England have named four Leicester Tigers players in the 23-man squad to kick-off the RBS 6 Nations against Wales in Cardiff on Friday.Dan Cole and Ben Youngs are named in the starting XV for the game at the Millennium Stadium.
Cole makes his first international appearance in almost 12 months after recovering from injury and will win his 46th cap. Ben Youngs starts at scrum-half and will win his 43rd cap.
His brother Tom Youngs is named among the replacements alongside Croft. Their Leicester teammate Graham Kitchener has been released back to Tigers.
Luther Burrell and Jonathan Joseph form a new-look midfield partnership, Lock George Kruis (Saracens) and blindside flanker James Haskell (Wasps) replace injured Northampton Saints duo Tom Wood and Courtney Lawes, with Billy Vunipola (Saracens) taking over from the injured Ben Morgan (Gloucester Rugby) at No 8.
Nick Easter of Harlequins and Sale Sharks fly-half Danny Cipriani are handed places on the bench.
England (v Wales, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, Friday, February 6, kick-off 8.05pm)
15. Mike Brown (Harlequins, 33 caps)
14. Anthony Watson (Bath Rugby, 4 caps)
13. Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby, 6 caps)
12. Luther Burrell (Northampton Saints, 7 caps)
11. Jonny May (Gloucester Rugby, 11 caps)
10. George Ford (Bath Rugby, 6 caps)
9. Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 42 caps)
1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 26 caps)
2. Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints, 61 caps)
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 45 caps)
4. David Attwood (Bath Rugby, 16 caps)
5. George Kruis (Saracens, 4 caps)
6. James Haskell (Wasps, 53 caps)
7. Chris Robshaw (captain, Harlequins, 32 caps)
8. Billy Vunipola (Saracens, 12 caps)
Replacements
16. Tom Youngs (Leicester Tigers, 17 caps)
17. Mako Vunipola (Saracens, 15 caps)
18. Kieran Brookes (Newcastle Falcons, 6 caps)
19. Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers, 38 caps)
20. Nick Easter (Harlequins, 47 caps)
21. Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens, 16 caps)
22. Danny Cipriani (Sale Sharks, 9 caps)
23. Billy Twelvetrees (Gloucester Rugby, 16 caps)
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Cole among four Tigers in England squad
4 February 2015 9:35 AM
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Cole among four Tigers in England squad
4 February 2015 9:35 AM
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