Should start: Owen Farrell
England have received a mixed bag of injury news ahead of Saturday's Six Nations decider against Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
Number eight Ben Morgan has been ruled due to an ankle injury suffered during the opening-day victory over Scotland but fly-half Owen Farrell is fit to train having recovered from his quad injury and is expected to start.
There are however also concerns over the fitness of forwards Geoff Parling (shoulder), Joe Launchbury (elbow) and Courtney Lawes (arm).
"Ben will stay at Gloucester this week. We knew his ankle would take six to eight weeks and he won't make it in time," said head coach Stuart Lancaster.
England were given a wake up call at Twickenham on Sunday when they scraped to an 18-11 victory over Italy in what was easily their worst performance of the championship.
"We have had a chance to review the game and there were lots of areas we were pleased with, but I wouldn't call it a blessing in disguise," said Lancaster.
"I'm not of the mindset as a coach that I'd want to not get areas right in order to get ourselves in the right place to play a game. We've definitely got plenty to work on.
"It's a massive game because of the context of the result, which is huge for both teams," he added.
"We're a young team and a lot of our players haven't played there before, so going to that type of environment is exactly the test we want.
"It's a couple of years until 2015 and we know that we've got Wales in what will be a big high-pressure game.
"For a team to get that type of experience now and go up there and try to win a Grand Slam will be a special occasion."
Comments
DavidCartwright says...
Owen Farrell back at 10 is good news. I'd start Tom Youngs at hooker, Ben Youngs at scrum half, Tom Croft at 6 (keeping Tom Wood at no. 8). I'd move Mike Brown to 15 and bring in Ben Foden on the wing. The second row seems a big challenge due to injury but I think we can cover that from the elite squad. I think the players England can put on the bench shows a great strength in depth. So much looking forward to Saturday!
Posted 00:16 14th March 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
It is a shame that nobody else in the england backline can click with toby flood. Flood is a good ten, but maybe the reason Farrel works so well with England is because he keeps it so simple. If Farrel used the backline more then you'd wonder if England would look any less shambolic than when Flood tries to pull the strings. I kinda wish Flood and 36 had more time together vs italy.
Its a moot point though Farrel has to start vs wales and then its ten man rugby and the odd pass to Manu if we're in the welsh 22. ......It might even work!
Posted 14:13 13th March 2013
Warrior7 says...
Centre 12 - no matter how people keep going on about him Varndell is still poor defensively, and against a side with a fullback that can tackle or have a good cover defense he looks poor in attack.
Posted 16:48 12th March 2013
lawynd says...
@ArmchairGeneral - my suggestion depends on who plays at hooker and who we lose, but worst case scenario and with Youngs starting, then Lancaster should promote Kitchener or Deacon; the former replaces Launchbury's athleticism in the loose and the latter is significant ballast in the engine room, with both good lineout technicians and, crucially, familiar with Youngs at club level. Croft would be ideal to start at 6 too, then. Hopefully one of the above is going to make the game to partner Lawes, and then we are only drafting onto the bench.
Posted 11:43 12th March 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Line out will be a mess. Suggest Croft starts at 6 and training sessions target Croft and Wood till we know... Robson? Kirchner? Botha? Palmer? Some cover decision are needed pdq!!
Posted 10:13 12th March 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Ummm we've just lost 3 locks and you're debating the back row! Potential disaster as its the engine room that's been our edge. Italy were very smart in bashing us there. We have the problem Wales had at game 1. Croft can cover one spot but really hope we get Parling and Launch back or we are in for a torrid time and its an easy Wales win.
Posted 09:51 12th March 2013
Centre12 says...
Im sorry but if the fact that SL continues to pick Ashton, Flood and play a decent #15 on the Wing (creating a lack of pace in the back 3) and leaving the likes of Varndell, Wade, Foden was not concerning enough then saying that "there were lots of areas we were pleased with" is a huge concern for me. Italy revealed a few cracks in our armour, SL has been good but i'm still very concerned over some of his selections.
Englands best team when all fit
1 Cole
2 Hartley (Youngs is a great impact player)
3 Corbs
4 Parling
5 Lawes
6 Croft
7 Robshaw
8 Morgan
9 Youngs
10 Farrell/Burns Farrell edges on experience but I would allow Burns more exposure
11 Foden Fast enough to play on the wing and covers #15
12 Twelvetrees
13 Tuilagi
14 Varndell How is he not even in the Saxons let alone starting for England, Premierships top try scores, what else has the guy got to do?????
15 Brown
Posted 04:19 12th March 2013
Johnny_Guitar says...
I thought Wood had a decent game at 8 but agree he's not a specialist. Not Waldron surely. I'd rather see Easter at 8 but that would be a backward step. Hoping for England to wake up and put in a real performance.
Posted 22:25 11th March 2013
Chinstan says...
Just hope he has the sense to bring in a specialist 8 don't mind if it's Waldrom just need one there, please!
Posted 17:58 11th March 2013
chubbylugs says...
on refelction morgan is probably the biggest reason why england havent looked that dangerous in the last few games. he adds some much needed oomph and usually makes decent ground. there's no-one really making any penetration in the forwards bar tom youngs. id still pick tom wood in the side at 6, but it would be great to have morgan fit
Posted 17:50 11th March 2013
jehosophat says...
A shame re: Morgan - the England back row looked a lot better with both him and Tom Wood in it. Also, if all three of those second rows are injured then we are in trouble, I think of the three Parling would be missed the most in Cardiff, Launchbury is the future but Parling has been very solid in this 6N.
Sunday was a huge wake up call to be sure, the failings were historic England ones, if Lancaster can fix them then all credit to him. If the scrums really are a "lottery" as Rowntree suggested, then Vunipola and Youngs need to start in the front row as they play more rugby...
Posted 17:50 11th March 2013
astrospange says...
Positive to the last. Excellent coaching skills. Eng could have lost but didn't. 4 and 4 going into the last game. All to play for.
Posted 17:29 11th March 2013