Six Nations: England name unchanged squad for Italy clash at Twickenham on Saturday
Friday 13 February 2015 06:32, UK
England have confirmed they have retained the same matchday 23 to face Italy at Twickenham on Saturday.
Coach Stuart Lancaster had been due to announce his squad on Thursday morning but the news that Geoff Parling would not recover from a knee injury in time for the game meant he had no futher selection decisions to make.
Parling had been tipped to be included in the 23 as specialist second row cover, with either Nick Easter or Tom Croft making way, but the Leicester lock has not recovered in time.
"We've gone for the same squad that played against Wales as we look to build consistent performances," Lancaster said.
"There are many players pushing hard for selection and we are looking forward to watching their club games this weekend."
England's 2003 World Cup hero Jonny Wilkinson says Lancaster is right to keep the same squad.
“England are blessed by having that depth now,” said Wilkinson at his first event as a Sky Sports Living For Sport ambassador. “You look at the Owen Farrell, Manu Tuilagi, and Brad Barritt, guys that weren’t available. And you look at Geoff Parling, Dave Wilson….you’ve look at the forwards and you’ve got guys in those positions where you can say ‘we could look at this…we could look at that…’
“But as long as everyone knows they are going to be a major feature of what’s coming and understands that actually, the quality of the team and the way it’s playing… it’s in everyone’s interests that this team continues to play as it is and continues to try to drive that momentum forward.”
Forwards: D Attwood (Bath Rugby), K Brookes (Newcastle Falcons), N Easter (Harlequins), D Cole (Leicester Tigers), T Croft (Leicester Tigers), D Hartley (Northampton Saints), J Haskell (Wasps), G Kruis (Saracens), J Marler (Harlequins), C Robshaw (Harlequins, capt), B Vunipola (Saracens), M Vunipola (Saracens), T Youngs (Leicester Tigers).
Backs: M Brown (Harlequins), L Burrell (Northampton Saints), D Cipriani (Sale Sharks), G Ford (Bath Rugby), J Joseph (Bath Rugby), J May (Gloucester Rugby), B Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby), A Watson (Bath Rugby), R Wigglesworth (Saracens), B Youngs (Leicester Tigers).
