England call: Freddie Burns
Gloucester fly-half Freddie Burns has been called into the England squad as an injury replacement for Toby Flood.
Flood was cleared of a broken toe after England's 16-15 defeat to South Africa but he is expected to miss next Saturday's clash with New Zealand.
Burns has been in sensational form for Gloucester this season and is seen by many pundits as the creative spark that England need.
Burns was joined in the England camp by Bath wing Tom Biggs, who received his first senior call-up after Ugo Monye suffered a calf injury.
Gloucester prop Nick Wood also linked up with England to act as precautionary cover for Alex Corbisiero.
"Freddie has been in for two of the last three weeks (as injury cover for Jordan Turner-Hall) so we know what he can bring and Nick Wood will provide cover as we manage Alex's knee at the start of the week," said Lancaster.
"Toby Flood's toe has been re-examined and there is no bone broken but we will need to see how it settles down over the next 24 hours."
If Flood is ruled out Owen Farrell is likely to start against the All Blacks, with Burns as back up on the bench.
Comments
APV1 says...
@ keste03 - as a Bath fan I have extolling Biggs' brilliance for some time. Are you, perchance, a Wasps fan..?
Wade and Biggs is the answer.
Posted 13:24 26th November 2012
craigsman says...
That's a very scary ball Freddie is catching there
Posted 11:19 26th November 2012
stumpy says...
I actually hope Burns and Biggs start on saturday.
Posted 09:50 26th November 2012
keste03 says...
Cant believe that Wade is not front of Biggs. Wade might not be biggest winger in the world, but he will stop his man - and he has more speed, skill and flair than any other winger in England.
Posted 07:20 26th November 2012
NHsaints says...
He's slowly building the right squad, slowly but surely. What we need now is to drop or just keep him in the squad as provisional cover and then bring Burns in at 10, upgrade Nick Wood to bench cover for Corbisiero, Tom Biggs in for Sharples (or alternately give wade a bloody chance instead of messing him around in the eps when sharples clearly isn't performing) teach tuilagi how to draw and pass and move Brown to fullback putting goode on the bench as 10 and 15 cover then put Foden back at 15 or 11 when he comes back, I'd even be tempted to say try Foden at 13 and Tuilagi at 12 or the other way around...Imagine how devastating that would be...
Posted 07:07 26th November 2012
Centre12 says...
@melkdave
Couldn't agree more, Burns is the form English #10 and Twelevtrees the form English #12. Really want to see both these guys heavily involved in the 6N's, S.Armitage would be the icing on the cake, after Browns display on the wing I would be happy playing Goode at #15 with Foden & Brown on the wings, I fear Ashton has faded some what.
Posted 06:09 26th November 2012
connaughtabu says...
The rugby world is divided into 3 group - the all-conquering All Blacks, countries who can beat the All Blacks (South Africa, Australia and France [now and again]) and aren't afraid of them and the rest who live in terror of the ABs and are despited to lose in perpetuity even to mediocre AB teams. Saturday's game will determine which group England falls into. On current form one suspects Eng may remain in the third group as their style of play is predictable if not ponderous and the current ABs are worthy of the "Invincibles" title awarded after the AB 1924-5 tour when they swept through the NH, winning all 32 games!
A few observations:
- The English back 3 is not balanced, Goode (?) looks like a centre and Brown is not a winger, only Ashton looks comfortable.
- The centres are uninspiring especially Barritt. Tuilani can't be expected to do all the attacking alone
- Halfbacks will be fine when the scrumhalves stop knocking the ball on at crucial moments
- England's traditional strength in the frontrow is not quite there yet: bring back Hartley asap, Youngs is just too small for top flight test rugby!
- you have 4-5 excellent locks, they just need to develop a bit of mongrel!
- the backrow was better against SA than Aus, the addition of a trimmed down Morgan was good and since SA didn't play a fetcher at No7, Robshaw's shortcomings were not exposed. It may well be different against Richie McCaw on Saturday!
I wish England well - but I anticipate the New Zealanders may yet again return home unbeaten.
:-))
Posted 04:52 26th November 2012
damo says...
Dan Murphy is the missing man in the front row!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted 00:24 26th November 2012
sirtidychris says...
Slowly SL is getting the right players in the team...just need twelvetrees to get a chance now and we wont be too far off :)
Posted 22:40 25th November 2012
melkdave says...
All good calls ,and hopefully they will be in the EPS for the 6Ns along with 12Trees,and i can dream S.Armitage .These players i feel are atm ,the missing pices to Englands jigsaw
Posted 22:37 25th November 2012