-born Ellis Genge, who re-joins the Bears next season packing down either side of Cornishman Luke Cowan-Dickie.
Bristol's Harry Randall makes the England bench for his first Six Nations and will be delighted to have made the squad ahead of Salke's Raffi Quirke, who was a star of the autumn.
Tom Curry captains England for the first time, but wears the number seven shirt amid speculation he may play at number eight, however Exeter Chiefs' Sam Simmonds has been picked there ahead of Harlequins' in form Alex Dombrandt, who is on the bench.
Joe Marchant makes his return following a positive COVID test earlier in the week and starts on the wing with Saracens' Max Malins on the opposite wing.
Nick Isiekwe and Lewis Ludlam are returning names in the pack in the absence of Courtney Lawes with Isiekwe packing down alongside Saracens teammate Maro Itoje in the second row.
Jack Nowell is fit for the bench on his England return as is George Ford, who was originally left out of the squad prior to the injury to Owen Farrell.
Eddie Jones told England Rugby : "As the first game, this match is hugely important to both sides and we will both want to get off to a winning start,"
"We have a good, young team but we understand the task ahead and we’ll be ready to go after it from the first kick.
"Tom Curry will captain the side for this game and has the respect of the team around him, in Owen and Courtney’s absence. He also has the support of the vice captains and other leaders in the team such as Maro Itoje and Ben Youngs.
"We have prepared really well for this game. We’ve had a number of obstacles thrown at us, but we’ve overcome them as a more together group and we’re looking forward to getting started."
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 5 caps)
14. Max Malins (Saracens, 10 caps)
13. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 52 caps)
12. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 43 caps)
11. Joe Marchant (Harlequins, 7 caps)
10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins, 5 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 112 caps)
1. Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers, 31 caps)
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Exeter Chiefs, 31 caps)
3. Kyle Sinckler (Bristol Bears, 47 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 51 caps)
5. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens, 3 caps)
6. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton Saints, 10 caps)
7. Tom Curry (c) (Sale Sharks, 36 caps)
8. Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs, 9 caps)
Finishers
16. Jamie George (Saracens, 61 caps)
17. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 74 caps)
18. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 15 caps)
19. Charlie Ewels (Bath Rugby, 26 caps)
20. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins, 4 caps)
21. Harry Randall (Bristol Bears, 2 caps)
22. George Ford (Leicester Tigers, 77 caps)
23. Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs, 34 caps)
