England bench Hartley for Samoa finale

England will have a new Test captain for the first time under coach Eddie Jones after he left Dylan Hartley on the bench for Saturday's international against Samoa at Twickenham.

Northampton hooker Hartley has been at the helm while England have won 21 out of 22 Tests since Jones took over following the hosts' first-round exit at the 2015 World Cup.

But he was among the replacements named by the Australian on Thursday for England's final Test of 2017, with Jamie George, the British and Irish Lions' first-choice hooker during this year's drawn series in New Zealand, given a full England debut.

George is one of nine changes to the starting XV that defeated Australia 30-6 at Twickenham last week.

Fly-half George Ford and former skipper Chris Robshaw, the back-row forward, will co-captain England in Hartley's absence as they did in a non-cap international against the Barbarians in May.

"This week it is an opportunity for some squad members who haven't been playing to put their best foot forward," said Jones.

The former Australia and Japan coach has made changes across the board in his most major overhaul since taking charge of England.

- Farrell rested again -

In the backs, first-choice goalkicker Owen Farrell is rested for the second time this month, having also missed England's opening 21-8 victory over Argentina, and is not even on the bench.

His absence paves the way for a new centre partnership of Alex Lozowski and Henry Slade, with Jonathan Joseph having already been dropped earlier this week.

Danny Care starts at scrum-half in place of Ben Youngs, while Mike Brown returns at fullback after recovering from concussion in a back three where wings Elliot Daly and Jonny May have kept their places.

Up front, injuries to Nathan Hughes and Sam Underhill forced Jones to reshape his back-row.

Robshaw makes his first England start at openside flanker since Jones took over, Sam Simmonds is given a full debut at No.8 and Maro Itoje is drafted in at blindside flanker.

Robshaw's move to No.7 comes despite Jones saying in a newspaper column before he became England coach that the Harlequins back-row was only a "six-and-a-half at best".

Joe Launchbury, man-of-the-match against Australia, retains his second row place but Courtney Lawes has been benched in favour of Charlie Ewels.

- 'Physical Samoa' -

As well as bringing in George to the front row, Jones picked Ellis Genge at loosehead prop, with Mako Vunipola no longer even in the matchday 23.

"This is an exciting squad to play against Samoa and we are expecting them to be immensely physical and committed this weekend," said Jones.

"We want to follow up last week's performance against Australia and play better again this week," he added.

Cash-strapped Samoa, who announced their side late on Wednesday, have made three changes to the team that surprisingly lost 17-13 to Romania last week.

Alapati Leiua starts at inside centre instead of Rey Lee-Lo, now on the bench.

TJ Ioane has been recalled at openside flanker, with Jack Lam moving across to No.8 in place of the now-benched Ofisa Treviranus.

The other change made by coach Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua sees Josh Tyrell replace Faatiga Lemalu in the second row.

Teams (15-1)

England

Mike Brown; Jonny May, Henry Slade, Alex Lozowski, Elliot Daly; George Ford (co-capt), Danny Care; Sam Simmonds, Chris Robshaw (co-capt), Maro Itoje; Charlie Ewels, Joe Launchbury; Dan Cole, Jamie George, Ellis Genge

Replacements: Dylan Hartley, Joe Marler, Harry Williams, Nick Isiekwe, Courtney Lawes, Ben Youngs, Piers Francis, Semesa Rokoduguni

Coach: Eddie Jones (AUS)

Samoa

Ahsee Tuala; Paul Perez, Kieron Fonotia, Alapati Leiua, David Lemi; Tim Nanai-Williams, Dwayne Polataivao; Jack Lam, TJ Ioane, Piula Faasalele; Chris Vui (capt), Josh Tyrell; Donald Brighouse, Motu Matu'u, Jordan Lay

Replacements: Manu Leiataua, James Lay, Hisa Sasagi, Faatiga Lemalu, Ofisa Treviranus, Melani Matavao, Rey Lee-Lo, JJ Taulagi

Coach: Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua (SAM)

Source: AFP