Six Nations: England have named Mike Brown and Courtney Lawes in the team to play Scotland
Wednesday 11 March 2015 21:01, UK
Lock Courtney Lawes and full-back Mike Brown return to the England side for Saturday’s Six Nations match against Scotland at Twickenham.
Lawes has recovered from an ankle problem and, having proved his fitness in a pair of matches for Northampton, he will make his first international appearance since facing Australia last autumn, replacing George Kruis in the line-up.
And Brown is back to replace Alex Goode, having missed the 19-9 loss to Ireland after suffering concussion in the victory over Italy.
Kruis and Goode drop out of the matchday-23 altogether because there are also changes on the bench, as Leicester lock Geoff Parling, Northampton flanker Tom Wood and Newcastle prop Kieran Brookes return to the squad.
Brookes has recovered after a hip flexor problem and will offer tighthead prop cover for Dan Cole while Parling replaces Nick Easter and may get his first taste of Six Nations action since 2013.
Wood makes a timely return after an ankle injury and comes in for Tom Croft, who has suffered a dislocated shoulder.
England Head Coach Stuart Lancaster said: “There’s always a lot of competition for places and having experienced players like Courtney, Tom and Geoff available after playing well for their clubs in the last few weeks adds to our options.
“It’s been an intense two weeks of training, as everyone wants to be on that field on Saturday and we have had to make some tough selection calls.
“Coming back to Twickenham will be huge for us and we are determined to put in a performance against a strong and motivated Scotland team.”
England have not lost against Scotland at Twickenham for 32 years and an emphatic victory would increase their chances of claiming the Six Nations title.
Ireland are still chasing a Grand Slam but England could yet claim the title on points difference if they beat Scotland and France, and the Irish lose one of their last two games.
England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Luther Burell, 11 Jack Nowell, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 1 Joe Marler, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 Courtney Lawes, 6 James Haskell, 7 Chris Robshaw, 8 Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Geoff Parling, 20 Tom Wood, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Billy Twelvetrees.
