England’s George Martin Ruled Out of Six Nations Clash Against Scotland, Ted Hill Steps In

England lock George Martin has been ruled out of Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations showdown against Scotland, forcing a late change to Steve Borthwick’s squad.

The 23-year-old Leicester forward, who was set to feature on England’s bench for the Calcutta Cup clash, has been replaced by Bath’s Ted Hill.

George Martin’s Injury Setback

Martin, who started in England’s dramatic 26-25 victory over France, has been managing a knee issue and suffered a setback in training. Ollie Chessum has already taken Martin’s place in the starting lineup alongside captain Maro Itoje, with Hill stepping onto the bench.

England attack coach Richard Wigglesworth addressed the decision, explaining:

“Unfortunately, George Martin had a bit of a setback this morning, so he’s been withdrawn from the 23, and Ted Hill comes onto the bench in his place.”

Martin had taken a few knocks following the France game, and while England initially expected him to be fit, Wigglesworth emphasized the importance of being 100% ready for a Test match:

“To play at this level, you have to be close to a hundred per cent. He’s not quite right this morning, so we made that decision pre-training.”

Ted Hill Returns to England’s Squad

Ted Hill, 25, is set to win his third England cap this weekend, marking his first international appearance since 2021.

Hill made his Test debut in 2018 against Japan before coming off the bench in a 43-29 victory over the USA in 2021. Now, after a string of impressive performances for Bath, he is ready to make his mark on the international stage again.

Wigglesworth praised Hill’s athleticism and versatility:

“He’s an incredible athlete—quick across the ground, quick in the air at line-out time. He’s got a different set of super strengths to George Martin, but we’ll expect him to bring the best of himself when he comes on.”

Will England go on to beat Scotland?