Ben White
(Picture: Getty Images)London Irish scrum-half Ben White will make his just second Test start when Scotland take on England for the Calcutta Cup on Saturday.
England Under-20s cap White has impressed with the Exiles since leaving Leicester in 2021, breaking in through at Test level with Scotland.
Now head coach Gregor Townsend has installed White to start from the off for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener at Twickenham, in a slew of big selection calls.
Scotland boss Townsend insisted he had “backed form” by starting White, wing Kyle Steyn and centre Huw Jones.
White came off the bench to score on his Test debut in Scotland’s 20-17 win over England in last year’s Six Nations, with Townsend praising the 24-year-old's consistent impact since.
“Ben only made his debut last year, he scored a try in this fixture after only being on the field for a minute or two,” he said. “He’s really impressed us since he’s come into this group, he started in the summer in the second Test against Argentina and played really well.
“He’s been waiting for opportunities but we feel his form for London Irish since the autumn has gone on to another level, in his kicking game, his competitiveness, looking for gaps as well, and his defence, so we’re delighted to have him starting.
“We’ve backed form now and that means a couple of really experienced players who’ve played a lot of rugby for us have missed out. But we firmly believe this is the strongest squad we can pick for this weekend.”
Influential flanker Hamish Watson misses out amid continued recovery from concussion.
Prop Zander Fagerson was unable to beat his hamstring injury in time to take on England, but is expected to be available for Scotland’s trip to Wales on Saturday, February 11.
South Africa-born wing Steyn has taken over as Glasgow captain this season, with Townsend hailing the 29-year-old's improved leadership.
"We firmly believe this is the strongest squad we can pick for this weekend,” said Townsend. “Kyle’s really evolved as a leader, getting that captaincy role has brought the best out of him.
“But the most important thing is how he has been playing. He’s shown that he’s suited for Test level. He’s not had a huge amount of opportunity with us, but he’s ready for this one.
“Huw Jones has been in brilliant form, physically he’s in his best shape, but the way he’s attacked, his shape, the running lines, the way he’s defended in terms of system in the tackle.
“Hamish Watson we know is such a quality, experienced player and one of our leaders. But given he’d been out for more than two months, we just felt one game wasn’t enough to get him back to Test level. He’s training, training well and he’ll still be an option for us across the campaign.
“Zander Fagerson was very close, he should be available the following week, we’re pretty confident in that.”
Scotland XV: S Hogg, K Steyn, H Jones, S Tuipulotu, D Van Der Merwe, F Russell, B White, P Schoeman, G Turner, WP Nel, R Gray, G Gilchrist, J Ritchie (capt), L Crosbie, M Fagerson.
Replacements: F Brown, J Bhatti, S Berghan, J Gray, J Dempsey, G Horne, B Kinghorn, C Harris.
