sport news CHRIS FOY: Maro Itoje backs England to be energised by fresh faces against ... trends now
England are ready for a hunger game against Scotland, with Maro Itoje expecting the national team to be energised by the inclusion of so many players who were previously out of favour.
When Steve Borthwick named his first England line-up on Thursday, for the Six Nations opener against Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday, there were rewards for so many contenders who maintained ambitions and standards, in defiance of repeated disappointments.
England's new era will be galvanised by all those men brought in from the cold.
In the back line, Ollie Hassell-Collins is finally poised for the debut that many feel is long overdue, on the evidence of his consistent exploits for London Irish, and Max Malins has been restored on the other wing after being savagely criticised and ditched by Eddie Jones.
Joe Marchant's prospects appeared so bleak that he willingly agreed a summer move to Stade Francais, but now he has been preferred to Manu Tuilagi in midfield.
Maro Itoje believes England will be energised by new faces when they face Scotland
Up front, the entire England pack have had their credentials questioned en masse, in the aftermath of the set-piece ordeal at the hands of South Africa which sealed Jones' fate.
But on an individual basis, Ben Curry has earned his shot after living in the shadow of twin brother Tom for years, and Ben Earl is another who has been harshly judged and dismissed, but has fought tenaciously to earn a bench role.
Dan Cole is also among the replacements, for a fairytale comeback at 35. Even the golden boys at half-back, Jack van Poortvliet and Marcus Smith, have endured bumps in the road and doubts over their credentials.
Itoje's place was never in doubt but he can recognise the commitment of those who have had to give body and soul to the task of making the cut in Borthwick's new-era 23.
When asked about his Saracens team-mate Earl, Itoje said: 'It's a very tough experience for players when they feel they're improving and not necessarily getting the rewards for that. Weaker-minded players might have given up or perhaps decided to go abroad.
'He's always been incredibly passionate about playing for England. It's always been his big desire. As his team-mate at club and country, I'm incredibly proud of the diligence and hard work he's put into his game that we see every week, but also his mental fortitude to stick at it.'
Itoje acknowledged this common trait among so many team-mates who have persevered during long periods in Test exile.
'Those types of players — who have been on the wrong side of selection for a while but haven't given up or announced their retirement from international rugby — they haven't gone
