Leicester Tigers lock Ed Slater will make his England Saxons debut against Scotland A at Galashiels on Friday night (7.30pm).

Tigers centre Bill Twelvetrees retains his place at inside centre but No.8 Thomas Waldrom misses out after training with the senior side this week.

Young London Irish centre Jonathan Joseph also make his first appearance as the Saxons make eight changes following last weekend’s 23-17 win against the O2 Ireland Wolfhounds.

There are first starts in the backline for Joseph and wing Jonny May – replacing Matt Hopper (Harlequins) and Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby) - with Nick Abendanon in at full back for the suspended Delon Armitage (London Irish) and Ryan Lamb taking over from Freddie Burns at fly half.

Slater replaces London Irish’s Matt Garvey in the second row, Nick Wood and Chris Brooker are in for Matt Mullan (Worcester Warriors) and Joe Gray, and Tom Johnson is at No.8 in place of Waldrom.

England Saxons: Nick Abendanon (Bath Rugby); Ugo Monye (Harlequins), Jonathan Joseph (London Irish), Billy Twelvetrees (Leicester Tigers), Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby); Ryan Lamb (Northampton Saints), Ben Spencer (Saracens), Nick Wood (Gloucester Rugby), Chris Brooker (Harlequins), Paul Doran-Jones (Northampton Saints), Ed Slater (Leicester Tigers), George Robson (Harlequins), James Gaskell (Sale Sharks, captain), Andy Saull (Saracens), Tom Johnson (Exeter)

Reps: Joe Gray (Harlequins), Rupert Harden (Gloucester Rugby), Kearnan Myall (Sale Sharks), David Seymour (Sale Sharks), Paul Hodgson (London Irish), Freddie Burns (Gloucester Rugby), Miles Benjamin (Worcester Warriors)