CHARLIE Sharples has narrowly missed out on a place in England's match squad to take on Scotland at Murrayfield tomorrow (kick-off 5pm).

The Gloucester flyer (above) was just edged out in Stuart Lancaster's starting line-up by Saracens wing David Strettle.

And Harlequins full-back Mike Brown just won the battle for a seat on the bench, with England needing specialist 15 cover.

Neither starting wings Chris Ashton or Strettle can operate at full-back, so Lancaster has opted for Brown as his back-three bench cover.

The interim England boss has considered it easier for Brown to switch to wing rather than Sharples to shift to 15.

And given Scotland's propensity to hoof high to the sky – especially if the heavens open – that could prove shrewd.

So Sharples misses out, but will travel with the squad and is the 24th man.

Should any of the backs in the squad sustain injury, then he will come on to the bench.

Gloucester trio Jim Hamilton, Alasdair Strokosch and Scott Lawson have all made the Scotland squad, while Rory Lawson captains Scotland A against England Saxons.

Chris Robshaw captains England on just his second cap, becoming the least experienced England skipper since ex-Gloucester man Nigel Melville.

England have not won at Murrayfield since 2004, and this is one of two games in which Lancaster can prove his credentials for the full-time coaching role.

England are casting the net far and wide for a long-term head coach, but Lancaster has applied for the role.

ENGLAND: B Foden, C Ashton, B Barritt, O Farrell, D Strettle, C Hodgson, B Youngs, A Corbisiero, D Hartley, D Cole, M Botha, T Palmer, T Croft, C Robshaw (capt), P Dowson. Replacements: R Webber, M Stevens, G Parling, B Morgan, L Dickson, J Turner-Hall, M Brown.

SCOTLAND: R Lamont, L Jones, N De Luca, S Lamont, M Evans, D Parks, C Cusiter, A Jacobsen, R Ford (capt), E Murray, R Gray, J Hamilton, A Strokosch, R Rennie, D Denton. Replacements: S Lawson, G Cross, A Kellock, J Barclay, M Blair, G Laidlaw, G Morrison.