England bring in cover for France clash

England bring in cover for France clash NEWS

Share this

With the vital Six Nations match with France at Twickenham ahead of them this weekend, England have drafted in three replacement players as possible cover for injuries.

The three players brought into the squad are Wasps' Elliot Daly and Saracens pair Will Fraser and Joel Tomkins.

Centre Daly has been brought in as injury cover for Northampton's Ben Foden who is still recovering from ankle trouble, whilst Fraser has been introduced to the squad should Gloucester N0.8 Ben Morgan not recover from his ankle injury in time.

Fraser, another centre, is the replacement for Harelquins' Jonathan Joseph, who is receiving treatment at his club for a foot injury.

All three of Daly, Fraser and Tomkins have featured in the England Saxons team this season, Fraser scoring a try in the win over the Irish Wolfhounds, and they have been called up purely to cover for the possibility that any or all of Foden, Morgan and Joseph do not recover in time to take their place in the squad at the weekend.

Morgan started against Scotland in England's first match, during which he picked up the injury which forced him to miss the Ireland clash. Neither Foden nor Joseph have made it on to the pitch so far in this Six Nations so the chances of the replacements actually featuring against France are slim. They will, however, benefit from training with the full squad during the week.

England have plenty of choice in the centre department with coach Stuart Lancaster having to select two from Brad Barritt, Manu Tuilagi and Billy Twelvetrees who has a fantastic start to his international career.

After another solid performance in all aspects of the game fly-half Owen Farrell seems cemented in that position for the rest of the campaign. He's even being talked about as a potential Lions No.10 for the summer tour to Australia - not bad for a 21 year old.

Lancaster will announce his match-day squad and starting XV later in the week, the probability being that he will not change a team that gave such an intense, but controlled performance in Dublin.

#u-awLCMxk2pz0-u#