England have handed out four Six Nations debuts ahead of Friday night’s championship opener against Wales in Cardiff.
Head coach Stuart Lancaster had named a preliminary 25-man squad yesterday, but that’s been cut by two this morning, with Jack Nowell and Henry Thomas on reserve.
In the pack, Dan Cole is in line to play for his country for the first time in a year, after being picked at tight-head.
Cole missed the final three games of last year’s championship with a neck injury, and a leg injury in December looked to have cast further doubt on his participation, but an injury to David Wilson means he’s sprung back into test action sooner than expected.
He’s alongside Dylan Hartley and Harlequins captain Joe Marler in the front row, while the second row sees Bath’s Dave Attwood partner George Kruis of Saracens, who is making his first appearance in the competition, after making his debut in November.
Billy Vunipola continues at number 8, with captain Chris Robshaw and James Haskell flanking him.
Ben Youngs gets the nod at scrum half, while it’s a Six Nations debut for Bath starlet George Ford at outhalf, coming in to replace the injured Owen Farrell.
It’s also a Six Nations debut for Jonathan Joseph in the centre, as he partners Northampton’s Luther Burrell in midfield.
Mike Brown and Jonny May continue in the back three, while Anthony Watson makes his first championship appearance on the left wing, after featuring in all four of England’s November Internationals.
England:Â M Brown, J May, L Burrell, J Joseph, A Watson, G Ford, B Youngs; J Marler, D Hartley, D Cole, D Attwood, G Kruis, J Haskell, C Robshaw, B Vunipola.
