Harlequins No 8 Nick Easter is among 25 players recalled by Stuart Lancaster for the RBS 6 Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff on Friday evening.
The 47-Test 36 year-old, who started the last time England won at the Millennium Stadium in 2011, is back after a three-and-a-half-year international hiatus, stretching back to the Rugby World Cup quarter final defeat to France the same year.
While Lancaster’s group is shorn of a number of key players, including starters from last season’s 29-18 victory over Wales David Wilson, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Ben Morgan and Owen Farrell, the England Head Coach can call on a returning quartet of British and Irish Lions.
Leicester Tigers trio Dan Cole, Tom Croft and Tom Youngs make welcome returns to the international fold while Saracens loose-head prop Mako Vunipola is also back to join brother Billy after recovering from a dislocated knee cap.
Sale Sharks’ in-form fly half Danny Cipriani is also back for the first time since last summer’s tour to New Zealand, while another player in blistering club form, Bath Rugby centre Jonathan Joseph, makes a first appearance since the 2013 tour to Argentina.
Lancaster is refusing to dwell on the injury problems his side is facing ahead of a huge game in Cardiff, instead focussing on the international know-how he is able to select.
“Everyone named is fit and ready to go and we are looking forward to finalising our preparations over the next few days.
“While we have certain players unavailable through injury, it’s great to be able to welcome back guys who missed the QBE Internationals such as Dan Cole, Mako Vunipola and Tom Youngs.
“Their experience, alongside that of players like Tom Croft and Nick Easter, will be invaluable against a strong Welsh team.”
The squad will re-assemble at Pennyhill Park this evening, with the match-day 23 to face Wales announced at 9.45am on tomorrow.
Forwards (14)
Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers)
Nick Easter (Harlequins)
Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints)
James Haskell (Wasps)
George Kruis (Saracens)
Joe Marler (Harlequins)
Chris Robshaw (Harlequins, captain)
Henry Thomas (Bath Rugby)
Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Billy Vunipola (Saracens)
Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
Backs (11)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints)
Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks)
George Ford (Bath Rugby)
Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby)
Jack Nowell (Exeter Chiefs)
Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby)
Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby)
Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens)
Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers)
18 replies on “Six Nations 2015: England trim squad ahead of Wales test”
Very interesting. Either Croft or Easter will cover the second-row.
An extra TH as well, I wonder of they’re worried about Cole’s fitness?
Wigglesworth in for Care. Good.
Still can’t decide on No 12???
Vunipola must have impressed to push Corbisiero back home.
England are fine for props.
36 out. Slade in.
Burrell/36? Same as last year. I would like to see Slade on the bench but having said that I would also like to see Cips there too.
Cole can’t be one hundred percent. He’s had a handful of games for Leicester and a slight foot problem too. It may be a big call but I’d start with either Brookes or Thomas.
Wow. Kitchener must be wondering what he needs to do to get a cap. Injuries to Lawes, Launchbury, Parling, Slater and the 2nd row bench spot goes to a back row fwd who is well past his best and even at his peak only ever intermittently shone for England.
Bomber clearly is banking on experienced old heads in the 23. Still no Goode is a pleasant surprise.
Benjit, surely Easter is far from “well past his best”.
His age may suggest that he should be, but he seems to be playing fantastically well at the moment.
I was referring to Croft, who I assume will be providing the line out cover.
A 29 year old back rower is well past his best? Rather harsh. Had some injuries yeh, but to write him off seems a bit unnecessary, especially when fit he has looked like genuine world class in my book.
He’s extremely experienced too which will be key off the bench in Cardiff. SL obviously feel like having two inexperienced locks starting is a big enough risk so having a new cap off the bench isn’t what he wants.
I fear the injuries have robbed him of his pace, his one differentiator. Was never convinced of his world class credentials. But as an impact sub I always saw his value.
The retention of an extra back three is interesting. It means the centres are not yet agreed upon. If it’s Burrell/ Joseph then 12t will be in 23 in case a change of tactics is needed. But of 12t starts I don’t think they’d have Burrell on the bench and would go for a more traditional back 3 cover.
Personally I hope it’s Burrell and JJ. I think Burrell will have something to prove after his nightmare against Roberts.
Have we once again got the prep wrong?Wales is a foreign hostile country.The longer you spend in foreign surroundings the better you settle.SH teams on tour spend 6 days in the city hosting the next game.We only reassembled last night so at best will be in Cardiff 48 hours before ko.We were caught cold last time (why??) we are running the same risk again.Stick in the mud thinking.
Foreign teams on tour don’t have their regular base/training ground 2 hours down the road.
I don’t think anything that happens on friday will be the result of not having an experience of Welsh weather on the monday. Its not as if they would be on the lash in Cardiff Bay all week.
I think a lot of that is to do with adjusting themselves to the climate etc. Not something we have to worry about when playing Wales.
‘Foreign and hostile’ …..
Do you expect us now to roll out the red carpet and to bow and scrape before you?
White carpet, shurely?
Would have liked to see Care on the bench to inject extra pace if the game opened up a bit (maybe not the best of the three at the moment but a different kind of 9).. Also… Am I right to be concerned that I only count three lineout options including Croft?
On a brighter note; I can see a front row from this squad swallowing the likes of Gethin whole.
Haskell, Robshaw and Easter are all options – although they may only need Croft.